I would be kinda impressed that Apple is finally offering something that’s good value, but 8GB of RAM? ehhhhhh. It’s probably still a decent-ish deal, I don’t really know how good a phone SoC would handle anything more than light tasks, though.
Not usually an Apple guy, but it’s hard to overstate how smart it is to focus on affordability right now. I feel like having a ~$500 device in the current market is so important. (Especially if it respects your privacy.)
This is the opposite of “own nothing and be happy” and I suspect these things are gonna sell like hotcakes.
Now we just need to get Linux going on them. 🫡
Macs do not respect your privacy. In comparison to windows it’s better but they still log and send every application you open to Apple.
Let’s stop perfect getting in the way of better.
For the threat models and data harvesting the general consumer (i.e. our moms) will face, MacOS does a far better job than Windows and iOS far better than Android (and no, your mom isn’t actually using a pixel with Graphene. Maybe she could, but she isn’t. Not really.)
If Apple can’t satisfy your threat model and privacy posturing, fine. But don’t assume everyone’s requirements are the same as yours, that’s how we scare people away.
Asahi Linux on MacBook Neo? A man can dream…
I think this will definitely come. It’s just a matter of time.
A lot of time. Still waiting for M4 support and it looks like it will take a couple more years
Something I’m still curious about: can these new ARM Apple devices run arbitrary software? Or do you have to install things via the App Store only?
Could Apple someday decide that you’re not allowed to install whatever software you want and only install their approved software?
It runs macOS so you can install any stuff that you want. With asahi Linux showing you can also install other operating systems. I think a retrograde lockdown might be possible, but it’s unlikely.
The reason I ask is because I tried to install something on Mac OS the other day, and it made me jump through a lot of hoops to install something not approved by Apple. And in the end, I wasn’t able to just blanket allow software from untrusted sources. I had to click a button each time. So it seems like there’s nothing stopping Apple from just removing your ability to press that button in the future.
I install tons of software with homebrew and nix every day. Yes, sometimes you need to allow a new version explicitly. Also yes, Apple could probably disallow that globally, but that would be a big change for something they allowed for 50 years.
Seems like they’re getting closer every year though
They have not changed anything in forever. Even the boot loader is unlocked.
Here are some of the changes making it more difficult to install arbitrary software in the name of security:
https://www.computerworld.com/article/3483921/macs-are-becoming-more-locked-down.html
Apple has been violating people’s wallets for how long and they finally decide now is the time to make affordable macs?
Complaining aside, this is a darn good move. The timing is great, so they are likely to be very popular too, which is good for the future of the market. I hope.
They have had an ‘affordable’ Mac for a lot of their history. The Mac mini was a downright value for a while. They have had near $1000 laptops for most of my memory.
Sorry but near $1000 and near $600 are not even remotely comparable.
I got an HP EliteBook 840 G3 in 2017 for $565 with 24 GB of RAM and 512 GB storage. That was NEVER possible with any Apple laptop. Until now.
Or actually, it still isn’t now! The RAM and storage on this are absolutely abysmal for a 2026 laptop. PCs have already vastly eclipsed this bullshit.
As an Apple devotee that pays your annual tithe to your exclusive, elitist blue bubble cult, you’re welcome to crow about their smooth interface and nicer terminal and better privacy, but you will never, ever, ever beat PCs on price. Ever.
Apple is a monopoly. Monopolistic exploitation that maximizes profit by keeping prices high and sales low is literally introductory level macroeconomics. They have never made their products good value for money, and they never will.
Good news: thanks to the AI Bros, PCs will probably have 8gb of ram and 256gb of nand too … isn’t progress grand?
“I don’t have an actual response to your points so I will insert a silly meme to try to make it seem like I know what I’m talking about”
