Best Podcast Episodes About MacBook Ultra
Everything podcasters are saying about MacBook Ultra — curated from top podcasts
Updated: Apr 02, 2026 – 26 episodes
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Ridealong has curated the best and most interesting podcasts and clips about MacBook Ultra.
Top Podcast Clips About MacBook Ultra
“… life my Power Mac 9600 350 which is a long time ago That was an amazing computer but yeah that was the last time you were in that market Yeah I been MacBook as my desktop I think ever since And you were obviously different, but I remember, but I'm excited by Power Macs and Mac Pro hardware. Just knew that they weren't really for me. And I remember being excited about the Trashcan Mac Pro. I was like, wow, that's a cool idea. Yeah, it was. I was excited about it, too. They tried something new. Yeah, and I guess the argument is if you don't occasionally have a dud of an idea, hopefully not like a …”
“I don't know about you. And I was already not in the market. I haven't bought a Pro Mac desktop since... I think I only ever bought one in my life my Power Mac 9600 350 which is a long time ago That was an amazing computer but yeah that was the last time you were in that market Yeah I been MacBook as my desktop I think ever since And you were obviously different, but I remember, but I'm excited by Power Macs and Mac Pro hardware. Just knew that they weren't really for me. And I remember being excited about the Trashcan Mac Pro. I was like, wow, that's a cool idea. Yeah, it was. I was excited about it, too. They tried something new. Yeah, and I guess the argument is if you don't occasionally have a dud of an idea, hopefully not like a severe dud, but like, let's backtrack. And, you know, there was only one fat Nano, right? It's like, well, all right, let's backtrack and go back to the other. One buttonless shuffle. Let's, all right, forget about the one. Yeah, but didn't they try to say it had no buttons? I forget. Yeah, no, I said they did the one buttonless shuffle. Oh, okay, …”
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Apple's current approach under Tim Cook lacks the exciting, rebellious spirit that defined the company during Steve Jobs' era. While the company remains incredibly successful, there's a sense that they're playing it safe rather than taking bold risks, as seen in their product launches and development timelines. This shift raises questions about the future of innovation at Apple and whether they can recapture the creative spark that once made them a trailblazer in tech.
“… than the Mac Studio. Apple just didn't make that Mac Pro. Apple didn't make the Mac Pro. Maybe it's because they can't make a chip bigger than the Ultra or that they can't, you know, stack the chips or whatever. Like, I don't know. Can you put five M3 Ultra chips in one case and then have it work like a computer? Or do you have to do like this weird tower thing with the Mac Studios I don know I I just don think Apple cares about making a chip a computer or a chip for a hundred thousand people And it's not going to be even that they just don't care. It's just not, there's not because anybody who …”
“… array, but imagine if you could have a Mac Pro that has like infinite RAM or whatever, you know, and be able to do that. So I think the point Syracuse makes, which I think is salient, is that there is a space where a Mac Pro could do something more than the Mac Studio. Apple just didn't make that Mac Pro. Apple didn't make the Mac Pro. Maybe it's because they can't make a chip bigger than the Ultra or that they can't, you know, stack the chips or whatever. Like, I don't know. Can you put five M3 Ultra chips in one case and then have it work like a computer? Or do you have to do like this weird tower thing with the Mac Studios I don know I I just don think Apple cares about making a chip a computer or a chip for a hundred thousand people And it's not going to be even that they just don't care. It's just not, there's not because anybody who like training LLM models is not a thing you need to be doing locally. Right? Like there's, there is a really good resource for that. It's called infinity in the cloud, right? Like it's like the most powerful computing that we have access to. I wrote a whole article about this. You have access to the greatest computing in the entire world from the …”
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Ridealong summary
The Mac Pro was a powerhouse for specialized tasks, like ingesting and recording HD video in real time, making it a crucial tool for professionals. In contrast, while the newer Mac Studio can handle similar tasks, it lacks the reliability and convenience of the Mac Pro's PCI card slots. This is a nostalgic look back at how the Mac Pro excelled in demanding environments before its discontinuation.
“… what most people would consider a high end. But once you start trying to go past some of these upper limits, again, look at benchmarks of the M3 Ultra versus the M3 Max and certainly versus the M4 Max, which came out at the same time. And the Ultra is not very competitive unless you have very specific workloads. And even those even the GPU workloads that scale the best for the M3 Ultra the M4 Max comes very close So the actual need for the m3 ultra is very very small the main reason to buy it is that it raises other limits like the ram limit although i don't know if you've looked recently at …”
“I think the bigger issue with Apple's limitation here is architectural. That, as I was saying earlier, like Apple Silicon, it scales up really well through the whole low end of the performance line and well into the mid-range and well into what most people would consider a high end. But once you start trying to go past some of these upper limits, again, look at benchmarks of the M3 Ultra versus the M3 Max and certainly versus the M4 Max, which came out at the same time. And the Ultra is not very competitive unless you have very specific workloads. And even those even the GPU workloads that scale the best for the M3 Ultra the M4 Max comes very close So the actual need for the m3 ultra is very very small the main reason to buy it is that it raises other limits like the ram limit although i don't know if you've looked recently at mac studio availability and shipping times yeah you can't even get the high ram ones and you know why by the way if you currently uh if you currently try to spec a 128 gig mac studio it says pick up wednesday august 26th oh my word yeah like that makes perfect sense because uh as we said like uh you know apple does component deals for uh locked in …”
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Ridealong summary
Apple's M3 Ultra chip struggles to compete with the M4 Max, revealing a significant architectural limitation. While it excels for everyday users, those needing extreme performance, like 1.5 terabytes of RAM, find it lacking. This raises questions about Apple's ability to cater to the top 10% of high-end users who require more than what their current silicon can offer.
“… about all of those use RAM and NAND. That'll hurt PC makers, which will practically be required to raise their prices. And they will also be hurt by MacBook Neo. Not only does Apple have leverage and buying power in the supply chain, the piece says the Neo's own architecture stands it in good stead. MacBook Neo uses 8GB of RAM to a Microsoft-mandated 16GB for Windows machines. Additionally, MacBook Neo's unified memory means it can more efficiently use the RAM that it does have, according to Engadget. efficiency and buying power aside ramnarock will hit apple in the form of higher prices same as …”
“… that it would end its consumer-facing business to focus on providing RAM and other components to AI customers. Engadget had the CEO of SK Hynix saying recently that memory shortages could last until 2030. That'll hurt consumer electronics since just about all of those use RAM and NAND. That'll hurt PC makers, which will practically be required to raise their prices. And they will also be hurt by MacBook Neo. Not only does Apple have leverage and buying power in the supply chain, the piece says the Neo's own architecture stands it in good stead. MacBook Neo uses 8GB of RAM to a Microsoft-mandated 16GB for Windows machines. Additionally, MacBook Neo's unified memory means it can more efficiently use the RAM that it does have, according to Engadget. efficiency and buying power aside ramnarock will hit apple in the form of higher prices same as it's hitting everybody else but apple can take the hit iphone just had its best quarter ever services keep scaling new heights the way engadget sees it it's time for apple to play hard offense Moving forward, the site argues that Apple should do everything it can to maintain and maybe even lower the price of its computers to a point where its …”
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Ridealong summary
Apple's MacBook Neo is poised to disrupt the PC market, leveraging its unique architecture and supply chain advantages. With major memory chip shortages affecting competitors, Apple could maintain lower prices while outperforming rivals like Lenovo and HP. This strategic move could shift consumer preferences toward Mac computers, setting a new standard in the industry.
“Apparently, Tim Cook came out and said that the NEO has caused the largest jump in first time MacBook ownership that Apple has ever seen. Turns out price is important. one yeah one thing i i will point out and i i will give a a tip of the hat to the person who pointed this out to me is that the macbook neo uh very relevant to this conversation but does not have a glowing apple on the back it also does not have a backlit keyboard correct if that's important to you um and i i learned that on saturday because uh our dear friend john martellaro was …”
“Apparently, Tim Cook came out and said that the NEO has caused the largest jump in first time MacBook ownership that Apple has ever seen. Turns out price is important. one yeah one thing i i will point out and i i will give a a tip of the hat to the person who pointed this out to me is that the macbook neo uh very relevant to this conversation but does not have a glowing apple on the back it also does not have a backlit keyboard correct if that's important to you um and i i learned that on saturday because uh our dear friend john martellaro was in the market to uh to perhaps buy a macbook neo and then said it was off his list when uh when he realized that that was uh that it did not have a backlit keyboard as many of you might know uh several days later we actually lost john modelero john um he he he actually was in fine health but you know he'd had some issues over the years as …”
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John Martellaro, a brilliant mind behind the Apple II Space Shuttle lander simulator, recently passed away, leaving a legacy of laughter and innovation. His absence is felt deeply, as friends recall his intelligence and humor, highlighting how he made a lasting impact on those around him. In a bittersweet moment, they share memories that celebrate his life while acknowledging the void he leaves behind.
“… the announcement not coincident with the release of the M5 generation Mac Studios, but rather in the wake two weeks later of the introduction of the MacBook Neo, which is the furthest product in the lineup possible, right? It's a laptop, not a desktop. It literally is using an iPhone series chip. It only comes with eight gigs of RAM, you know, etc., etc., etc. It introduces, it breaks, shatters the pricing barrier of a Mac, whereas the Mac Pro's shattered pricing barriers the other way. Right. But it is symbolic of, hey, this platform is in better shape than it's ever been. The whole overall, it's …”
“… M5 chips. And I think they've surely made this decision that the Mac Pro was going to be end of life a while ago, you know, and it was just a matter of when to announce it. And I think strategically it's kind of interesting that they decided to make the announcement not coincident with the release of the M5 generation Mac Studios, but rather in the wake two weeks later of the introduction of the MacBook Neo, which is the furthest product in the lineup possible, right? It's a laptop, not a desktop. It literally is using an iPhone series chip. It only comes with eight gigs of RAM, you know, etc., etc., etc. It introduces, it breaks, shatters the pricing barrier of a Mac, whereas the Mac Pro's shattered pricing barriers the other way. Right. But it is symbolic of, hey, this platform is in better shape than it's ever been. The whole overall, it's about the overall platform. The overall ecosystem. Not the status of pro desktop hardware.”
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Ridealong summary
The discontinuation of the Mac Pro is a strategic move by Apple, reflecting a shift towards more efficient and capable alternatives like the Mac Studio, which better serve professional needs.
Apple's decision to discontinue the Mac Pro is a strategic move that reflects a shift towards more efficient and powerful alternatives like the Mac Studio, despite the nostalgia for the Mac Pro name.
The discontinuation of the Mac Pro is a strategic decision reflecting the strength and evolution of Apple's current hardware lineup, particularly with the success of the Mac Studio and Mac Mini.
“… doing some vertical stacking of dyes, which I didn't quite understand, but that's cool. I don't think we have to get into that here, but the but the MacBook Neo is the actual interesting new product line. Yeah. The, the top line on that is that it's a $600, um, uh, MacBook, small MacBook running, uh, an a 18 pro, which is last year's iPhone pro chip. Yeah. Um, like insane that we're at the point where a phone processor can now run a laptop, but I mean, we've been trying to people and try it for more than a decade. It just is kind of always sucked fair. Um,”
“… of it, but there's only one actually new thing. I mean, they announced like M5 Pro laptops, but that's just iterative. I mean, there's some interesting stuff with the way they're designing their SoCs now for those, but I don't think we need, they're doing some vertical stacking of dyes, which I didn't quite understand, but that's cool. I don't think we have to get into that here, but the but the MacBook Neo is the actual interesting new product line. Yeah. The, the top line on that is that it's a $600, um, uh, MacBook, small MacBook running, uh, an a 18 pro, which is last year's iPhone pro chip. Yeah. Um, like insane that we're at the point where a phone processor can now run a laptop, but I mean, we've been trying to people and try it for more than a decade. It just is kind of always sucked fair. Um,”
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Ridealong summary
Apple's new MacBook Neo features a shocking price point of $600, powered by last year's iPhone Pro chip, the A18 Pro. This marks a significant evolution where a phone processor is now capable of running a laptop, challenging the notion of performance in portable devices. Such advancements raise questions about the future of computing and the merging of mobile and desktop technology.
“… ways kind of out of the box without having to configure things to get started with that sort of stuff is to get a Mac Mini or a Mac Studio or even a MacBook Pro. GPUs are expensive and they can be more powerful, but for what a lot of tasks a lot of people want to do, what's great is, yeah, I think you're right. Like, Apple has maybe they're behind in terms of their own models, but the tooling for the things you can actually do within Mac OS is actually pretty robust because there so many people who love the hardware for other reasons and they like okay we wanna figure out how we can get the custom …”
“… pretty powerful and you can get a lot out of them. And if you go to Hugging Face, which is like a great resource just to find people who've tuned local kind of customized AI models that you can run in a cloud or on your own machine, one of the best ways kind of out of the box without having to configure things to get started with that sort of stuff is to get a Mac Mini or a Mac Studio or even a MacBook Pro. GPUs are expensive and they can be more powerful, but for what a lot of tasks a lot of people want to do, what's great is, yeah, I think you're right. Like, Apple has maybe they're behind in terms of their own models, but the tooling for the things you can actually do within Mac OS is actually pretty robust because there so many people who love the hardware for other reasons and they like okay we wanna figure out how we can get the custom AI models to run on these things as well as possible. And so that's opened up a whole new world. Well, last night I was reading about a guy who got QEN 3.5, which is a Frontier model that was released, I think back in February, running on his MacBook, which is astonishing. And he said that he did it, he was able to do it partly because of the …”
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A MacBook user successfully ran a complex AI model with 400 billion parameters, thanks to Apple Silicon's architecture. This innovative use of shared memory allows for astonishing speeds, feeding data at 17.5 gigabytes per second, opening up new possibilities for AI on consumer hardware. This achievement showcases Apple's potential in the AI landscape, despite perceptions of being behind competitors.
“… opinion about this oh i'm also happy to be wrong like if i'm wrong please i would love to know more about this that apple is in fact sending out macbook neos and if that's true like that's very cool if apple's doing that i just feel like how many do they send out and what did the other people do with them because they didn't make Instagram reels. Yeah. Should I put that in the title? Is Apple sending out MacBook Neos? Ooh, because MacBook Neo does do very well in the title for us. Our YouTube episodes are doing awesome. And people are discovering this show. I think I'm going to put that in the …”
“… this didn't happen but what i'm saying is it's strange it is strange that a biology teacher is the only person that we've heard about it from and if you are at apple and you listen to this this is the perfect example steven yes i do have a strongly held opinion about this oh i'm also happy to be wrong like if i'm wrong please i would love to know more about this that apple is in fact sending out macbook neos and if that's true like that's very cool if apple's doing that i just feel like how many do they send out and what did the other people do with them because they didn't make Instagram reels. Yeah. Should I put that in the title? Is Apple sending out MacBook Neos? Ooh, because MacBook Neo does do very well in the title for us. Our YouTube episodes are doing awesome. And people are discovering this show. I think I'm going to put that in the title. That's interesting. Well, we have some other Apple news too, because Apple announced that they have acquired Motion VFX. And this felt like huge news. One, I've used Motion VFX for years. They make plugins, visual effects, like MKBHD has a Motion VFX pack. iJustine actually used both of their packs in Final Cut. And now Apple has acquired …”
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Apple's acquisition of Motion VFX could revolutionize video editing for creators. This Polish software company, known for its high-quality plugins, will likely integrate their tools into Apple's Final Cut Pro, enhancing features for both one-time purchasers and subscription users. This move could provide users with premium content at a better value, changing how creators produce their work.
“… an interesting place that we're in now like you know 600 bucks is is you know like like a legitimate budget like it's crazy that they're making a MacBook. It's a real budget. That's a real budget machine, yeah. We would always say that the SE, the phone, wasn't really a budget phone because budget phones are $200. In the Android world, budget phones are $199 and $299. And now it's even worse because the e-phones cost even more than the SE did. Apple doesn't really sell a budget phone. The e-phones are more affordable, but it's not a budget phone. They sell a budget Mac. Absolutely. Like …”
“… utilities and all this other kind of stuff um it makes more sense that you're going to notice it's got twice the ram it's way more powerful it's got way faster storage and more storage and all that you're going to care more yeah yeah yeah it's an interesting place that we're in now like you know 600 bucks is is you know like like a legitimate budget like it's crazy that they're making a MacBook. It's a real budget. That's a real budget machine, yeah. We would always say that the SE, the phone, wasn't really a budget phone because budget phones are $200. In the Android world, budget phones are $199 and $299. And now it's even worse because the e-phones cost even more than the SE did. Apple doesn't really sell a budget phone. The e-phones are more affordable, but it's not a budget phone. They sell a budget Mac. Absolutely. Like absolutely. They sell a budget Mac. So yeah, it's pretty incredible.”
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Ridealong summary
Apple now offers a budget MacBook that competes directly with entry-level devices, making it accessible for those previously priced out. The M5 MacBook Air stands out as the best option for most users, even as the cheaper Neo model offers a tempting alternative. This shift signals a significant change in Apple's market strategy, catering to a wider audience without sacrificing quality.
Ridealong summary
Apple's new MacBook Neo, priced at just $599, combines the power of an iPhone chip with Mac OS, making it a compelling option for travelers. With impressive features like Touch ID and dual side-firing speakers, it promises a great user experience and long battery life. This could redefine what we expect from budget laptops.
“and then a year later the headphone jack was gone from every phone in the world Apple kept setting the standard even with the 2015 MacBook the single USB-C port back when USB-C wasn't normal for most people and only one how do I charge it and use a dongle how does that work? exactly it sounds like Apple's been doing that for years they have they'll promote some jack you know, SCSI or DisplayPort. And then, or remember the series of laptops where the power adapter connector would change with every new model? Yeah. That's really ridiculous. But I was just remembering, you know, the …”
“and then a year later the headphone jack was gone from every phone in the world Apple kept setting the standard even with the 2015 MacBook the single USB-C port back when USB-C wasn't normal for most people and only one how do I charge it and use a dongle how does that work? exactly it sounds like Apple's been doing that for years they have they'll promote some jack you know, SCSI or DisplayPort. And then, or remember the series of laptops where the power adapter connector would change with every new model? Yeah. That's really ridiculous. But I was just remembering, you know, the iMac, I did not know this until I interviewed John Rubenstein, was originally meant to be an NC, a network computer. This was all the rage in the late 90s that now there was the internet, you wouldn't need a hard drive. You wouldn't need software on your machine. Everything would live on the internet, just like Google Docs now or Google Drive. So …”
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The original iMac was designed as a network computer with no hard drive or CD drive, reflecting the internet's early promise. However, a heated debate between John Rubenstein and Steve Jobs led to the inclusion of essential hardware, transforming it into a real computer. This pivotal change not only saved the iMac but also set the stage for its iconic status in tech history.
“… that's mac pro region right and that's where apple is reportedly planning to uh kind of move towards this year you know you already started with the macbook you know that's downstream and then later this year reportedly is supposed to be like macbook pros with oled displays and touchscreens and that like a super niche right ultra the ultra niche as they say man i gonna say i just as we were talking about the studio and kind of replacing the pro branding I was like what if it called the MacBook pro studio MacBook pro ultra super turbo championship edition Pro max. Super Saiyan. Don't forget pro max. …”
“… left to sell their own existing products to so the only place that they can go is either downstream which is to the market that hasn't like you know welcomed them or way upstream and that's going to be even harder because that's even more niche that's mac pro region right and that's where apple is reportedly planning to uh kind of move towards this year you know you already started with the macbook you know that's downstream and then later this year reportedly is supposed to be like macbook pros with oled displays and touchscreens and that like a super niche right ultra the ultra niche as they say man i gonna say i just as we were talking about the studio and kind of replacing the pro branding I was like what if it called the MacBook pro studio MacBook pro ultra super turbo championship edition Pro max. Super Saiyan. Don't forget pro max. Pro max turbo. But I can see, I can see this, the studio. Oh, like you're replacing. Yeah. Yeah. You're not. Yeah. You're not wrong. You're not wrong. So, you know, well, it's just a kind of interesting thing to see how they're facing a lot of different challenges. We talk about what's coming down the line with Apple. They did officially announce …”
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Ridealong summary
Apple's AI and Siri upgrades need to demonstrate real innovation and functionality to impress, as past efforts have been underwhelming.
Apple's AI and Siri upgrades need to demonstrate real functionality to impress, as past iterations have been underwhelming.
Apple's focus on function over form is a strategic shift to offer more value, but their AI initiatives, like Siri, need significant improvement to impress.
Apple's AI advancements, particularly with Siri, are met with skepticism as past efforts have failed to impress, and significant improvements are necessary to change perceptions.
Apple's shift towards more functional products is seen as a positive move, but skepticism remains about the impact of Siri updates and the discontinuation of the Mac Pro.
“… razors been all over that for the cat ears yeah i have seen that they're still 550 yeah still really expensive you could buy this or you could buy macbook neo truly oh my god this was one of my favorite takes on twitter was that seeing macbook neo and airpods max next to each other in the same store is truly like those are the opposite approach to a product like macbook neo is customers going as low as possible in price to essentially maximize your chances of customer acquisition in like the masses and then hopefully that gets the people into like buying apple services and buying other apple …”
“… are all sorts of like clear slash opaque covers you can get and like sticker packs and like like stickers i've seen i've seen people and you can get attachable cat ears for the canopy like people really like like personalize them mm-hmm that's cool razors been all over that for the cat ears yeah i have seen that they're still 550 yeah still really expensive you could buy this or you could buy macbook neo truly oh my god this was one of my favorite takes on twitter was that seeing macbook neo and airpods max next to each other in the same store is truly like those are the opposite approach to a product like macbook neo is customers going as low as possible in price to essentially maximize your chances of customer acquisition in like the masses and then hopefully that gets the people into like buying apple services and buying other apple products and that's the like trojan horse of like all right now i'm an apple guy macbook neo is their youtube shorts for discovery yeah it's a big funnel but airpods max are the exact opposite it's like these are you're not going to get these as your first apple product ever. Wait, can I tell a recommending MacBook Neo story that happened yesterday? …”
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Ridealong summary
AirPods Max have transformed from a simple design to an iconic accessory, especially in urban settings like Brooklyn. Users are customizing them with colorful ear cups and quirky add-ons like cat ears, showcasing a unique blend of personal expression and tech sophistication. This trend highlights how Apple products can become fashion statements while maintaining their premium image.
“Let's talk. You know, we're going to hit these a little faster. The new M5 Pro and M5 Max MacBook Pros, obviously on the high end. Obviously someone who wants the most power. Most people don't need it. Some people like it. It's a thicker machine. It's a feature-packed machine. The new chip or processor inside comes with an 18-core CPU. Now, Apple has broken this down into six super cores because they now have the fastest CPU core in the industry. So they're renaming it the super core and then 12 performance cores. So that's what the CPU is …”
“Let's talk. You know, we're going to hit these a little faster. The new M5 Pro and M5 Max MacBook Pros, obviously on the high end. Obviously someone who wants the most power. Most people don't need it. Some people like it. It's a thicker machine. It's a feature-packed machine. The new chip or processor inside comes with an 18-core CPU. Now, Apple has broken this down into six super cores because they now have the fastest CPU core in the industry. So they're renaming it the super core and then 12 performance cores. So that's what the CPU is made up of. The M5 Pro chip has a 20-core GPU. the m5 max chip goes up to a 40 core gpu these things are beasts if you're talking about storage it now starts with one terabyte for the m5 pro and the m5 max now starts at two terabytes of storage they both have the option to go up to eight terabytes of storage you can go up to 128 gigs of unified …”
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Ridealong summary
The new M5 Pro and M5 Max MacBook Pros are true powerhouses, featuring an 18-core CPU that includes the fastest CPU core in the industry. With options for up to 40-core GPUs and massive storage capabilities, these machines cater to a niche of users who demand top performance, starting at $1,699. However, most users will find their needs met by less powerful models, highlighting the disparity between power users and the average consumer.
“… money app, like, Copilot money, and I kind of just used it normally. But I used it a little bit more in terms of, because right now I'm using the MacBook Pro. This time around I used it as a MacBook Pro, but then also just, like, took it downstairs with me, like, used it to watch YouTube videos, like, used it around the house. and it's very portable, very, I mean, like you said, it is kind of dense. I thought it would be a little lighter, but still easy to move around, very portable. And it, for the most part, it handles everything that you throw at it, right? And what's amazing is just like how …”
“… at the same time and it's performing pretty well. What about you? Agreed. I mean, I kind of did the same thing, right? I installed Final Cut Pro. I installed, like, all my, like, the Slack, so all the communication apps that I have, like, my little money app, like, Copilot money, and I kind of just used it normally. But I used it a little bit more in terms of, because right now I'm using the MacBook Pro. This time around I used it as a MacBook Pro, but then also just, like, took it downstairs with me, like, used it to watch YouTube videos, like, used it around the house. and it's very portable, very, I mean, like you said, it is kind of dense. I thought it would be a little lighter, but still easy to move around, very portable. And it, for the most part, it handles everything that you throw at it, right? And what's amazing is just like how optimized everything is. If you live in the Apple like walled garden and you just use Safari, like the Photos app, the Notes, Reminders, all these Final Cut Pro, iMovie, GarageBand, if you're using all those applications, this thing is going to impress you a lot, right? It'll handle, like I was editing a 4K video with a couple layers, a couple …”
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The new MacBook Neo impresses with its performance, handling music production, video editing, and multitasking seamlessly, even at a budget price. Users have found it capable of running demanding applications like Final Cut Pro and Ableton Live without significant slowdowns, redefining expectations for a budget laptop. While it’s not a MacBook Pro, its capabilities make it a strong contender for everyday creative tasks.
“… have such a meteoric rise that they have to give you the honorary degree before while you're still eligible. That's a good one. The point about the MacBook Neo is that at a lot of PC makers should be sort of quaking in their booths because you selling at that price point And for a customer who just like I want a laptop normally it was like am I going with like Asus or another brand I'm not I'm not in the Apple category like it's not an option because yeah that that store over there those those laptops start over a thousand that's not my budget so I'm not even going in that store well now you can …”
“There are some legendary leave of absences where people have been away for like 10 years and then they go and do so many. The goal is to defer for so long but then also have such a meteoric rise that they have to give you the honorary degree before while you're still eligible. That's a good one. The point about the MacBook Neo is that at a lot of PC makers should be sort of quaking in their booths because you selling at that price point And for a customer who just like I want a laptop normally it was like am I going with like Asus or another brand I'm not I'm not in the Apple category like it's not an option because yeah that that store over there those those laptops start over a thousand that's not my budget so I'm not even going in that store well now you can and you can spend $600 and get a pretty good computer and And the CFO, Nick Wu of Asus, was on their recent earnings call and he said, actually, don't worry about it, it's not a threat. We found out about the MacBook Neo shipments in the second half of last year. We made some internal prep, but now that it's out, like, we don't think it's that big …”
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Companies using AI can actually grow faster while cutting headcount, shifting focus from routine tasks to productivity enhancement. This perspective, shared by industry analysts, highlights a trend where executives are more excited about AI's potential to increase overall output rather than fearing job losses. The conversation emphasizes how AI is reshaping enterprise value and investment strategies.
“… the end of last week with some interesting Apple news. According to that, then, the number one bestseller on Amazon's computer list in the U.S. was MacBook Neo, while Apple's low-cost laptop was number three on the list in the UK. That prompted me to check again on Sunday. In the UK, MacBook Neo seemed to already be off Amazon's Computers and Accessories Top 50, though it was still holding the top spot in the US on Sunday. One thing I found pretty funny about the Amazon list, the second best-selling thing on the list in the US, was an Anker USB-C hub with a few different expansion ports. I'm not …”
“Apple Must ran a piece at the end of last week with some interesting Apple news. According to that, then, the number one bestseller on Amazon's computer list in the U.S. was MacBook Neo, while Apple's low-cost laptop was number three on the list in the UK. That prompted me to check again on Sunday. In the UK, MacBook Neo seemed to already be off Amazon's Computers and Accessories Top 50, though it was still holding the top spot in the US on Sunday. One thing I found pretty funny about the Amazon list, the second best-selling thing on the list in the US, was an Anker USB-C hub with a few different expansion ports. I'm not saying one definitely has to do with the other, but with only two USB-C ports, or one, if you're trying to power the thing while you're using it, it wouldn't surprise me if a spike in hub sales was tied directly to Apple's low-cost laptop. Now, if you want to know about deliveries from Amazon, you feel free to go down that rabbit hole There was no …”
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Ridealong summary
The MacBook Neo's design prioritizes repairability, marking a positive shift in Apple's approach to device longevity and user serviceability.
“… things like you know various electron apps and things like that so like apple does care a lot No one else does Yes the 8 gig RAM constraint in the MacBook Neo keeps macOS lean but macOS wasn your problem Your problem is everyone else, and they're going to do whatever they're going to do. And the best thing macOS can do is have really good swap and virtual memory support. And it does. MacOS can use a lot of memory, especially when things run away. But the real question is, and this was the question when the Neo came out when we were discussing it. if you're going to roll out a brand new computer …”
“… use all the ram in the world should we maybe put a second of effort into not duplicating this thing over here nope nope no one thinks that way at all no one pays attention not a single software developer ever cares about that kind of stuff when making things like you know various electron apps and things like that so like apple does care a lot No one else does Yes the 8 gig RAM constraint in the MacBook Neo keeps macOS lean but macOS wasn your problem Your problem is everyone else, and they're going to do whatever they're going to do. And the best thing macOS can do is have really good swap and virtual memory support. And it does. MacOS can use a lot of memory, especially when things run away. But the real question is, and this was the question when the Neo came out when we were discussing it. if you're going to roll out a brand new computer in 2026 with eight gigs of ram how long will mac os run on that computer because that's the question like i don't think their apple will feel constrained to keep mac os lean because they needed to run on the neo i think they'll decide based on wherever mac os is going how long the neo will be supported and i'm sure it'll be supported for years …”
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Ridealong summary
The MacBook Neo's 8GB RAM may soon limit its software support, raising questions about its longevity. As macOS evolves, the Neo risks being the first Mac to fall off the update list, especially compared to its contemporaries with more RAM. This could leave users stuck with outdated software while others thrive.
“… could use some touching up. Yeah. Like the spotlight isn't what was sold. The searches and settings is terrible. You know, it's especially now with MacBook Neo, like I think they need to take a step back and really get Mac OS back to what it was because it was in like let go like El Capitano one of those years like really good And then all over the years, they kind of added too much kind of cruft to it. And, you know, iPhone is obviously more important, so iOS gets all the focus. And I just think they need that. You know, it's not like it's not terrible. It's still better than Windows, but it …”
“… to chime in with anything like like mac os needs like some love at this point yeah they need to do something about yeah the liquid glass and things like that yeah it runs Well, but I think just in terms of like UI cohesion and stuff like that, Mac OS could use some touching up. Yeah. Like the spotlight isn't what was sold. The searches and settings is terrible. You know, it's especially now with MacBook Neo, like I think they need to take a step back and really get Mac OS back to what it was because it was in like let go like El Capitano one of those years like really good And then all over the years, they kind of added too much kind of cruft to it. And, you know, iPhone is obviously more important, so iOS gets all the focus. And I just think they need that. You know, it's not like it's not terrible. It's still better than Windows, but it could use some help.”
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Ridealong summary
Many Apple users, like my mom, are left confused and frustrated after software updates, feeling their phones look different without understanding why. They just want their devices to work seamlessly, but instead, they're bombarded with update notifications and new features they rarely use. It's time for Apple to focus on refining their software instead of constantly adding new features that most users ignore.
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