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

121–130 of 291 posts

Re: Problems with MacBook butterfly switch keyboards

#121

Post by forgottenpass »

rothbardrand wrote: post #46

I have the 2016 MBP, and have been using it extensively in third world conditions this year. The keyboard has been so good that I didn't even notice it. What I do notice is having to limit myself to the 15 inch display vs the two 40" 4k displays I have at home. The machine supports four, and I would buy a third 4k display (This time UHD) if I could figure out a desk arrangement that supports all three and still keep…

I'm not sure what to make of your post.

Are you trying to argue that your personal lack of experiencing a component failure means the component's fleet-wide failure rate is acceptable?

Or are you just saying you like your computer, and tossed in a flippant assumption that you don't really stand behind?

Re: Problems with MacBook butterfly switch keyboards

#122

Post by akeck »

manigandham wrote: post #73

Side note: the Apple store is the worst retail experience I've had, every single time. The entire process seems to be designed for clueless geriatric retirees who have plenty of time and no understanding of technology to be slowly accosted and removed of their money by the exact opposite of a genius.

Other than saying 'Hi', I generally don't interact with anyone in the Apple Store these days. I get what I need, scan the bar codes of the items I'm buying in the Apple Store app, and then walk out.

Re: Problems with MacBook butterfly switch keyboards

#123

Post by jacek »

JoshMnem wrote: post #119

Try ThinkPad + Linux. Amazing environment for programming, $1,000+ cheaper than MBP, nice keyboards, better specs for the price, including several years of at-home next-day repair service.

I agree that Thinkpad + Linux is a great combo (with wonderful keyboards!). However, repair service wasn't that good in my case. Response and shipping was super fast, but my laptop was at their repair center for 2 weeks waiting for a part (battery).

I switched to Thinkpad with Linux from Macs 18 months ago. Adapting took maybe two months. I would not like to go back.

Re: Problems with MacBook butterfly switch keyboards

#124

Post by CoolGuySteve »

micaksica wrote: post #44
saurik wrote: post #21

Based on the title I assumed that this person was going to be complaining about joint damage due to the low key travel. This keyboard on my 12" MacBook is so bad that between having to get the top case replaced to fix broken keys (when as stated in the article, careful blowing didn't work and trying to replace the keys caused them to break) and my fingers feeing like they have aged many years from the poor ergonomics…

Your story resonated with me because I had the same experiences with a 12” MacBook. While I can’t really use you as an example, since you kind of need a Mac for a lot of the work you do specifically, I’ve heard the same complaints about Apple hardware from other long-time Mac users that don’t actually need to have a Mac. I am curious how many of those of us that don’t need macOS day to day have voted with their walle…

I switched to an Asus UX305 with Ubuntu a couple years ago for the matte screen and the fact that it has no fans. No complaints so far.

Re: Problems with MacBook butterfly switch keyboards

#125

Post by mFixman »

dillondoyle wrote: post #13
nrclark wrote: post #5

My work gave me one of the 2016 15" MBPs as my main computer, and the keyboard is horrible. My V key double-presses about half the time, and the rest of the keys are really hard to press down all the way. Some of the keys make a weird metal rattle when I press them. Typing on that wretched keyboard for more than an hour or so literally bruises my fingers. Since I do most of my day-to-day work at a dock with an extern…

My biggest beaf with the TouchBar: volume takes two clicks! Instead of an up down and mute button, I get mute and volume which then opens a slider to the left of the click. So instead of just clicking once to lower volume I have to click, move my finger and slide. It would be so easy to allow custom button to add back on (and maybe there is that I haven't been able to find?) I also accidentally 'touch my pinky finger…

You can add "Volume Up" and "Volume Down" keys, along with other useful functions, in the initial touchbar view by going to the settings.

Re: Problems with MacBook butterfly switch keyboards

#126

Post by jagger27 »

JoshMnem wrote: post #119

Try ThinkPad + Linux. Amazing environment for programming, $1,000+ cheaper than MBP, nice keyboards, better specs for the price, including several years of at-home next-day repair service.

> better specs for the price

If only the displays were 16:10 or 3:2 and as nice as a MacBook's. Otherwise, yeah, they're better.

Re: Problems with MacBook butterfly switch keyboards

#127

Post by mnm1 »

I wonder if at some point we'll see lawsuits over these horrible keyboards from people with repetitive stress injuries. I sure hope so. This problem was foreseen and could have been avoided but Apple refused. Now it's turned into a multiplicity of problems. Personally I'm done with Apple's shitty products.

Re: Problems with MacBook butterfly switch keyboards

#128

Post by Eric_WVGG »

threeseed wrote: post #37
suresk wrote: post #18

The new MBPs are such a mixed bag for me.. I got one at work, while I still use a 2012 MBP, and I go back and forth on some things.... 1) New keyboard took a while to get used to, and it does seem like they are a little finicky. After a while, I've gotten used to the feel of it and actually prefer it for the most part. The arrow keys are really hard to use, though.. I do hate that it is such an expensive/involved thi…

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.

+1 BetterTouchTool. I have buttons for a "visor" style terminal prompt, OnePassword everywhere, web and mobile inspector tools, love it all. Would hate to give up the Touch Bar now that I've finally made it useful.

Which is kind of the key — Apple didn't build in enough functionality out-of-the-box for users to make it useful. They left it to developers, and developers dropped the ball.

All of this is a separate issue from the keyboard issues. My "F" key has all but popped off. That has nothing to do with the Touch Bar.

Re: Problems with MacBook butterfly switch keyboards

#129

Post by untog »

micaksica wrote: post #44
saurik wrote: post #21

Based on the title I assumed that this person was going to be complaining about joint damage due to the low key travel. This keyboard on my 12" MacBook is so bad that between having to get the top case replaced to fix broken keys (when as stated in the article, careful blowing didn't work and trying to replace the keys caused them to break) and my fingers feeing like they have aged many years from the poor ergonomics…

Your story resonated with me because I had the same experiences with a 12” MacBook. While I can’t really use you as an example, since you kind of need a Mac for a lot of the work you do specifically, I’ve heard the same complaints about Apple hardware from other long-time Mac users that don’t actually need to have a Mac. I am curious how many of those of us that don’t need macOS day to day have voted with their walle…

I was very jealous reading about the announcement of the Surface Book 2 yesterday. I suspect it will be the ultimate as far as Windows laptops are concerned.

Sadly, iOS development is part of my work, so I'm stuck with Apple. I'm dreading the next laptop 'upgrade' I get.

Re: Problems with MacBook butterfly switch keyboards

#130

Post by leg100 »

jagger27 wrote: post #126
JoshMnem wrote: post #119

Try ThinkPad + Linux. Amazing environment for programming, $1,000+ cheaper than MBP, nice keyboards, better specs for the price, including several years of at-home next-day repair service.

> better specs for the price If only the displays were 16:10 or 3:2 and as nice as a MacBook's. Otherwise, yeah, they're better.

I much prefer the display on my t470s to my macbook pro retina (albeit from 2012).

Same "retina" resolution, but the matte display makes reading text a pleasure.

Post reply on HN