Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Problems with MacBook butterfly switch keyboards

theoutline.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

61–70 of 291 posts

Re: Problems with MacBook butterfly switch keyboards

#61

Post by saurik »

ricw wrote: post #27

I like the feel of the new keyboard, though I have two issues with it: 1. sometimes buttons do lock up. i'm unsure whether this is the same issue as in the article, but by pressing them harder they typically start working again. 2. the keyboard is much louder than the one on my prior MacBook pro. I feel very self-conscious whenever i type anywhere public. Maybe this is just me being self-conscious..

I have also noticed that the new keyboard is much louder, which would be tolerable if it were higher quality, but it isn't: it is simply inferior technology.

Re: Problems with MacBook butterfly switch keyboards

#63

Post by http-teapot »

reustle wrote: post #28
Gaelan wrote: post #9

I actually really like my 2017 MBP's keyboard. There isn't much key travel, but the keys do have a very satisfying "click." I prefer it over older apple keyboards. Keys do have issues weekly or so, but that's resolved by hitting the key a bunch; it's an inconvenience, but certainly not a dealbreaker.

> Keys do have issues weekly or so, but that's resolved by hitting the key a bunch I've been considering moving to a 12 MacBook but hearing stuff like this scares me

I have two 12 MacBook at home. I've replaced the keyboard twice on one and zero times on the other. Each time some keys got stuck in pressed position which meant we had to press harder. My other had similar issues except the keys popped back up somehow.

That occasional glorious press on "Return" key may lock it... and it feels terrible.

Re: Problems with MacBook butterfly switch keyboards

#65

Post by threeseed »

crispinb wrote: post #43
threeseed wrote: post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Use BetterTouchTool for the Touch Bar. It allows you to customise it for each application and assign your own buttons based on menu items, scripts etc. For development it is amazing. I have dedicated buttons for Build, Run, Debug, Stop, Step Into and Step Over. For terminal I can adjust terminal profiles with one button. Also blame Intel more than Apple for performance issues.

> For development it is amazing. I have dedicated buttons for Build, Run, Debug, Stop, Step Into and Step Over I have these in IntelliJ as standard key combos (some being Fn keys). All of these I can touch type. I can't see how this would be improved by having to look down at the mini-screen at the top of the keyboard.

You can use it for things wouldn't normally remember or that require arcane key commands.

Two buttons I use are to Expand/Collapse All Code Folds.

Re: Problems with MacBook butterfly switch keyboards

#66

Post by executesorder66 »

> “Hold on,” I said. “If a single piece of dust lays the whole computer out, don't you think that's kind of a problem?”

> ...

> The Genius shrugged empathetically. He cast around and pointed to a nearby pre-2015 MacBook Pro with relatively thicker keys. "I have one of those," he said apologetically.

Wow. That's got to be the worst tech-support I have ever heard of.

Re: Problems with MacBook butterfly switch keyboards

#67

Post by kalleboo »

I had keys go bad twice on my 2017 MBP, but both times I've managed to "massage" them back to life by pressing down hard and wiggling the keys around.

My previous laptop, the original 2012 MBP Retina, lasted 5 years. I have my doubts this one is built as robustly...

That said I actually enjoy typing on this keyboard. The short travel and sharp, stable clickiness has lowered my typing error rate and makes it feel like I'm typing faster. I was never a good typist though.

Re: Problems with MacBook butterfly switch keyboards

#68

Post by threeseed »

ux-app wrote: post #52
threeseed wrote: post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There is a functional Escape key. It's right there in the top left corner. I use it hundreds of times a day. It's definitely not as nice as a dedicated key but you get used to it. And if you want permanent function keys then just go to the Keyboard control panel and enable it.

stop making excuses for Apple's dumb decisions. With physical buttons I can find a key by feel just by running my fingers across the top row. Good luck accurately hitting any button on that stupid little touch screen.

The Escape key is always in the same position (top left).

I always hit it with 100% accuracy just like I did on my previous MacBook.

And I am not making excuses for Apple. I think they should've made Escape key in particular a physical key.

Re: Problems with MacBook butterfly switch keyboards

#69

Post by csydas »

aluhut wrote: post #58
threeseed wrote: post #48

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Do you realise how ridiculous you sound ? You're blaming a Mac for Windows OS behaviour. On Mac OS pressing the power button does nothing, it takes seconds to come back from sleep and it never drops VPN unless you are going to sleep for hours.

As I understood it the part where you hit the power button when you don't want is the root of the problem. The horrible Mac keyboard is accidentally also the topic here.

Well, as noted though, this behavior is determined by the OS; it's not a hard-coded part of the system or anything. Windows has a control-panel option for what Windows should do when the power button is pressed, and for whatever reason, it defaults to "Shutdown". This is not the behavior on macOS, and as such accidental presses are not a problem on macOS, nor would it on Windows if the user desired.

Re: Problems with MacBook butterfly switch keyboards

#70

Post by threeseed »

aluhut wrote: post #58
threeseed wrote: post #48

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Do you realise how ridiculous you sound ? You're blaming a Mac for Windows OS behaviour. On Mac OS pressing the power button does nothing, it takes seconds to come back from sleep and it never drops VPN unless you are going to sleep for hours.

As I understood it the part where you hit the power button when you don't want is the root of the problem. The horrible Mac keyboard is accidentally also the topic here.

I don't think you understand the situation though.

On the older Macbook's the power key is still in the top right corner just like it is on the new ones. If you can't type properly it is still possible to hit it.

Not that tapping the power button does anything.

Post reply on HN