Doug Mejia

Photo taken at my local Apple Store

Today, I opened the Apple Store app on my iPhone to see if either of the two Apple stores near my house had the new MacBook Neo in stock . No luck. Both locations said they were unavailable in-store but could be ordered for pickup on March 19, 2026. I closed the app and figured it just wasn’t meant to be.

I’ve been looking for a small laptop for travel and on-site tech jobs . Originally, I considered a refurbished Lenovo Thinkpad X1 Carbon for around $500, which is roughly the starting price of the new MacBook Neo. I never pulled the trigger because it meant running Windows or Linux. While I’d prefer Linux over Windows, most of my tools and workflows are tailored to the Mac. So, when Apple announced the MacBook Neo, it seemed like the perfect device at the right price point.

Later that day after work, my wife and I ended up at the mall . Curiosity got the better of me, so I dropped into the Apple Store. Even if they didn’t have any to sell, I could at least see the Neo in person and decide if I actually liked it. The store was packed as usual, and the staff was busy. My wife and I wandered around until we spotted the four colors of the new MacBook Neo all the way in the back, right next to the Vision Pro area and made our way there.

I started playing with the display models. I picked them up, typed a bit, and opened and closed the lids (the standard things we all do when checking out a new computer) . I already knew I didn’t want yellow or pink, leaving me with silver or blue. The silver option wasn’t my favorite because of its white keyboard. I used to have a white Magic Keyboard, and man, those keys got dirty over time. I definitely didn’t want a repeat of that .

So, that left exactly one option: the blue Neo with its blue-tinted, non-backlit keyboard. After testing it out a bit longer, an Apple employee finished up with another customer and asked if I needed help. I asked, “Do you guys happen to have one of these in stock? Not the base model, but the one with Touch ID?” He politely said he didn’t know but would find out. He radioed another employee on his headset, and within seconds, they confirmed they actually had some in the back. I mentioned that the app said they were sold out, but they just shrugged it off. I guess the lesson here is to go check availability yourself, if you can.

Right then and there, I decided to pick up the blue MacBook Neo with Touch ID and 512GB of storage. There is no option to upgrade the RAM, so I am unfortunately stuck with 8GB. I figured the base RAM wouldn’t be a dealbreaker. This is primarily a single-purpose machine for travel and on-site work, mostly involving remote connections to servers or client desktops. It is nothing super intense, and I trusted the Neo could handle it perfectly. I bought it, brought it home, and started the setup process.

It didn’t come fully charged out of the box (about 80%, I think), so I plugged it in during the initial setup until it hit 100%. After three hours of installing apps, setting up services, logging into accounts, and playing with it a little more, the battery had only dropped by 12%. I think that is pretty good, if you ask mee.

Build-wise, the MacBook Neo feels like a solid, premium computer. There is none of that creaky, plasticky vibe you usually associate with “budget” laptops . It feels just as well-built as my M1 MacBook Pro or any other modern MacBook I’ve used . It is unmistakably an Apple product. The hinge is incredibly smooth, and yes, you can open it easily with one hand. Although, I think it is a bit looser than my other MacBooks because I picked it up one-handed from the table and the screen flung as far back as it could. This has only happened once, but it is something I will keep an eye on.

The keyboard is comfortable and responsive, very similar to an Air or a Pro . However, there are a few drawbacks where you can tell Apple cut corners to hit that $599 to $699 price point. For instance, the keyboard isn’t backlit. Additionally, while the screen is impressively bright, it lacks an ambient light sensor. It won’t automatically dim in a dark room; you have to adjust it manually. If you forget, you might just burn your retinas out, which I experienced a bit of today.

Touch ID works wonderfully, and the machine is no slouch when it comes to speed . Aside from a few momentary stalls during the initial setup (likely from indexing files in the background), I experienced zero slowdowns. Granted, I was only installing apps, logging into services, and downloading my iCloud Drive content. It wasn’t a heavy workload, but that’s exactly the kind of work I bought it for. For my needs, it has performed flawlessly, so far.

I was initially worried about the trackpad since it is a physical, mechanical pad that you actually have to push down on rather than a haptic one . Fortunately, it feels just as good as Apple’s other trackpads. All my accessibility gestures, like zooming in and out, work perfectly, just as they do on my MacBook Pro or Magic Trackpad. I haven’t tested the webcam yet, but I honestly don’t plan on using it much anyway. I am sure it will be fine for the few times I may use it..

The Wi-Fi speeds at home maxed out just like any other laptop or iPad I own . Even during my setup process, the laptop stayed completely cool. It got slightly warm while charging, but never uncomfortably so.

Overall, I am really happy with my choice. It is going to serve my purposes extremely well, and for the price, it is a heck of a deal . I strongly recommend the MacBook Neo to anyone who needs a highly portable machine for light use. I can definitely see lots of people enjoying this laptop and pushing it to the max with absolutely no regrets.

#Apple #MacBookNeo

How I Use My Notebooks: Writing Letters Without Posting Them:

Since November 2023 I have picked up a new habit of sorts – writing letters without posting them.

What a great idea! I believe it is incredibly important to think on paper. Writing things down helps us process tangled thoughts and complex feelings that we otherwise may not know what to do with.

Like the article above describes, writing a handwritten letter to someone you know, whether they are alive or have passed away may be the key. Having a purpose and a specific audience in mind helps me organize my thoughts. It allows me to develop them in a way that ultimately brings me clarity and peace.

When you lose someone close to you, you quickly realize how many things you still want to share with them. I lost my mom to cancer in 2011, and not a single day goes by without me thinking of something I wish I could tell her. Sometimes I just want to reminisce about a sudden memory. Other times, I feel a strong urge to ask for her advice on life’s complex situations.

Even though she will never read it, sitting down to write her a letter might just give me the outlet I need. The next time I feel that heavy desire to get something off my chest, I am going to pick up a pen and give it a try.

#writing #analog

Just downloaded the Halide app on my iPhone and was playing around with their MKIII Preview when I saw this beam of light coming in through my window. I set the app to Process Zero, tilted my phone a bit and took this shot. It reminded me of a light saber from Star Wars, which I thought was pretty cool.

After I took the shot, I touched it up a bit within the Halide app (film grain and all) and came up with the final product above. Going to keep playing around with it and see what other photos I can make.

#Halide #App #iPhone #Photography #ProcessZero

Inspired by The Pen Addict Ep. 704 and their accompanying blog post, I created my own page listing my Analog Defaults.

Of course, I did not stop there. I also created a page for my App Defaults, after seeing Robb Knight’s apps page. I was surprised that I use a lot of the same apps he does.

But wait… there’s more. I also added my Ham Radio Defaults, too. Check it out!

I am lucky to work in a school system that provides lots of materials for me to use with my students. However, sometimes I am left looking for resources that are strategically tailored to meet my students’ needs that day. While I can usually search the web for ideas, I often cannot use them because they are not aligned with our standards, require a purchase, or are simply not that great to begin with.

Having that itch to scratch left me looking for a “backscratcher” I can call my own. So, I started looking into creating something to meet these needs and benefit my students. But where do I find someone who can help me create my own thing that I can use, free of charge (except for the time I dedicate to it) and, more importantly, guide me through the process? I am no programmer by any stretch of the imagination, but here I am wanting to create my own solution that is tailored to what I want. It cannot be a universal, one-size-fits-all kind of deal. No one is going to take the time to hold my hand while I figure this stuff out. Maybe I can’t find someone, but maybe there is something that can do that?

Well, everyone is talking about A.I. lately and how great it is or how horrible it is, depending on their point of view. I am sure the truth lies somewhere in between. Why not give that a try and see if it can help me achieve my goal.

I started my journey by taking what I had learned on the various podcasts I listen to or the books and articles I read daily and delved into Claude Code. I felt like the proverbial blind men feeling the different parts of an elephant and describing it to each other.

I virtually knew nothing about it. I knew that it was a product by Anthropic and that it was AI. However, I had no idea how to use it, let alone what it was capable of.

I started by reading everything I could about it. Then, I learned how to install it on my Mac via the terminal. I tried it, but it stopped me right away because I did not have a paid Claude account. That was my first stumbling block. I had to go in and sign up for the Claude Pro plan. Once I continued the process, it asked me to log in. I did that, and it was pretty easy. So far, so good.

Now that I had it installed, I ran it by typing “claude” in my terminal. It greeted me with more questions on permissions, folder locations, and so forth. I followed the on-screen prompts, and somehow, I got to a blank terminal window with Claude welcoming me. It asked me to create a folder for the project I wanted to work on. I had no idea what to work on, so I tried several things before landing on the one that I wanted… no, the one that I needed to work on.

Remember that I wanted to find something tailored to my students? Well, in this particular case, I needed something that would provide them with more practice subtracting three digits from three digits, specifically across zeros. For example, **600 - 256 = ? ** and the like. Consequently, I started telling Claude what I wanted in plain English, trying to be as specific as possible so it gave me what I wanted, not just what it thought I needed.

After going back and forth for a bit (ok, ok… a few hours), I narrowed it down to making a Math Quiz Generator that teachers, parents, and even students could use for practice math problems. I didn’t just include subtraction problems because I figured making all four basic operations available would be beneficial to my students and whoever else wanted to give it a try.

Long story short(er), I ended up “vibe coding” my first app. It serves a legitimate purpose, aligns with our educational standards, is easy to use, shows various kinds of math problems on screen, and can print or save them as a PDF. Since my goal was to try and make something for my students, the whole thing is made free for them to use on the web. The only cost was the $20 I had to pay for Claude Pro.

Come to think of it, it is probably going to cost a lot more because now I want to make more things for them to use and help them succeed by practicing what they need.

I am pretty excited about the possibilities now that I have seen what I can make with the help of AI. I still don’t come close to considering myself a programmer any more than I consider myself an author because I can write a blog post. However, if more people can harness the power of these tools to make better, customized tools for their benefit or the benefit of others, then I think we are in good shape. The future looks brighter than what some people make it out to be.

#Education #EdTech #AI #ArtificialIntelligence #VibeCoding #Math #App

I usually listen to the Mac Power Users podcast on Mondays, but I couldn’t wait this week. I just finished listening to Mac Power Users #836 with Stephen Robles as the new co-host a few minutes ago, and he nailed it! For those of you who haven’t heard yet, Stephen Hackett has stepped aside to focus on other projects, so David Sparks needed a new tech partner. After searching high and low, I am sure, he invited Stephen Robles to fill the big chair.

Although not as long as I have been a Mac Power Users fan, I’ve been a fan of Stephen Robles for a while now. He makes excellent YouTube videos and co-hosts a weekly tech news-focused podcast called Primary Tech with Jason Aten. It’s one of the shows I look forward to every week. They’re a great team. Anyway, Stephen brought that same energy to the MPU audience this weekend. His enthusiasm was contagious, and the chemistry with David was flawless. He fits right in.

He earned this spot not because he has a YouTube channel or another podcast, but because he truly knows his stuff, is genuinely excited to talk about it, and is naturally curious. In my opinion, he was the best possible choice.

What an exciting time. I feel better after listening to the episode because, frankly, I was a bit hesitant. I like both of these guys, but I wasn’t sure how well they’d mesh. It’s not an easy thing to step into.

Of course, I’ll miss Stephen Hackett on MPU. But I’m sure he’ll be back as a guest, and I’ll keep following his work through his other podcasts and his writing at 512 Pixels.

Congratulations, Mac Power Users team. I’m super happy to be part of this community. It’s like my comfort zone, and I appreciate it staying at such a high quality.

#MacPowerUsers #Podcast

I decided to re-download Simplenote and give it another shot. I wanted to see if it could fit into my current workflow, especially given its reputation for speed and simplicity.

What I Like

• It lives up to its name. It is refreshing to use a tool that is genuinely simple.
• No bells and whistles. It is strictly for creating notes. There are no distractions to get in the way of writing.
• Fast sync. The syncing across devices is incredibly quick.
• Markdown support. I can write in Markdown, which is a must for me these days.
• Truly cross-platform. It works on all my devices: Mac, iOS, Windows, and Linux. I am actually writing this using the web version right now, but I have my iPhone next to me to test out the syncing as I edit.
• Tag support. Organizing notes with tags is straightforward and effective.
• Markdown preview. You can preview your formatted text easily. On the desktop, it is Ctrl + Shift + P. On iOS, I really like being able to swipe from right to left to show the preview. It is a smooth and responsive feature that is well-implemented.

What I Don’t Like

• Lack of encryption. I don’t believe the notes are encrypted at rest.
• The editor is very basic. The Markdown editor doesn’t highlight syntax or support inline previews like other apps such as Bear or Obsidian. You have to toggle a separate preview mode to see how things look.
• Sustainability concerns. Since the core product is free, I wonder about the long-term sustainability of their business model.
• Corporate ownership. It is owned by Automattic. They own WordPress, Day One, Pocket Casts, and others. While they are a stable company, I generally prefer supporting smaller independent developers when I can.
• Text expansion issues. For some reason, the web version I was using did not let RocketTypist expand and paste my snippets, which slows me down. Worked fine in other apps on myu Mac.
• Privacy tradeoffs. This is the big one for me. Messages are encrypted in transmission but not at rest. Technically, the Automattic staff could access my notes if they wanted to. Worse than that, if their servers ever get hacked, my notes would be exposed.

#NoteTaking #Simplenote

Winter Field Day is an exciting annual event for amateur radio enthusiasts, taking place on the last full weekend of January. It offers a unique opportunity for radio operators to set up field operations in remote locations, enabling them to connect with other participants worldwide.

Winter Field Day is finally upon us this weekend! It is the perfect time to test your gear in less-than-ideal conditions and sharpen those emergency preparedness skills.

If you are a ham radio operator, I hope you make an effort to get together with other amateurs in your area. Let’s make some real noise on the airwaves.

If you are not a licensed radio operator, you can still go out and share some camaraderie with a local club or even your ham radio neighbor. It is a fantastic way to see what the hobby is all about without the pressure of being on the mic yourself. Lots of groups, like the Everglades Amateur Radio Club, have been getting together for years now to run these events. It is always a fun time with great people, so don’t be shy about stopping by.

#WinterFieldDay #WFD #WFD2026 #HamRadio #AmateurRadio

I’ve reached the stage in my career where former students and their parents are reaching out to ask for letters of recommendation. I just wrote one this morning, and I couldn’t be happier to do it. It brings me true joy to see these young people growing up, doing the right thing, and bettering themselves in every way possible. I’m proud to have played even a small part in their lives.

I’d like to believe I made enough of an impact that they look back years later and remember me. It is an honor that they trust me to write on their behalf. Teaching these days might not carry the prestige it once did, but moments like these make me grateful for the opportunity to educate the next generation. I love being able to help them, whenever possible, and wish them nothing but success.

#Education #Gratitude

The PLAUD NotePin is an audio recorder. It is about the size of a large paperclip and looks like a big pill. It has AI features if you pair it with the iOS or Android apps. Once paired, you can transcribe the recordings, or you can summarize them.

It seems convenient to wear. It attaches magnetically to your clothing, or it can clip onto a shirt or anywhere else, like a hat. You can even wear it on your wrist, kind of like a watch. It has its own little band, and it is out there ready for you to use.

To turn on the recording, you press and hold the middle. It starts recording and gives you a little tap. To stop the recording, you once again press the middle, hold it down for a second or so, and it will stop the recording. It gives you two vibrations to let you know that it has finished. Because it is easily accessible, there is no need to unlock your phone. There is no need to go into any apps to start recording. It just records.

Since it captures audio on the device itself, there is no need for an internet connection. The only time you need the internet is once you use the app to have AI transcribe or summarize your audio. This can be done at a later time; it doesn’t have to be while you are recording.

All this sounds cool, and I like the features, but then I realized that it is probably not a good buy for me. I tried to convince myself that it was cool enough to at least try, but then I realized I can get all the functionality this offers on devices I already own. I have an iPhone that can record directly because it has built-in microphones, or I can use my watch to record using apps like Whisper Memos.

Once I get the recording, it transfers to my phone, and the app sends it off to be processed by AI. It gives me the transcript as well as the summary, just like the PLAUD NotePin does. Although the services for Whisper Memos and the PLAUD extended transcription are about the same price annually, I do get to save on purchasing the NotePin, itself (~$169).

I love the concept. I like the size and how it is an all-in-one little device to serve that single purpose, and apparently, it works very well. What I don’t like is that I have to buy, charge and carry another device in addition to my phone and my watch. I really don’t like that it includes only 300 minutes of audio per month. Otherwise, you have to pay the extra subscription cost.

I don’t foresee myself using five hours worth of audio every month, but if you are a student or somebody who has to record meetings all the time, you could easily pass this limit in less than a month. I am going to continue watching this space to see what develops. If these audio recorders turn into something better, like a more fully featured assistant, I might change my mind.

#WearableTech #AI