The Vergecast The MacBook Neo's a winner
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Mar 15, 2026 They gush over the surprisingly affordable MacBook Neo, its hardware, repairability, and how it feels like an iPhone with a keyboard. They debate whether the Neo could replace iPads and how Apple’s pricing shook PC makers. They unpack Project Helix and the idea of Xbox becoming a Windows gaming layer. Lightning topics include FCC drama, studio mergers, and an AI identity scandal at Grammarly.
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Hosts Actually Bought Neos For The Podcast
- Both hosts bought MacBook Neos to use and to have hands-on credibility for the podcast, describing in-store buying anecdotes and interactions.
- David recounts nearly buying an XDR display and being offered a $1 discount by an Apple store employee before declining for ethics reasons.
Apple's Scale Cuts Through PC Subsidy Mess
- Apple can undercut the Windows PC market because it avoids subsidy-driven compromises like preinstalled bloat and ad-driven pricing, and it leverages chip/component scale to offer better user experience at low price.
- Nilay points out PC makers start behind due to margins paid to third-party chip makers and subsidizing partners; Apple can simply price into the market differently.
Tahoe's Liquid Glass Damages Neo Experience
- David and Nilay praise the Neo's hardware but strongly criticize macOS Tahoe's Liquid Glass UI as visually confusing and slow for quick controls.
- They give examples: inconsistent menu behaviors, slow Control Center animations, and poor window delineation that hurt usability.