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Apple\u2019s entry into the low-cost laptop segment with the MacBook Neo is giving the Windows PC makers a run for their money.<\/p>\n
During the company\u2019s earnings calls, ASUS co-CEO S.Y. Hsu described Apple\u2019s pricing strategy for the MacBook Neo as \u201ca shock to the entire industry<\/b>,\u201d as Windows PC players previously did not have to compete with Apple in the entry-level laptop segment.<\/p>\n
Hsu added that the broader Windows PC ecosystem \u2013 including Microsoft, Intel, and AMD \u2013 is now discussing how to respond to the MacBook Neo.<\/p>\n
However, Hsu questioned Apple\u2019s positioning of the MacBook Neo as a productivity laptop. He pointed to its 8GB memory limitation<\/b>, arguing that it differs significantly from mainstream laptops designed to handle more compute-intensive workloads. In his view, the MacBook Neo may end up serving a use case closer to an iPad’s: primarily as a content-consumption<\/b> device.<\/p>\n
In our review of the MacBook Neo, we found that the device was more than capable of running basic productivity apps and takss, and could even comfortably edit high-resolution photos and do basic video editing.<\/p>\n
While it is not as powerful as the other MacBooks powered by the M-series chips, the MacBook Neo still felt significantly snappier <\/b>and more responsive<\/b> than similarly-priced Windows laptops or Chromebooks.<\/p>\n
Beyond the MacBook Neo, the PC industry faces another major challenge: rising component costs and tightening memory supply. Laptop prices are expected to rise 40% this year as manufacturers grapple with higher DRAM and CPU prices.<\/p>\n
Source: PCMag <\/p>\n<\/div>\n