If Apple built a $299 "Neo" desktop PC, Windows would have a real problem

Apple's surprise $599 MacBook Neo has shocked the PC industry by entering the budget market using repurposed A18 Pro chips from iPhone production, turning manufacturing waste into profit. A hypothetical $299 Mac Neo desktop could follow this strategy, using binned chips to create an ultra-affordable computer challenging Windows dominance in education and entry-level markets. This coincides with Windows facing user satisfaction issues and rising component costs potentially increasing laptop prices by 40%, creating a strategic opportunity for Apple to expand its ecosystem reach.