When Steve Jobs returned to save Apple, he drew a now-famous 2×2 matrix on a whiteboard that outlined a new, streamlined product strategy.
It had just four quadrants, with desktop and mobile split into professional and consumer lines.
Apple’s product lineup is nowhere near as minimalist these days, and the introduction of the MacBook Neo opens up the possibility of a new line of entry-level machines.
Here’s the modern equivalent:
Steve Moser’s proposal simplifies and rationalizes Apple’s current marketing scheme, which is a bit of a mess.
Today’s featured post takes a look at what the desktop version of the MacBook Neo might look like. If you thought you wanted a MacBook Neo, wait until you read about the desktop version!
Also in today’s newsletter:
Wow, this is quite the pitch from Perplexity AI’s CEO for the company’s new “Personal Computer” — software that turns any Mac into a 24/7 digital assistant: “A traditional operating system takes instructions. An AI operating system takes objectives.” It sounds incredible (with caveats, ofc!).
Don’t miss our hands-on with the new MacBook Neo and iPhone 17e in the latest Cult of Mac podcast.
What an unexpected turn of events it is that the MacBook Neo is insanely simple to disassemble and repair. Various theories are swirling about simplified assembly for onshoring, or to comply with stricter EU mandates. Whatever it is, our friends at iFixit are no doubt celebrating!
🔥 DEAL OF THE DAY: The best cables are braided cables, and this posh USB-C to USB-C 6-footer from Belkin is down to a reasonable $14 instead of an unreasonable $20.
Woah! Here’s another 🔥 DEAL OF THE DAY that’s just too good to pass up: Save a whopping 71% on a set of Mac Pro wheels! Now only an eye-watering $200 instead of a when-I-win-the-lottery $700! What a bargain!
This is a very cool tip that makes for great 3D wallpapers for your iPhone.
If you’re picking up a MacBook Neo, or just looking for some inspiration, here are the best MacBook Pro setups we’ve seen over the years.
Everyone hates QuickBooks, but it’s tax time, and this fabulous deal drops the cost by a whopping 67%.
Google just added AI smarts to Google Maps, so now you can ask it things like, “Where’s the nearest bathroom where I don’t have to buy something first?”
— Leander Kahney, EIC.
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Tweets of the day
Wallpaper of the day
One more thing ...
You always have to keep pushing to innovate. Dylan could have sung protest songs forever and probably made a lot of money, but he didn’t. He had to move on, and when he did, by going electric in 1965, he alienated a lot of people. His 1966 Europe tour was his greatest. He would come on and do a set of acoustic guitar, and the audiences loved him. Then he brought out what became The Band, and they would all do an electric set, and the audience sometimes booed. There was one point where he was about to sing “Like a Rolling Stone” and someone from the audience yells “Judas!” And Dylan then says, “Play it fucking loud!” And they did. The Beatles were the same way. They kept evolving, moving, refining their art. That’s what I’ve always tried to do — keep moving. Otherwise, as Dylan says, if you’re not busy being born, you’re busy dying.
Today’s poll
Should Apple make a Mac Neo? What about other Neo products?
Results from yesterday’s poll: Should Apple celebrate its birthdays?
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