MacBook Neo shows Microsoft had the right idea but wrong execution

The MacBook Neo's arrival highlights that Microsoft once pursued a very similar concept with the Surface RT but failed in execution. Microsoft launched the Surface RT in 2012 as a $599 ultraportable hybrid with a premium build, strong battery life and hardware aimed at everyday tasks.

Steven Sinofsky, the former head of Windows and architect of the Surface RT, praised the Neo while reflecting on his team's misstep. Microsoft ultimately lost $900 million on the Surface RT after consumers rejected Windows RT’s ARM-based "walled garden" and its limited app ecosystem.

Reviewers at the time admired the Surface RT's design—quiet, efficient, long-lasting battery and a well-engineered kickstand—but also flagged serious limitations. Ed Bott noted the device was locked to Internet Explorer, lacked support for Chrome or Firefox, and offered only a thin selection of apps, paired with modest specs such as an Nvidia Tegra 3 SoC, 2GB of RAM and 32GB or 64GB of eMMC storage.

macbook neo, microsoft, surface rt, windows rt, arm, steven sinofsky, app ecosystem, tegra 3, internet explorer, battery life