The new Apple begins to emerge

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

Apple’s recent moves — from leadership changes to the launch of the low-cost MacBook Neo — are prompting debate over whether a “new Apple” focused on growth, services, and the low end of the market is emerging. Commenters praise the company’s hardware and see the Neo as an aggressive play against Chromebooks, but are sharply critical of software design trends like “Liquid Glass,” increasing ecosystem lock-in, and constrained specs such as 8GB RAM. Many doubt that personnel shuffles alone can fix what they view as deeper cultural and design problems inside the company.

Apple Leadership and Corporate Direction

  • Some want a hardware-focused successor to the current CEO; others explicitly don’t want leaders associated with aggressive services monetization.
  • Several argue Apple’s board, not just design leads, has lost clarity on why Apple is valuable and tolerates missteps.
  • There is skepticism that a “new Apple” is emerging; some see the Neo and leadership shuffles as incremental, not transformative.

Design, UX, and Software Quality

  • Many feel macOS/iOS UI has regressed: less distinguishable controls, more wasted space, inconsistent idioms, and “Liquid Glass” is a common target.
  • Others say day‑to‑day workflows haven’t meaningfully changed; visual complaints are seen as cyclical aesthetics.
  • Keyboard text selection, autocorrect, and nagging network-permission prompts are cited as concrete UX degradations.

Authentication & Input Experiences

  • Opinions on Face ID and Touch ID are split.
    • Some report Face ID as flawless, even with glasses/facial hair.
    • Others find it unreliable in low light or bright sun and wish Touch ID were still an option.
  • Butterfly keyboards and the Touch Bar are widely criticized, but a minority liked them.

Emotional Investment in Apple

  • Some compare caring about Apple to sports fandom or national institutions like Bell Labs.
  • Others reject corporate tribalism, viewing devices as interchangeable tools and switching brands freely.

MacBook Neo: Purpose and Reception

  • Broad agreement it’s a new category for Apple: a genuinely budget Mac notebook, roughly “Apple’s Chromebook.”
  • Praised for: low price, good build, strong performance for basic tasks, escape from Windows/Chromebooks, and strong early demand (e.g., preorders selling out).
  • Criticisms focus on: fixed 8 GB RAM and future e‑waste, single USB‑C arrangement, lack of Touch ID, and fears of “disposable” mindset.
  • Many see it as ideal for students, kids, light office work, and cloud‑centric dev; not for video editing or heavy local workloads.

Steve Lemay and Hopes for Change

  • Anecdotes from early macOS days depict Lemay as principled, able to justify design decisions, even if controversial.
  • Some fear his long tenure means he shares blame for current design issues; others hope his promotion signals a course correction away from Liquid Glass and recent UI missteps.