I'm still running a 2017 13" MBP. Only reasons I'm considering a new box are (1) security updates; (2) certain software no longer running on Intel chips (ahem,

I'm still running a 2017 13" MBP. Only reasons I'm considering a new box are (1) security updates; (2) certain software no longer running on Intel chips (ahem, OmniFocus, BOO); and the keyboard (one of the problematic ones) is on its last legs, even after several keycap replacements (which Apple has always done for free, to its credit — but the hinges are starting to break, so simply putting on new caps is not going to be an option anymore). I'm hesitant to buy something running Tahoe. But even still, it's a toss-up: besides opening up Mac Silicon software compatibility, the low-tier Neo would be about 3x faster than the 2017 machine with roughly the same quality screen, for half of the original, non-inflation-adjusted price of the 2017 MBP. (With Costco pre-order, $575 non-academic price after factoring in the standard discount and the $15 shop card.) That's pretty nuts. The 8 GB unified memory is not a big deal for office and web uses; the 256 GB drive is not a big deal with everything on Dropbox; and the lack of Touch ID is a feature when considering current Fourth and Fifth Amendment precedent and the hijinks of the current administration. Not bad for a couch computer that can still easily crank out legal work, and that can be tossed in a backpack without worrying too much about damage or replacement. I'm tempted to pick one up and install Asahi Linux on the old machine.