In this video, I’m comparing two Apple “$599 computers” that a lot of people are cross-shopping in 2026: the MacBook Neo and the M4 iPad Air paired with ESR’s Shift Keyboard. On paper, both can look like the obvious budget pick, but they solve totally different problems depending on how you actually work. So I break it down the way I’d choose it for real life: what you’re doing day-to-day, what kind of apps you rely on, and whether your workflow is more iPad-first or laptop-first. I also talk through the accessories that make the iPad Air feel more like a complete setup—especially the ESR Shift Keyboard and the ESR Geo Pencil—because the iPad experience changes a lot once you add the right keyboard and a solid Pencil. The main takeaway is simple: if you want a traditional computer experience and you live in desktop-style apps, the MacBook Neo is the safer buy. If you want a flexible, iPad-first workflow for productivity, note-taking, and creator tools—with touch and Pencil in the mix—the M4 iPad Air setup can be the better value, even at the same starting price.