Appleby's Next Computer

As the Surface Pro 9's lifetime is coming to an end, I'm sure the question on everyone's mind is, what is the next computer that Appleby will bring? In this article from the Hound, we will discuss all the computers Appleby could consider for next year's batch.

But first, we may not get a computer at all. Last year, I was talking to IT Support, and they said that Appleby not providing a computer is an option. This means you will have to buy and bring your computer to school every day. The pros of this are that you have infinite option in your choice. From a Dell to a MacBook, the options are endless. The cons of this are that, well, you have to buy and bring your computer to school every day. This can be a hassle, as applications like OneNote or Safari can work differently depending on the software of your computer.

The second option is the newly introduced MacBook Neo. It is a $600 computer currently being tested by some students for IT. It is the cheapest computer, with playful colors branded directly towards students. Bright display, and of course, getting into the Apple lifestyle. The colors are in Silver, Citrus, Blush, and Indigo (as shown below). However, with all computers (even Apple's), there are still some limitations that make the price tag what it is. It is stuck at 8GB of RAM with no further customization available, only two USB-C support, which one of them is for charging, there is no Touch ID on the base model, and it is capped at 60 HZ. My least favorite con is the lack of a backlit keyboard, which is the light that shows from the back of the keyboard. It makes it tricky to work in the dark, but, it is still my favorite option for the computers next year.

The third option is staying with the Surface series, and getting the Microsoft Surface Pro 11. It is a two-in-one AI-infused laptop that includes a powerful Snapdragon X processor and a solid 12 hour battery life. It is incredibly light and thin, making it ideal for students that move to different class a lot. It also has a Neural processing Unit for Copilot+ AI features. There are a lot of cons with this, such as native support with all applications are limited. Furthermore, the touchpad has a lot of issues with actually working, similar to what the Surface Pro 9 has for now. According to WIRED's testing, the performance claims are overblown and overdramatic, with the graphics being poor for being very expensive. Also, reports was that Adobe Creative Cloud just simply didn't work. However, the Surface Pro 12 can release before the next school year.

The last option is going to Dell, specifically with the latitude models. The Dell Latitude 7350 Detachable is a 13.3 inch Windows computer for 2-1, having strong processors, premium build qualities, and amazing battery life. It offers a above-average camera, with being under 1 kilogram of weight. It has a strong build, so it won't shatter if you drop it like the Surface Pro 9s. However, the keyboard and the stylus is sold separately, and it requires specific port selection for USB-A or HDMI. It is limited to 60 HZ, like Apple, and has a rigid hedge, which basically makes it really uncomfortable for sitting on it with your lap. Overall, it is similar to the Surface Pro 11, being the main competitor.

It is possible that any of these will be used. All of them have their own niche and specifics, yet so similar at the same time. My personal favorite would be the Neo, as I'm embedded in the Apple system myself. And then we'd also have Apple-by computers...

Which one is your favourite?