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Problems with MacBook butterfly switch keyboards

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Re: Problems with MacBook butterfly switch keyboards

#191

Post by AlexandrB »

akvadrako wrote: post #153
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…

What you are describing is a broken or dirty keyboard. First of all, the new MBP requires compressed air for cleaning under the keys. If that doesn't work, they will repair it under warranty.

I have seen absolutely filthy "old" MBP keyboards that worked just fine. It's a laptop, I should be able to use it without having to treat it like a delicate snowflake. Whatever happened to building quality hardware?

Re: Problems with MacBook butterfly switch keyboards

#192

Post by dsego »

Have the same problem recently with the W-key, it types twice sometimes, most noticeably, it will close two tabs instead of one. When I smack it, it fixes it for a while, I think. The f-key is also giving me trouble, it's shallower and sounds different, sometimes it will just fall out.

Re: Problems with MacBook butterfly switch keyboards

#193

Post by addicted »

akvadrako wrote: post #162
IanCal wrote: post #77

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think the main point is that you could just map those to function keys. I think I've only seen one main use that works well with the bar, and that's scrubbing through video or audio.

But you have to remember what the function keys do, so you are ignoring the primary point of the touch bar.

If it’s something you use so infrequently why not have it on the screen in a toolbar instead, so you still don’t have to remember which key it is, and you don’t need to move your gaze away from what you were already looking at.

The touchbar has used, but from what I can tell, all those uses are better solved by existing non touchbar techniques already.

Toolbars for infrequently user functions you won’t remember the shortcut for (better because they hold more and don’t require you to change the screen you’re looking at, and you can keep your hands on the touchpad/mouse as before).

Fn keys (or combo keys) for frequently used shortcuts that you would remember as they ass tactile feedback and are much more conducive to touch typing.

The trackpad for actual scrubbing like functions.

Where I can see the touchbar being useful are infrequently used global functions, but I believe these are the ones Apple explicitly prevents developers from building (and unsurprisingly the inbuilt global ones from Apple are the most popular feature of the touchbar, such as volume controls and music playback controls).

Re: Problems with MacBook butterfly switch keyboards

#194

Post by oceanghost »

AlexandrB wrote: post #191
akvadrako wrote: post #153

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What you are describing is a broken or dirty keyboard. First of all, the new MBP requires compressed air for cleaning under the keys. If that doesn't work, they will repair it under warranty.

I have seen absolutely filthy "old" MBP keyboards that worked just fine. It's a laptop, I should be able to use it without having to treat it like a delicate snowflake. Whatever happened to building quality hardware?

We voted with our money that we didn't give a damn about quality hardware or software.

Re: Problems with MacBook butterfly switch keyboards

#198

Post by AlexandrB »

pdq wrote: post #190

If you own a Macbook or Macbook Pro with the new slim keyboard, do yourself a favor and buy an Uppercase keyboard protector [1]. I got dust under mine last year, had to get the Apple repair under warranty, and then bought this $12.95 insurance. It's been working great ever since. If I pull the cover off, the keyboard looks brand new. The only negative is that it leaves key impressions on the screen when you close the…

I absolutely hate these. They make laptop keyboards feel even mushier than normal and have the aesthetics of plastic-on-living-room-furniture. The fact that this is now a good idea (a requirement even!) for a premium laptop is unacceptable.

I love Apple, I really do. The magsafe connector sold me on my first Macbook in 2009 and I've been buying Apple laptops ever since. However when the new MacBook Pros were announced the first thing I did was buy a fully specced, refurbished "last gen" Macbook pro because the butterfly keyboard is a bridge too far for me in terms of typing feel. Apparently it's a bridge too far in reliability as well. This might be my last Macbook.

Re: Problems with MacBook butterfly switch keyboards

#199

Post by psychometry »

brandonmenc wrote: post #196

I love the new MBP keyboard. I have it connected to an external monitor most of the time, but I relish any chance I get to work away from the office - just for the opportunity to use the built-in keyboard.

I prefer the trackpad over a mouse and don't mind the keyboard. Thus, I've positioned my monitor directly over my laptop screen, stacking it on top of books if necessary.

Re: Problems with MacBook butterfly switch keyboards

#200

Post by baldfat »

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…

I use my company one in a dock. The OS drives me nuts. It seems like the whole thing resolves around the touch pad. I don't have a track pad on the keyboard and it makes the OS so much worse then it already is.
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