What does a veteran tech writer actually keep in his toolkit after 15 years of testing thousands of products?

In this episode of the Plugged In Podcast, Katie sits down with Brian Wolf—a veteran technology writer and content strategist whose bylines have appeared in Tech Radar, Digital Trends, Yahoo, and Digital Trends. Brian brings a unique "MBA lens" to consumer tech, helping us separate the true innovations from the "bean counter" decisions.

The conversation dives deep into Apple’s latest moves, from the surprise success of the budget-friendly MacBook Neo to the "love-hate" relationship pros are having with the loss of the Mac Pro. Brian explains why he’s excited about the M5 Silicon transition but remains skeptical about the "AI-washing" of hardware like mice and keyboards.

We also get a fascinating look at the practical side of AI. Brian shares how he used Claude Code to reorganize five years of messy Obsidian notes in under 30 minutes and tells a slightly "scary" story about how an AI assistant remembered his protein drink order from a drive-thru mic.

Whether you’re a professional writer, a Mac enthusiast, or someone trying to navigate the "subscription fatigue" of modern software, this episode offers an honest, no-nonsense look at the state of technology in 2026.

Topics Covered
The "Value" Filter: How Brian decides which products earn a review and which get sent back.

The MacBook Neo Success: Why Apple’s play for the budget and college market is working.

M5 Silicon & The Pro Gap: The shift from the Mac Pro to the Mac Studio and souped-up laptops.

Organizing the Chaos: Using Claude to index and recover years of forgotten research and notes.

The Subscription Audit: Deciding which AI and creative tools are worth the $20–$30 monthly fee.

AI Hardware vs. Software: Why "AI buttons" on accessories are currently just a gimmick.

The Three Essentials: Brian’s "unstoppable" kit for making a living in the digital age.

The Tablet Trap: Why the iPad Pro still hasn't replaced the laptop for real productivity.

About the Plugged In Podcast
Plugged In is a conversation series exploring how real work actually gets done.
Each episode features thoughtful professionals sharing how they structure their work, make decisions, and stay productive in modern, tech-enabled environments.
No hustle culture. No “10 hacks to wake up at 4am.”
Just honest conversations about what works, what doesn’t, and why.

Guest
Brian Wolf
Veteran Technology Writer & Content Strategist.
With over 15 years of experience, Brian has held leadership roles at Future PLC and iMore, covering the intersection of consumer electronics and business strategy.

Connect with Brian:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryanmwolfe/

Chapters
00:00 Introduction

00:45 The Day-to-Day of a Tech Writer

02:30 The Upgrade Bar: Does This Product Earn a Review?

04:15 Apple vs. Windows: The Platform Debate

05:15 The MacBook Neo and the M5 Silicon Shift

07:30 Professional Frustrations: The Death of the Mac Pro

09:30 The Importance of Color and Aesthetics in Hardware

11:00 Trimming the Toolkit: Firing Underused Subscriptions

13:00 Reorganizing 5 Years of Notes with Claude Code

16:00 Embracing Change vs. AI Skepticism

18:00 The "Protein Drink" Story: How AI is Always Listening

21:00 Is AI Hardware Gimmicky? Brian’s Take on AI Accessories

23:00 Looking Toward CES 2027

24:30 The Three Things Brian Can’t Live Without

26:00 Laptop First: Why Tablets Still Can't Do the Job

28:00 Conclusion and Final Thoughts