- Framework CEO says MacBook Neo isn’t repairable enough
- Founder says Apple’s laptop is designed to lure you into the walled garden
- But the reality may not be as simple as that
Apple’s MacBook Neo has received rave reviews for its affordable price and impressive build quality, while introducing users to Apple’s most serviceable design in recent memory. Yet it still draws criticism from a rival laptop maker, which berated Apple’s device by saying “a computer should be yours.”
The rival in question is Framework, known for making highly repairable laptops that can be taken apart, replaced and reassembled with great ease. Yet for Framework founder Nirav Patel, the MacBook Neo has too many compromises when it comes to repairability.
In a video posted to YouTube, Patel decided to take apart a MacBook Neo to see how it was laid out inside, then compared it to a disassembled Framework laptop. In the case of the Framework, the internal parts were clearly labeled and simple to remove. While the MacBook Neo has many parts that can be quickly removed, its keyboard comes with dozens of screws holding it in place, while the screen cannot be changed without removing the entire top of the laptop.
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Patel used these differences to argue that the two products have very different philosophies. For Patel, the aim of the MacBook Neo is “to attract new MacBook users early on, and then bring them into the walled garden that Apple has created for them,” with the idea that they will later upgrade to a more expensive Apple laptop like a MacBook Air or MacBook Pro.
On the other hand, the Framework Laptop, says Patel, is designed to reduce e-waste “by making the product easy to use for as long as you want… If you own a Framework Laptop, we want you to be able to continue to upgrade it so that it works well for you for as long as you need it.”
Analysis: different users, different needs
Patel is right that the Framework Laptop and the MacBook Neo come from very different schools of thought. Apple has always wanted to maintain control of its products, and it took a long time to convince the company to start opening up its devices – mostly under the threat of legal action from bodies like the European Union (EU).
But there are other reasons for Apple’s decision to make its laptops less repairable than others. The first is a simple case of practicality: making thin products with many internal components often requires tightening everything tightly, which of course makes pieces of the product difficult to remove. Additionally, Apple has explained in the past that it prioritizes longevity over repairability, and that modular and repairable parts are potential failure points that can impact the lifespan of a device.
In the case of the MacBook Neo, this is a laptop designed for new Mac users and people with modest requirements – in other words, the type of customer who is very unlikely to want to open their device and handle its innards. Framework users tend to be the opposite, since they purchased a laptop specifically designed to be taken apart. If Apple knows its MacBook Neo customers aren’t interested in repairing their own laptops, it’s likely going to focus on long-term reliability rather than easy access to internal components.
This approach is reflected elsewhere. Although Patel says the Framework can be continually upgraded to help it last longer, it’s not like Apple’s MacBooks break down quickly. A recent study showed that MacBooks last about twice as long as Windows PCs in businesses, while another analyst claimed that the MacBook Neo could cost half as much in the long run as a similarly priced Windows PC thanks to the lower replacement frequency of Apple laptops.
Of course, if you’re the type to tackle a little home laptop repair, the Framework will be ideal for your needs. It allows you to upgrade it multiple times over its lifespan, giving you much more control over your device than Apple will ever allow for the MacBook Neo. And in this regard, Patel makes a good point – but it may not be the whole picture.
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