Overview
- Microsoft's official Windows account posted a video promoting the $699 Dell XPS 13 as a response to a viral clip that praised Apple's MacBook Neo but used an HP Victus gaming laptop in the comparison.
- The company's post drew largely negative reaction on Reddit and X, with many users saying the real problem is Windows performance rather than hardware quality.
- Reviewers and editors noted a key tradeoff in many $699 Windows rivals is their 8GB RAM configuration, which macOS handles more smoothly than Windows for typical multitasking workloads.
- Industry sources report DRAM and memory‑package price increases are raising per‑unit costs, a dynamic that prompted Apple to raise the Neo's base price by $100 and is pushing OEMs to change configurations or raise prices.
- Windows Central reporting, attributed to Zac Bowden's sources, says Microsoft appears to have stopped stocking lower‑cost Surface models such as the Go 4 and Laptop Go 3, a move that could weaken Microsoft's presence in the budget laptop segment if confirmed.