My MacBook keyboard is broken and it's insanely expensive to fix • Hacker News Board

Re: My MacBook keyboard is broken and it's insanely expensive to fix

#81

Post by jdpedrie » Sun, Mar 29, 2026, 9:21 PM UTC

wvenable wrote: post #50

MostlyStable wrote: post #42

>Here’s hoping governments regulate laptop manufacturers to actually make repairable machines in the future. No, this is a bad solution. If you want a repairable machine, buy one. They exist. Others have already mentioned Framework, but there are other options that aren't that far down the spectrum either. One of the things macbook users praise the most is "build quality", which often means the solidity of the device…

> No, this is a bad solution. You didn't say why this is a bad solution. The government mandates that cars get safer every year and fatalities are down 78% from the 1960s. Whenever government regulates things to benefit people, people tend to benefit. > One of the things macbook users praise the most is "build quality", which often means the solidity of the device, lack of flex, etc. It seems like the Macbook Neo has…

> The government mandates that cars get safer every year and fatalities are down 78% from the 1960s. Whenever government regulates things to benefit people, people tend to benefit.

On some metrics. On affordability, new cars are considerably more expensive. Whether that's a worthwhile tradeoff is beside the point. The GP's point is that there's no free lunch, and your example doesn't address that.

Re: My MacBook keyboard is broken and it's insanely expensive to fix

#82

Post by kakacik » Sun, Mar 29, 2026, 9:22 PM UTC

MostlyStable wrote: post #42

>Here’s hoping governments regulate laptop manufacturers to actually make repairable machines in the future. No, this is a bad solution. If you want a repairable machine, buy one. They exist. Others have already mentioned Framework, but there are other options that aren't that far down the spectrum either. One of the things macbook users praise the most is "build quality", which often means the solidity of the device…

What a wildly incorrect comment. You realize its perfectly feasible and fully within apple engineers powers to design trivially repairable notebook (or any other device) while not losing any of those qualities you mention (which are easy to find in expensive competition too)? Don't make those extremely well paid engineers incompetent just because it suits your argument.

But vendor lockin mandated by management is way more powerful than powers of engineers, apple ain't immune to this since its accountants and lawyers running the company.

I'll give it a benefit of a doubt and won't claim its a PR comment and just a uncritical fanboy one, but its pretty close.

Re: My MacBook keyboard is broken and it's insanely expensive to fix

#83

Post by AussieWog93 » Sun, Mar 29, 2026, 9:25 PM UTC

ThePowerOfFuet wrote: post #66

radley wrote: post #62

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> If you want a repairable machine, buy one. They exist. Others have already mentioned Framework But that means Windows or Linux, not macOS. There's serious trade-offs that you're dismissing because you personally don't need macOS, but that's not the case for everyone. #hn-bingo

macOS has slid a long way down the quality ladder over the past ten years.

In what way? Tahoe's UI SNAFU aside, it seems like it's basically just a more polished version of the older macOS versions from a decade ago.

Re: My MacBook keyboard is broken and it's insanely expensive to fix

#84

Post by Gigachad » Sun, Mar 29, 2026, 9:25 PM UTC

MostlyStable wrote: post #42

>Here’s hoping governments regulate laptop manufacturers to actually make repairable machines in the future. No, this is a bad solution. If you want a repairable machine, buy one. They exist. Others have already mentioned Framework, but there are other options that aren't that far down the spectrum either. One of the things macbook users praise the most is "build quality", which often means the solidity of the device…

Decades of HN users finger wagging and suggesting FOSS hardware has progressed society nowhere. 12 months from EU mandatory replaceable batteries and products across the industry are being redesigned with repairability, usb-c, and user friendly designs.

It’s time to accept regulation actually does work when you have a competent government.

Re: My MacBook keyboard is broken and it's insanely expensive to fix

#85

Post by VogonPoetry » Sun, Mar 29, 2026, 9:26 PM UTC

free_bip wrote: post #59

internet2000 wrote: post #55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> It seems like the Macbook Neo has a lot of those properties as well for a very inexpensive device that is extremely easy to repair. It's slightly worse, slightly more flex, thicker and heavier vs an Air in spite of having a smaller battery and more empty space. It's all trade offs. If you want repairable, please buy a Framework or Lenovo. Backseat industrial designing through legislation is not the answer.

Oh no, my laptop is 2mm thicker than a different laptop. Won't someone think of the 2mm?

That 2mm uses at least (2*335 + 2*235) * 2mm * 1mm = 2,280 mm^3 more material for the case. (a wall thickness of 1mm)

Re: My MacBook keyboard is broken and it's insanely expensive to fix

#86

Post by stkhlm » Sun, Mar 29, 2026, 9:28 PM UTC

carlosjobim wrote: post #58

stkhlm wrote: post #54

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The author isn't Swedish. I've known him for 18 years. Not sure where this comes from.

His name is Swedish or it could be Norwegian. Anyway, did he contact Apple to see if they could help him out? Because sometimes Apple fixes these things for free. I've had very good and very bad experiences with Apple support for hardware failures. It's worth trying to contact them, instead of calling for more government regulation.

He went through the Apple Icon -> "About This Mac" -> "More Info" -> Coverage Expired Details Button -> Clicked the Get Support button and ended up in an infinite loop of questions on the Apple website if I recall correctly.

Not great support on Apples side there.

Re: My MacBook keyboard is broken and it's insanely expensive to fix

#87

Post by heelix » Sun, Mar 29, 2026, 9:29 PM UTC

Had a similar experience with the XPS series. Was able to find a keyboard. When taken apart, realized they had used plastic bits, tape, and other things to connect the keyboard to the top lid. Seems they expected one to either be handy with epoxy or buy the combo.

Re: My MacBook keyboard is broken and it's insanely expensive to fix

#88

Post by chad_strategic » Sun, Mar 29, 2026, 9:33 PM UTC

throwaway27448 wrote: post #21

chad_strategic wrote: post #10

[flagged]

Name me an american tech company that isn't complicit in the fascist project. I bet you they don't produce laptops

Your argument is valid.

However; this particular laptop I am using right now is a used Dell and runs on linux.

My main computer, I built by myself.

But yes I use AWS, google etc. I just try to use less :)

Re: My MacBook keyboard is broken and it's insanely expensive to fix

#89

Post by wvenable » Sun, Mar 29, 2026, 9:34 PM UTC

jdpedrie wrote: post #81

wvenable wrote: post #50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> No, this is a bad solution. You didn't say why this is a bad solution. The government mandates that cars get safer every year and fatalities are down 78% from the 1960s. Whenever government regulates things to benefit people, people tend to benefit. > One of the things macbook users praise the most is "build quality", which often means the solidity of the device, lack of flex, etc. It seems like the Macbook Neo has…

> The government mandates that cars get safer every year and fatalities are down 78% from the 1960s. Whenever government regulates things to benefit people, people tend to benefit. On some metrics. On affordability, new cars are considerably more expensive. Whether that's a worthwhile tradeoff is beside the point. The GP's point is that there's no free lunch, and your example doesn't address that.

I never said the lunch was free only that it should be nutritious.

Re: My MacBook keyboard is broken and it's insanely expensive to fix

#90

Post by AussieWog93 » Sun, Mar 29, 2026, 9:34 PM UTC

justinator wrote: post #28

KnuthIsGod wrote: post #8

My first computer was a Mac Plus. I got to experience Apple's customer hostile practices. Many years ago l decided never to buy an Apple product again.

AppleCare is honestly a great deal, especially for laptops. M1 Macbook Pros from 2020 are humming along just fine for regular people who see no reason to upgrade. The future is now, old man.

I just looked up Apple Care. Costs $449 AUD (~$300 USD) for 3 years of coverage on a MacBook Pro.

A quick search shows that it's ~$500-$600 to fix the screen if it does break; I didn't bother looking up the keyboard but I'd assume it's much, much less.

So basically, on the off chance that your MacBook does shit the bed in the most expensive way, you save ~$150 or so? But in the almost-certain case that your Macbook is fine, you're down $450?

That is not a great deal at all, haha!