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De-Suckafying Apple’s Butterfly Keyboard

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Re: De-Suckafying Apple’s Butterfly Keyboard

#11

Post by shimms »

geophile wrote: post #2

I've owned MBPs for over ten years. But my mid-2015 15" MBP ("peak MBP") is giving out, and I need a replacement. It won't be another MBP, because of the keyboard regressions -- the butterfly keyboard, and the touchbar. Thinking about a System 76 Galago.

> It won't be another MBP, because of the keyboard regressions

Have you tried the third generation butterfly on the 2018 MBP and MBA?

I hate with a passion the first two attempts at the butterfly keyboard, but the third gen I actually enjoy using.

Re: De-Suckafying Apple’s Butterfly Keyboard

#12

Post by pbrb »

geophile wrote: post #2

I've owned MBPs for over ten years. But my mid-2015 15" MBP ("peak MBP") is giving out, and I need a replacement. It won't be another MBP, because of the keyboard regressions -- the butterfly keyboard, and the touchbar. Thinking about a System 76 Galago.

I went with an x1 carbon. Dual boot linux (ubuntu with plasma desktop) and couldn't be happier.

Re: De-Suckafying Apple’s Butterfly Keyboard

#13

Post by dkhenry »

geophile wrote: post #2

I've owned MBPs for over ten years. But my mid-2015 15" MBP ("peak MBP") is giving out, and I need a replacement. It won't be another MBP, because of the keyboard regressions -- the butterfly keyboard, and the touchbar. Thinking about a System 76 Galago.

I was in the exact same situation late last year, and I went with a X1 Carbon 6th Generation. It has been fantastic. Everything just works, and it has probably the best keyboard I have ever used on a laptop

Re: De-Suckafying Apple’s Butterfly Keyboard

#14

Post by maxxxxx »

dkonofalski wrote: post #8

I see a lot of complaining about this keyboard online but I have yet to meet someone in person that thought it was as terrible as claimed. I love the new MacBook keyboards and Touch Bar but it's possible that I'm a complete outlier.

I know people who hate the keyboard on their 2016 or 2017 MacBooks. The 2018 models seem better.

Re: De-Suckafying Apple’s Butterfly Keyboard

#15

Post by imandride »

izacus wrote: post #10
giancarlostoro wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I felt the same, but I went with a Surface Book 2 instead, I love this thing. Pretty sweet keyboard and I can get as Unix friendly as I need to with MobaXterm (use it for X forwarding) and WSL. I have an ASUS Laptop with Linux on it for my pure Linux itch and I still got a Macbook Air. I was ticket off that the Macbook came back and the Air looks more like a Macbook than the Macbook, they should swap names (I've said…

I've been looking at one of these and the only thing that worries me is the hinge - it looks like the laptop is "fat" at the hinge part instead of closing together snugly. Is that a problem when carrying it around in comparison to a mac? Is it an annoyance?

I have had the Surface Book 1 since launch and the hinge still work like the day I bought it. Come to think of it I haven't heard any complaints about the hinge at all.

Re: De-Suckafying Apple’s Butterfly Keyboard

#16

Post by reaperducer »

dkonofalski wrote: post #8

I see a lot of complaining about this keyboard online but I have yet to meet someone in person that thought it was as terrible as claimed. I love the new MacBook keyboards and Touch Bar but it's possible that I'm a complete outlier.

I'm of mixed opinion on it.

It took a while to get used to using it every day. Now I'm OK with it, except for the arrow keys.

My biggest problems are that there are no landmarks for your fingers. I swivel between two or three or four computers when I work, and coming back to the MBP, it's hard to re-center my hands without looking. On earlier MacBooks, I think my brain used the inverted T arrows, because my fingers seem to go there first.

I like the touch bar, but it needs more support, and more consistent support. Even from Apple, itself. Sometimes I can authenticate with a fingerprint. Sometimes not. Sometimes confirmations are on the touchbar. Sometimes not. It's an inconsistent experience.

All of these problems will become moot in a few weeks anyway, since I ordered a proper full-sized Apple Bluetooth keyboard, trackpad, and riser. I miss my F13-F19 keys more than I like the touchbar.

Re: De-Suckafying Apple’s Butterfly Keyboard

#17

Post by Ralfp »

dkonofalski wrote: post #8

I see a lot of complaining about this keyboard online but I have yet to meet someone in person that thought it was as terrible as claimed. I love the new MacBook keyboards and Touch Bar but it's possible that I'm a complete outlier.

I've got my MBP on November 2016. Keyboard was ok until one day key "R" didn't click on pressing (it still registered). I've tried blowing air from different angles, shaking, fiddling under it with thin piece of paper to no avail.

One day I've pressed it, and it did click, and then it popped out. By then Apple had free servicing action in effect, so I've went to local store and they replaced my top body with new one (also replacing battery, touchpad and speakers).

Touchbar is completely useless for me. If anything, it freaks me out because there's absolutely zero feedback to finger when I accidentally touch it.

Re: De-Suckafying Apple’s Butterfly Keyboard

#18

Post by crispinb »

dkonofalski wrote: post #8

I see a lot of complaining about this keyboard online but I have yet to meet someone in person that thought it was as terrible as claimed. I love the new MacBook keyboards and Touch Bar but it's possible that I'm a complete outlier.

I don't think you're an outlier. Most of the people I know who own them don't have a problem with the keyboards.

But then they are outnumbered in my circles by people who've either deferred new MB Pro purchases, desperately hoping Apple will relent on the Touch Bar, or (like myself) have moved to other platforms & given up on Apple.

Re: De-Suckafying Apple’s Butterfly Keyboard

#19

Post by h3throw »

dkonofalski wrote: post #8

I see a lot of complaining about this keyboard online but I have yet to meet someone in person that thought it was as terrible as claimed. I love the new MacBook keyboards and Touch Bar but it's possible that I'm a complete outlier.

I actually prefer it even. I don't like the mushy keys on the prior MacBooks.

EDIT: That said I find the touchbar to be a gimmick and not something I really like using. It's not much of a downgrade as compared to function keys, however.

Re: De-Suckafying Apple’s Butterfly Keyboard

#20

Post by snowwrestler »

perplex wrote: post #4

This is cool (and I don't even use mechanical keyboards). It reminds me of the movie "The Dilemma" where the characters were making an audio system to emit fake "muscle car" engine sounds for electric vehicles. Not a great quality clip, but here is the scene: https://youtu.be/Etu44hXY3zg?t=55

Some luxury cars play engine noise through the speakers:

https://www.caranddriver.com/features/a15117726/faking-it-en...

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