Apple's MacBook Neo makes repairs easier and cheaper than other MacBooks

Someone1234 2 hours ago | parent | next [-]

I just want to link this teardown; it is a suitable companion to this article:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5k7Lv7f-5CQ

On a rational level it isn't surprising that the "compute" part is so small, given its origins, but for some reason it still caught me by surprised seeing something barely larger than a Raspberry Pi.

But, yeah, this thing is crazy modular. I particularly want to call out how trivial it is to replace the ports, given how common of a failure point they are. With the keyboard/monitor being more involved, but absolutely still approachable.

I believe he finds just a single piece of light adhesive keeping a cable in place, everything else (inc. the battery) is screws only.

	▲	ggreer an hour ago \| parent \| next [-]
		It looks like it's still bigger than the logic board on the 12" MacBook from 2015.[1] I really wish Apple would resurrect that form factor, as every other MacBook since has seemed bulky in comparison. Thanks to OpenCore Legacy Patcher[2], I still haven't gotten a newer mac. With a modern M series chip, it wouldn't have such rough tradeoffs in battery life and performance. I'd definitely buy it. 1. See step 11 on https://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/Retina+MacBook+2015+Teardown... 2. https://github.com/dortania/OpenCore-Legacy-Patcher
	▲	jeffbee 33 minutes ago \| parent \| prev [-]
		It seems like a normal-sized motherboard? For comparison here is the ifixit teardown of a PixelBook Go (happens to be the laptop I am using right now). https://guide-images.cdn.ifixit.com/igi/LT6YEIeE1Svh4WCk.hug...

▲

drooopy an hour ago | parent | prev | next [-]

This is probably going to be my new laptop next year if it gets the A19 Pro with 12 GB of RAM.

	▲	intrasight 28 minutes ago \| parent \| next [-]
		This one will be my new laptop this year, and I'll then see what happens next year.
	▲	etchalon an hour ago \| parent \| prev [-]
		I'd bet these things are going to be on a two-year upgrade cycle, instead of yearly. Will be super happy to be proven wrong.

▲

ajay-b 17 minutes ago | parent | prev | next [-]

This is really good to read. I hung on to my 2012 MBP for the replaceable battery, hard drive, and memory far longer than I wanted to. It's great having a thinner machine, but repairability - really extending its longevity - will always be a huge selling point for me. I have bitterly disliked the idea of "disposable technology."

▲

cwoolfe an hour ago | parent | prev | next [-]

Repairability and cost are key for the education market. Apple sold iPads into this space for awhile but there's been pushback and talk of going to chromebooks. Seems like they are positioning Neo for this segment as well.

	▲	intrasight 30 minutes ago \| parent [-]
		I am WAY out of school and I still care about repairability and cost ;)

▲

0xDEFACED 2 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

i sure hope so if apple intends to sell these things to school divisions. the levels of abuse i witnessed students dishing out to their chromebooks when i was a teacher was shocking to say the least

▲

needSomeCoffee an hour ago | parent | prev | next [-]

Wow. Beautiful engineering. Please, please Apple use this ethos for all future major laptop re-designs e.g. MBA & MBP.

▲

euroderf 27 minutes ago | parent | prev | next [-]

Is the Neo in a price range where it could be attached to a robot chassis as its processsor and UI ? Connectivity, video, audio, status display, even a Max Headroom. USB-C plug-n-go.

▲

edhelas 23 minutes ago | parent | prev | next [-]

So basically they are trying to reach what Lenovo and others are doing for years.

Nice Apple. That's good :)

▲

oybng an hour ago | parent | prev | next [-]

Just 20 steps and 18 screws to replace a battery, easy!

	▲	tpmoney 21 minutes ago \| parent \| next [-]
		The guy in the linked video up thread tore the whole computer down in 6 minutes. I'm pretty sure most people can manage to find 12 minutes out of their life every 5 years to replace the battery if they want. But if that is too arduous, you can pay Apple to do it for you for a mere $149, with the battery included in that price. Given that a comparable battery from iFixit will cost you $80-$100, that's just ~$50 to have someone save you the hassle of having to remove 18 screws from your laptop every 5 years.
	▲	charcircuit 15 minutes ago \| parent \| prev \| next [-]
		The MacBook Neo has a rechargeable battery. By the time the battery goes bad from too many charge cycles people will want to upgrade to a newer one.
	▲	SoKamil an hour ago \| parent \| prev \| next [-]
		But no adhesive under the battery. That’s huge.
	▲	throw737458t8t8 39 minutes ago \| parent \| prev \| next [-]
		And xray, microscope and soldering station to replace ssd.
	▲	Clamchop an hour ago \| parent \| prev \| next [-]
		I mean, yes, it is easy. No adhesive and just a couple of clips on the case. You could replace the battery in 20 minutes with little anxiety that you're going to cause damage getting to it.
	▲	crooked-v an hour ago \| parent \| prev [-]
		As it turns out, once battery life hits a certain baseline, people prefer devices where the battery is harder to replace but larger over devices where the battery is hot-swappable but smaller.

▲

newsclues an hour ago | parent | prev | next [-]

I'm not sure if it's possible, but an aftermarket battery with closer to the MB Airs KW/h specs would be a very interesting modification.

The repairability seems to be interesting especially if it leads to framework style upgradability (logic boards, not the ports).

	▲	pfortuny 25 minutes ago \| parent \| next [-]
		FYI: KWh (it is a product).
	▲	jajuuka 17 minutes ago \| parent \| prev [-]
		I'd bet dollars to donuts that it either treats any battery connection like the stock battery or it fails over to a run like crap mode like third party batteries in their phones.

▲

entropicdrifter 2 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

I feel like "most repairable macbook" is a bit like saying "most edible dirt". While it's good that there's progress, it's pretty telling that they need to only compare it within the same company's products.

	▲	Someone1234 2 hours ago \| parent \| next [-]
		I'd suggest you watch a teardown video. The Neo is absurdly repairable compared to just about anything in its category. It is extremely modular, and uses screws.
	▲	lallysingh an hour ago \| parent \| prev \| next [-]
		Yeah, I mean I'm looking at frameworks/thinkpads on one side and chromebooks on the other. Not charging up to $440 (!) for a keyboard isn't a great act of engineering or generosity. This has been ridiculous for a very, very long time. Being less ridiculous isn't worth celebrating. The goal markers have moved so damned much. Compare to a thinkpad keyboard FRU. They have fluid drains and still cost $99 for a top-end laptop. My daughter's chromebook keyboard replacement at school was $16.
	▲	0_____0 2 hours ago \| parent \| prev [-]
		I've replaced a battery, screen, hinges on a macbook (2015). Did they get considerably worse at repairability after that? Because while there were a fair number of steps, it's not like they required exotic techniques to pull off.