Windows PC makers typically haven't had to compete with Apple on the low end, but that changes with the Neo, says S.Y. Hsu. The memory shortage might complicate things, though.

The Apple MacBook Neo’s $599 starting price is a “shock” to the Windows PC industry, according to an Asus executive.

Hsu said he believes all the PC players—including Microsoft, Intel, and AMD—take the MacBook Neo threat seriously. “In fact, in the entire PC ecosystem, there have been a lot of discussions about how to compete with this product,” he added, given that rumors about the MacBook Neo have been making the rounds for at least a year.

Despite the competitive threat, Hsu argued that the MacBook Neo could have limited appeal. He pointed to the laptop’s 8GB of “unified memory,” or what amounts to its RAM, and how customers can’t upgrade it.

  • SreudianFlip@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
    2·
    23 hours ago

    Factory batteries are top tier and get you around 1000 charges, typically about five years. After that the battery is around 65% health and time to change out.

    Apple is no different from other manufacturers in that respect, maybe better quality cells than most. They suck at making those changeable, lately. 2011-2017 Macbook Air is about a 5 minute job. MacBook Pro from certain years you just want to throw it in a lake, or scrape glue for ages.