Locator: 50273AAPL.
My hunch: missiles quit flying in the Mideast by April 15, 2026.
DFW TSA security checkpoints five days after last TSA paycheck (March 15):
- 12 / 13 security checkpoints: green;
- 1 / 13 yellow (in least used terminal; other checkpoints in this terminal, 2/3 green.
PDX: I just got back from Portland. I would like to go back this summer. I'm pretty much committed to an October (Halloween trip). A summer trip is contingent upon:
- fares (Iran surcharges); and,
- TSA concerns.
If things work out, I would like to return to Portland, Oregon, NLT early July, 2026.
**************************
Apple Laptops
For the high school student, best choice: MacBook Neo.
For the graduate student: MacBook Pro.
For the college student, a toss-up -- the Neo, the Air, the Pro.
It depends. Probably the Air.
Apparently Apple can't keep the Neo in stock.
How I keep the Air and Pro separated:
- chip -- both M5;
- cost: a big difference; important for me
- cost for basic model, smallest screen: $1,099 vs $1,699 (Apple increased the price on the Pro);
- cost for basic model, largest screen (my preference): $1,299 vs $1,699.
- screen -- the Air has a slightly bigger screen
- memory -- both the Air and Pro basic model, 512 GB of memory
- SDXC card slot — definitely don’t need
- Air: no card slot
- Pro: one card slot
- sound: no difference -- both have six-speak sound system with force-cancelling woofers;
- ports (kind of a big difference):
- Air: two Thunderbolt ports
- Pro: three Thunderbolt ports
Minor considerations:
- cooling (probably doesn't matter, but for those who know, this could be a big deal)
- Air vs Pro: passive vs active
- battery (makes no difference to me)
- 18 hours vs 24 hours
- color options (makes no difference me)
- Air: four options
- Pro: two options
- weight
- Air, big screen: 3.3 pounds
- Pro: 3.4 pounds
- height:
- Pro: 0.61 inch
- Air: 0.45 inch (edge to Air)
- depth and height when open (it's really the difference between the small Air and the large Air
- travel (a/c, reclining seat) -- edge goes to small-screen Air
- Air, small screen: 8.5 inches
- Air, large screen: 9.4 inches
So, my preference:
- at home, no travel: Air, large screen
- travel (air): Air, small screen
- or could I take the Neo on the plan when traveling?
- Neo:
- height (depth): a bit more than 8.12 inches (slightly less then Air, small screen)
- would fit better on the a/c tray
Putting it all together:
- for my lifestyle and prejudices: for home, the large screen Air, large screen;
- for just the fun of the MacBook when traveling? The MacBook Neo.
What I'm likely to do:
- since my current MacBook Air (M1) more than meets all my needs at home:
- MacBook Neo for my next trip to Portland, just to test it for travel;
- how can one pass up a $499 Apple laptop?
- MacBook Air big screen when I feel the need to upgrade my M1 (not sooner than next summer).
