This Windows Laptop Makes the MacBook Neo Look Overpriced
Posted by Quantum-Coconut@reddit | hardware | View on Reddit | 32 comments
I don't know if this article is sponsored or not, but it's definitely better than the MacBook Neo. Yes, it's at a discount and that's true for most Windows laptops most of the time.
SharkBaitDLS@reddit
A half-price sale can turn a lot of things into a good deal.
Just shows what a splash the Neo has made if they’re desperate enough to slash the price that hard.
Celexiuse@reddit
No not really? I've seen laptops with OLED + Intel's 256V well around this price (600\~) before the NEO was even announced.
vk6_@reddit
This isn't one of those crazy once in a lifetime deals. This laptop launched at $560 originally. https://www.notebookcheck.net/HP-OmniBook-5-14-laptop-review-Windows-ARM-with-OLED-for-under-600.1134231.0.html
-protonsandneutrons-@reddit
The average is indeed \~$650 at Amazon US. But that chart also shows $500 is a very rare price and not typical. It's a great buy at $500, no doubt.
iDontSeedMyTorrents@reddit
It launched at $800.
loozerr@reddit
How broken is Linux on this? I recall qualcomm abandoning the project aiming to provide support.
Homerlncognito@reddit
I was curious myself as Linux would be my preferred OS for a non x86 device. It seems that it's not officially supported and there are issues that can't really be resolved.
https://www.reddit.com/r/snapdragon/comments/1rwkljq/title_hp_omnibook_5_snapdragon_x_linux_bringup/
jenny_905@reddit
You know, I was ready to shit on it but HP seems to have delivered there. An OLED at this price point is wild.
InevitableSherbert36@reddit
Except the display isn't that great. It's OLED, but the Neo has a much brighter and higher-res screen (67% brighter and 57% more pixels).
As someone with a 1200p IPS laptop, I know I'd greatly prefer the extra resolution over slightly blacker blacks.
iDontSeedMyTorrents@reddit
Well, the HP was built for a way higher price point. It is an aluminum build with plastic screen bezels, but like nearly all aluminum Windows laptops it is much thinner and will definitely have keyboard flex at least. Doesn't make it bad, but a lot less impressive.
SpectreTimmy@reddit
A lot of laptops are better than the Neo, simply because they'll all go on much steeper discounts. A MacBook won't go on a 40% off sale, or something like that.
StradlatersFirstName@reddit
Does this even matter though? The MacBook Neo retails for $599. Are you saying the Neo isn't worth it because it will likely never go on sale for $360?
SpectreTimmy@reddit
I’m saying that a lot of laptops CAN be better than the Neo as they’ll be subject to deeper discounts than the Neo ever will. Why, do you disagree with that?
StradlatersFirstName@reddit
All I have to say is "can" is doing a lot of work here
Quantum-Coconut@reddit (OP)
Yes the point is that, when you can get a good laptop at that price, why go with the Neo? I know people who has already bought the Neo even though their needs warrant a better laptop. They've done it coz it's trending. Funny how advertisements can change perceptions about a product.
BigBangBoomerang@reddit
This isn’t a better laptop though? Peak brightness is 300nts versus 500 for the Neo and the display is lower resolution. It also has a Snapdragon X rather than X2 and is made out of plastic.
iDontSeedMyTorrents@reddit
As far as I can tell, it is an aluminum laptop except for the bezel. Though typical of Windows laptops, I expect it to be much thinner and far more prone to flexing than the Neo. And a worse feel in general.
nicuramar@reddit
Could be a) windows kinda sucks these days. b) you want to run macOS. c) you prefer the aesthetic/build quality of the Mac. Other reasons also.
SpectreTimmy@reddit
I guess the problem is most non-Apple laptops are awkward to use on first boot/setup. I got a Yoga Slim 7i on a steep discount and I had to wait 2 hours for all the updates to conclude, and it came pre-loaded with satanic junk. If you're not familiar with computers and you keep that stuff on, your experience is going to be shit. Especially when you consider all these apps want priority to load first on boot, so you get inundated with lots of open windows on boot.
hollow_bridge@reddit
I agree with you, there's always tons of windows laptops that are better value than macs. I think the neo was mostly interesting for mac users because it's the first time apple has ever made a budget laptop model, and it allows many more parents to bring their children into an ecosystem they enjoy.
Ortana45@reddit
That's becuase it's discounted...
InconspicuousRadish@reddit
To be fair, you have to account for Apple never giving discounts, not even on the B2B level.
It's a deliberate marketing approach on their end, and has its merits, but it also means they can be undercut by competition more easily.
Shadow647@reddit
Apple gives 20% educational discount on the Neo from the launch day
InconspicuousRadish@reddit
EDU discounts are not the same as a sale or actual discount. It implies you are, you know, in education.
Most if not all companies offer educational discounts, so it's not really worth bringing that up. You can also buy a Lenovo laptop on sale AND get an edu discount on top, so it's a moot point.
BigBangBoomerang@reddit
Apple doesn’t check if you’re education to buy from the education store.
okoroezenwa@reddit
Apple does discounts via other retailers.
InconspicuousRadish@reddit
The highest they ever give is 5%.
Typically pricing is fixed, hence why you see minimal variance between large IT providers.
-protonsandneutrons-@reddit
Fully false.
M4 MacBook Air (MSRP $1000) has an average price of $842 on Amazon.com = 15% off. Virtually nobody bought it at MSRP. The highest was a 26% discount at $738.
InconspicuousRadish@reddit
Your link doesn't even send to Amazon and the site you redirect to has it for 950. You're full of shit.
-protonsandneutrons-@reddit
This is a price history and price tracking site for Amazon US, /u/InconspicuousRadish. You claimed for the lowest price was 5%. I showed you the lowest (-26%) and the average (-15%) price.
iDontSeedMyTorrents@reddit
Scroll down just a lil bit and take a gander at that price history chart.
Geddagod@reddit
Interesting the competition to this is another ARM chip.
I wonder if Qualcomm is offering deep discounts on their chips for them to hit these price points. The Dell leak from a year or two ago seemed to suggest that.