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Parallels confirms MacBook Neo can run Windows in a virtual machine

macrumors.com

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Re: Parallels confirms MacBook Neo can run Windows in a virtual machine

#321

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is Apple's "Nintendo moment" when they realize they can package old hardware and win on polish and ecosystem.

Apple have historically moved forward minimum requirements for macOS and apps a bit aggressively. They need to slow that down now if they want us to take the macbook neo seriously.

I’d disable major OS updates and stay on Tahoe, and only upgrade if other Neo owners report it’s ok to do so. Ive been burned by iOS updates that made the phone sluggish enough times.

Not necessarily a reason to avoid the Neo, for the right use case. If I had secondary school kids they’d get one of these, but something to bear in mind.

Re: Parallels confirms MacBook Neo can run Windows in a virtual machine

#322

MacBook Neo is going to sell like crazy. In the education market, educators, students, aides... nothing close at this price point. With memory and SSD prices so high I don't see how Dell, Asus and others are going to be able to compete. Unless the build quality is significantly worse than a M1 macbook air not sure budget PC makers will be able to compete.

Ironically probably one of my biggest reasons against buying one is it's obvious desirability. I've already once in my life been in a situation where I can say with certainty the only reason my laptop wasn't stolen is that it wasn't a MacBook(despite having equal or above retail purchase value). I wouldn't be surprised if there's more that I never knew about.

How easy is it to flip a macbook tied to an apple id? i'd imagine you'd have to sell it for parts.

Granted, selling this one for parts might literally be easier.

Re: Parallels confirms MacBook Neo can run Windows in a virtual machine

#323

MacBook Neo is going to sell like crazy. In the education market, educators, students, aides... nothing close at this price point. With memory and SSD prices so high I don't see how Dell, Asus and others are going to be able to compete. Unless the build quality is significantly worse than a M1 macbook air not sure budget PC makers will be able to compete.

I don't know. Both of my macs are over 7 years old, and have at least 32GB of RAM. Certainly would not buy an 8GB one now.

Why are you flexing like this?

What's your purpose?

Re: Parallels confirms MacBook Neo can run Windows in a virtual machine

#324
post #300
post #234

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I haven't bought an 8GB laptop since probably 2012 when I got a Sony Vaio that they upgrade to 12GB for free because of a delivery delay. I wouldn't buy an 8GB device in 2026, but this device isn't targeted at either of us. For a lot of people who are looking at sub $800 laptops, the option to get an Apple will probably be enough to convince them. And apart from the limited memory, it really isn't a bad buy. I also f…

You might be surprised, with NVMe swap 8GB is surprisingly capable. ~1.6GB/s Read/Write.

Apple has a great zram implementation as well.

Re: Parallels confirms MacBook Neo can run Windows in a virtual machine

#325
a VM host with a windows guest and a total of 8gb of ram?

Yeah you'll get the OS to run, the magic there is making either environment usable.

Might be great for some web dev that needs to see what their work looks like elsewhere -- but even then imagining a modern Windows install w/ AI add-ins, local search caching and update deltas then running firefox or chrome with 4 gb of memory sort of makes me cringe.

Godspeed, I guess. Some of the best works of art were made with very serious constraints, but I don't have that kind of time anymore.

Re: Parallels confirms MacBook Neo can run Windows in a virtual machine

#326

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't know. Both of my macs are over 7 years old, and have at least 32GB of RAM. Certainly would not buy an 8GB one now.

If you have 32GB Macs, and you had them 7 years ago already, you're not even remotely close to the target market for it. Parent said "In the education market, educators, students, aides... nothing close at this price point". That has zero overlap with the "felt the need for 32GB 7 years ago" not-exactly-crowd.

>If you have 32GB Macs, and you had them 7 years ago already, you're not even remotely close to the target market for it.

that market is already saturated with a zillion decent-spec chromebook style machines. The only reason the Neo market is even slightly different is to cater to crowds that want the apple offerings for OS and fashion/reputation.

The market we're talking about has no real reason to care what kind of chip is in the thing. They just want YouTube/Discord/Zoom/EduWebsites to work right.

Re: Parallels confirms MacBook Neo can run Windows in a virtual machine

#327
post #300
post #234

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I haven't bought an 8GB laptop since probably 2012 when I got a Sony Vaio that they upgrade to 12GB for free because of a delivery delay. I wouldn't buy an 8GB device in 2026, but this device isn't targeted at either of us. For a lot of people who are looking at sub $800 laptops, the option to get an Apple will probably be enough to convince them. And apart from the limited memory, it really isn't a bad buy. I also f…

You might be surprised, with NVMe swap 8GB is surprisingly capable. ~1.6GB/s Read/Write.

the slowest DDR4 is capable of 12.6GB/s~ish per channel .

nowhere near the same performance.

Re: Parallels confirms MacBook Neo can run Windows in a virtual machine

#328
post #325

a VM host with a windows guest and a total of 8gb of ram? Yeah you'll get the OS to run, the magic there is making either environment usable. Might be great for some web dev that needs to see what their work looks like elsewhere -- but even then imagining a modern Windows install w/ AI add-ins, local search caching and update deltas then running firefox or chrome with 4 gb of memory sort of makes me cringe. Godspeed,…

Yeah I have an M2 MacBook Air with 8GB of ram and it runs but it very sluggish. I do use utm but its windows arm.

Re: Parallels confirms MacBook Neo can run Windows in a virtual machine

#329

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Isn’t basically m1 air equivalent in specs? I’ve got that one and I’m yet to feel limited.

Always excited to hear about fellow M1 users. I’m not limited in the slightest. 5-6 years strong now?

My M1 Air (16GB) is a rocket ship for absolutely anything I have thrown at it. Apple will have to work a lot harder making macOS inefficient before I feel the need to upgrade it.
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