Neo or M-Series?

The Gang weighs Apple's $699 MacBook Neo against a new M5 Air, an Apple refurb, and the perennial used M1 bargain to help you buy a Mac that lasts five or six years without paying for power you'll never use.

Section 1 — Meet the MacBook Neo: What $699 Buys

• MacBook Neo (Apple)
  https://www.apple.com/macbook-neo/
• MacBook Neo: Should You Buy? Reviews and More (MacRumors)
  https://www.macrumors.com/roundup/macbook-neo/
• Apple MacBook Neo Review: Surprisingly good and capable for $599, with one big flaw (Notebookcheck)
  https://www.notebookcheck.net/Apple-MacBook-Neo-Review-Surprisingly-good-and-capable-laptop-for-599-with-one-big-flaw.1247679.0.html
• MacBook Neo Review — 6 Months Later
  https://6monthslater.net/2026/09/macbook-neo-review/

Section 2 — The M-Series Case, Including That M1 in the Closet

• First MacBook Neo Benchmarks Are In: How It Compares to the M1 MacBook Air (MacRumors)
  https://www.macrumors.com/2026/03/05/macbook-neo-first-benchmarks/
• Is the MacBook Air M1 Still Worth Buying in 2026? (BGR)
  https://www.bgr.com/2215378/is-macbook-air-m1-still-worth-buying-in-2026/
• Buying a Used M1 MacBook Air in 2026: Still a Steal or a Security Risk? (The Mac Observer)
  https://www.macobserver.com/tips/round-ups/buying-a-used-m1-macbook-air-in-2026-still-a-steal-or-a-security-risk/
• Are Older MacBooks Still Worth Buying in 2026? (Engadget)
  https://www.engadget.com/2255893/older-macbook-still-worth-buying-2026/

Section 3 — The Fine Print That Actually Decides It

• Best MacBook for 2026: Air vs Pro vs Neo Compared (Macworld)
  https://www.macworld.com/article/667144/best-macbook-air-vs-pro-neo-compared.html
• Which MacBook Should You Buy in 2026? Five Best Apple Laptops Ranked (Tom's Guide)
  https://www.tomsguide.com/computing/macbooks/i-review-laptops-for-a-living-and-this-is-now-the-macbook-i-recommend-to-most-people
• Get Started with Accessibility Features on Mac (Apple Support)
  https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/get-started-with-accessibility-features-mh35884/mac

Section 4 — Where and How to Buy It

• Certified Refurbished Mac (Apple)
  https://www.apple.com/shop/refurbished/mac

Where to Find the Gang

• Charlie — linkedin@cyberchuck.org | "CyberchuckTX" in many places
• Chris — ChrisWesselmanPhotography.com | Bluesky and Flickr: @ChrisW47-az | Threads/Instagram: @chris.wesselman
• Bob — TMUG.com | ThinkBob.com | DangerousBobPhotography.com | Bluesky: @ThinkBob
• Marty Jencius — @jencius on Bluesky and Mastodon | ThePodTalk.Net

Contact the Show

• YouTube: youtube.com/@OldMacGang
• Substack: www.Substack.com/@ThePodTalkNetwork
• Website: ThePodTalk.Net
• Email: ThePodTalkNetwork@gmail.com