The MacBook Neo is the Linux desktop killer that no one expected
The MacBook Neo is the Linux desktop killer that no one expected
https://www.makeuseof.com/the-macbook-neo-is-the-linux-desktop-killer-that-no-one-expected/
Publish Date: 2026-03-21 18:00:00
Source Domain: www.makeuseof.com
Not everyone can afford a flagship computer. A maxed-out MacBook Pro pushes past $4,000, and even a mid-range Windows workstation will cost you at least $1,500. It’s like I always used to tell my specs-obsessed father when he was looking to buy a new computer: You don’t need all that power.
Plus, for most of us, a laptop isn’t a secondary device; it’s our main PC. I spent years plugging my MacBook Air M1 into my widescreen monitor with an external keyboard and mouse. A quick unplug and I was portable with the same setup and files as my home workflow.
No matter how much I love Linux, it’s still something most users install to breathe new life into older hardware. If the goal is saving money, a much cheaper, less capable laptop can keep you productive (and save your wallet hundreds of dollars).
Now Apple has dropped the Neo, an entry-level macOS laptop aimed at the budget and education market. At $599 (the same price as a mid-range Chromebook or budget Windows laptop that can’t match Neo on hardware), Apple’s colorful new laptop disrupts the whole conversation around affordable machines.
The Linux reality check
The configuration tax and software gap
Linux is a genuinely great operating system. The open-source OS is amazing for something not backed by a for-profit company, and it’s only gotten better in the last several years. That said, it’s still not a system that works great for…
