Is MacBook Neo (8 GB or 16 GB RAM) sufficient for SPSS 27?

The MacBook Neo is only available with 8 GB of RAM. If you custom-order a M5 MacBook Air, or a 14" MacBook Pro with a plain M5 chip, you can get 16, 24, or 32 GB of RAM.

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The requirements for IBM SPSS Statistics Desktop 27.0.1.0 do not mention support for Apple Silicon or any version of macOS higher than Monterey.

https://www.ibm.com/software/reports/compatibility/clarity-reports/report/html/softwareReqsForProduct?deliverableId=726D0F60ED0911EA83919FA7900833F8&osPlatforms=spcrAllValues&duComponentIds=spcrAllValues&mandatoryCapIds=spcrAllValues&optionalCapIds=spcrAllValues

The requirements for IBM SPSS Statistics Desktop 31.0.1.0 do mention Tahoe. They mention ARM64 in the context of Sonoma and Tahoe, but not of Sequoia, which seems very strange to me, and makes me wonder whether that is just a typo.

https://www.ibm.com/software/reports/compatibility/clarity-reports/report/html/softwareReqsForProduct?deliverableId=72536CD1F13A4738AB14A1F7D1BF5CF2&osPlatforms=spcrAllValues&duComponentIds=spcrAllValues&mandatoryCapIds=spcrAllValues&optionalCapIds=spcrAllValues

Apple plans to phase out Rosetta 2 in macOS 28, so any application software that is Intel-only will not run once that release comes out (presumably in Fall 2027) and you upgrade to it.

Clicking on the "Hardware" tab of the link provided by @Servant of Cats, it mentions 4GB minimum, but 8GB+ is recommended. You always want to meet or exceed the Recommended System Requirements.

Keep in mind 8GB of RAM is the absolute bare minimum to run macOS these days doing just basic things. If you want or may need to do more for the next 5 years life time or more of this laptop.....will 8GB be sufficient? You do not want to grow out of the laptop too soon.

And very carefully review the Tech Specs for the Neo @SergZak linked. There is only one USB3 port (1GB/s)....the other USB-C port only supports the extremely slow USB2 transfers of 40MB/s. It has no backlit keyboard, and the low end model does not have TouchID. And 250GB of internal storage is not very much which may be Ok if you don't plan to store much on the laptop's internal SSD and your workloads do not require much storage. You should keep at least 100GB of Free storage space before starting any workloads.....and never let the Free storage space go below 20%. If you use an external display, then pay attention to that detail as well.

hrlady123 wrote:

Is the MacBook Neo (with 8 GB RAM / 16 GB RAM) sufficient for running SPSS 27 (via the coursepack) for a college statistics class, including running datasets and doing homework?

No.

That’s a certainty too, as colleges and college apps and your own computing requirements will only increase. Games and simulations get bigger, too.

Sure, technically something might fit in 8 GB and however-much SSD now, but will future SPSS versions and future apps and future LLM models fit in the same in three or even two years? Hint: Answer unclear, but probably not…

Looks like the upcoming SPSS 32 probably supports Apple silicon too, per this:

https://community.ibm.com/community/user/discussion/spss-29-apple-silicon

"Is the MacBook Neo (with 8 GB RAM / 16 GB RAM) sufficient for running SPSS 27 (via the coursepack) for a college statistics class, including running datasets and doing homework?"

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Requirements for College:

Ask your Professor or your Academic Administrator. If they perform the teaching, then they ought to know.

Updates being of Concern:

Note that Apple has a reputation for providing updates for 6 or 7 years and then stops providing them for their devices, meaning you must purchase a new Mac to get the latest operating system, from them on out.

You basically only have two options for getting a <$1K laptop:

1. Buy a refurbished MacBook Air or MacBook Pro from either Apple or a third-party, like MacSales.
2. Buy a new non-Apple notebook that runs Windows Home. FWIW, I recently purchased a ASUS Vivobook Go 15 from Wallmart for $269. Note that an upgrade to Windows Pro may be required to run SPSS. Also note that these very inexpensive laptops come with limited RAM and storage.

The last version of SPSS I could find for macOS was for Intel Macs only. So I would say no.

Also note that there is no 16GB MacBook Neo. It only comes with 8GB RAM. No exceptions, no upgrades. Period.

If you got this misinformation by using our "friend", AI, it's dead wrong.

Here's the Apple website link to the Neo's tech specs:

MacBook Neo Tech Specs

“The professor stated Mac and windows operating computers work, just not Chromebooks. My 2020 MacBook 16 inch broke on me last night so I’m trying to quickly see what my options are for replacements since I don’t want to spend over 1k again.”

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Clarify your Post:

How exactly would you define “broke”?

• If it physically broke, then you’ll need to get the hardware replaced.

• Will it not power on?

• Can you not get into macOS, then that is another thing in its own.

• Lastly, note that Apple has a tendency/reputation to provide updates for its devices for 7 years, and then stops providing them. So, two generations out from macOS Tahoe, I would not expect it to even be upgradable again.

hrlady123 wrote:

Broke as in the computer started glitching last night how old tvs did and the whole screen went black and when I power it on I hear the turn on sound but nothing is displayed.

You mention a 2020 16" laptop which I'm assuming is really a MBPro 16" (2019) Intel Mac purchased in 2020.

Do not spend any money on repairs for multiple reasons...the main one is that particular model has an high rate of failure for its Logic Board even for the replacement Logic Boards.

Also, a NEO is a downgrade from your older laptop in multiple ways, but especially in regards to both memory & storage.

Re: “My 2020 MacBook 16 inch broke on me last night”

There was no 2020 16” model. The last (and only) 16” Intel model came out in 2019, and the first 16” Apple Silicon models came out in 2021.

The 2019 one was one of a very few Macs that can run Tahoe - the last major version of macOS that will run on any Intel-based Mac.

“Broke as in the computer started glitching last night how old tvs did and the whole screen went black and when I power it on I hear the turn on sound but nothing is displayed.”

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Flickering Screen:

If this were me, and my screen was flickering, and didn’t have the financial resources to get a new Mac, I’d use an external screen —preferably a projector, when on the go.

But, on the go, you’ll have to use it in clamshell mode(and there is a Terminal command to do so, making the external screen operate as it should, permitting it to fall asleep or not). Can’t come up with the command at the moment.

As for hauling it around, using just an external monitor would not meet your needs. So, a small projector (Brookstone found on eBay) with a small pull-up screen might just do the job. That’s how I make presentations, and watch it, when needing a bigger screen on the go.