Live data from Hacker News

Kuo: Apple to include new scissor switch keyboard in MacBook

9to5mac.com

631–640 of 666 posts

Re: Kuo: Apple to include new scissor switch keyboard in MacBook

#631
post #85

I sardonically worry that they will offer a touch screen keyboard instead.

The Lenovo Yoga Book is a hinged tablet. Bottom half is a glass surface with both capacitive touch and Wacom digitiser. It comes with a Wacom pen, which has a swappable ballpoint pen nib so you can draw on paper and have it digitised. There's a backlit silkscreen-type stencil that shines through a (permanent) keyboard layout. And touchpad. So, it's touch-screen typing on a fixed keyboard layout. And you can swap betw…

But it's cheap. Had it been priced at 1500 USD, and had Windows 10 instead of Android - well, at very least the pen wouldn't be so laggy, and there would be software. And then, perhaps, there would be something akin to haptic feedback for the keyboard.

My point is: if Apple would ever attempt to do something like this the user experience would probably be out of the ballpark. And if it couldn't hit it - they wouldn't sell it. See also: foldable phone craze. Counterpoint: I hate the Touch Bar.

Re: Kuo: Apple to include new scissor switch keyboard in MacBook

#632

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you have a Displayport display, you can use a displayport to mini displayport cable, use switchresx, should work good. If it's HDMI only, as the sibling pointed out the HDMI port won't work. However, Startech makes a displayport to HDMI adapter which works ( https://www.amazon.com/DisplayPort-HDMI-Adapter-Converter-60... ) (just make sure you get one which supports 4k60hz, most DP -> HDMI adapters don't).

I'll consider this though I it would be probably be sitting unused after trying it anyway as I really have no need for it. Thank you for the information. Just to clarify, we're both talking about a late 2013 macbook pro retina? The other helpful commenter mentions the 2015.

Yeah, this is all on the late 2013 15" with the nvidia dgpu - https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT206587 has the official details on this BTW - they state that SST Displayport 3840 x 2160 displays are only supported at 60hz on the 15" from Mid 2014 on, but it actually works on the Late 2013 also with Switchresx.

Re: Kuo: Apple to include new scissor switch keyboard in MacBook

#633
post #590

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I also have the first (13") MBP model to ship with a touchbar, which is also the only Mac I've ever had. TBH, I think it's put me off Macs for life. While I haven't had a hardware failure, the keyboard is simply horrible - there isn't nearly enough key travel or feedback, and swapping useful physical keys for a useless touchpad is completely pointless - I have a cheap 13" netbook kicking around which has a far superi…

I made a custom plate that sits over the default keyboard and I put my own better keyboard on top. I've been kinda curious if anyone else would buy one if I produced them for a nominal fee.

I've love to see some pictures of this setup?

Also, what's the plate made from and what alt keyboard do you use?

Re: Kuo: Apple to include new scissor switch keyboard in MacBook

#634
post #576
post #168

Earlier quoted context omitted.

We likely are in the minority, but I find the 2016-19 era MacBook Pro to be the only laptop I can comfortably type on all day without triggering RSI pain. I also make extensive use of the Touch Bar. I will think twice about buying an updated machine.

I won't think twice, I'll be jumping right in on the new one, I think at least. Assuming it only gets better from here on out. I'm still deathly scared of the battery becoming worthless as well as my keys stop working reliably. The 'L' right now on my 2017/2018 MacBook Pro might need an Apple Store visit soon and I have had a keyboard cover on it since the split second I took it out of the box. I don't feel safe with…

A counterpoint: I have not had an issue with my 2017 model despite never having had a case or keyboard cover, and travelling weekly with it. If you want a laptop with a replaceable keyboard I would look away from the Apple ecosystem, it’s quite obvious that is never coming back regardless of any design updates.

Re: Kuo: Apple to include new scissor switch keyboard in MacBook

#635
post #249

Earlier quoted context omitted.

People should really stop complaining about the dongle situation. Just about any portable device can be bought with USB-C or wireless. For fixed desk hardware (keyboard, mouse, monitor, ethernet) you should use a TB dock anyway. Yes, if you do presentations you probably need a dongle for the projector, but that has always been a mess anyway (VGA, HDMI, DP, DVI, it's never the same connection as your laptop). Yes, if…

People should really stop defending the dongle situation ... My 4K monitor bought in 2016 doesn't have a USB C input so I need to purchase a $20+ USB-C to HDMI or DP cable if I want to use a monitor? My iPhone SE bought in 2016 uses Lightning so I have to buy a $20+ Lightning to USB C cable to charge that as well? I guess I should throw out all of the other Lightning to USB-not-C cables I've had to purchase over the…

In 2016 there were already usb-c peripherals that you could've opted for though. I've used a thunderbolt/usb-c monitor since then, which uses 1 cable for video data and mbp charging. This convenience alone has sold me on usb-c as the future.

Re: Kuo: Apple to include new scissor switch keyboard in MacBook

#636
post #121

It seems like there are two camps of people: Those who are very pleased to hear they will be backpedaling on their updated keyboard designs. Those who "don't understand" because they actually like the new keyboards (and the TouchBar even). No matter where you stand, the new keyboards are highly controversial and divisive, and that's not good. The old keyboards didn't put people into opposing sides, they just were the…

Regardless of who likes the current keyboard, there is a large reliability issue. I don’t mind the small travel but I have had to constantly air duster my keyboard and finally completely replace it (through apple) because the e key would sometimes register nothing and sometimes register twice - that’s not a subjective keyboard taste thing, that’s just a reliability problem I have never had with any other keyboard, certainly not in under just 8 months of use.

Re: Kuo: Apple to include new scissor switch keyboard in MacBook

#637
post #144

Having used the 2018 MacBook Air for about 3 months now, I can say I really detest it and I would return it if that were possible. 1) the keyboard. This thing really feels like slamming your fingers into a metal slab. I think my iPad Pro keyboard is better. The MacBook Air keyboard is also very loud. For something with so little depth the sound is shocking. 2) the webcam. Total garbage. In a laptop this expensive I t…

Regarding the keyboard: you really need to take time and learn how to use it. You don't push the buttons, you more like softly touch them. It's strange at the beginning but then you really appreciate the fact that you don't have to work that hard to get the same result.

It's hard to unlearn old habits.

Re: Kuo: Apple to include new scissor switch keyboard in MacBook

#638

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm still rocking my MBA form 2010, it wasn't even top spec at the time, but the keyboard, size, weight and battery are all great. The screen is pretty terrible I'll be honest, but if I'm working on it it doesn't bother me much. Plus it has one of those ever so rare HDMI out ports (no accessories necessary). I just replace the battery every so often. I'm currently weighing up the option of installing Linux onto it as…

I have a 2010 and 2015 MBP, both going strong.

SNAP!! although my MBP is tucked under my TV and being used to keep my smart TV dumb.

Re: Kuo: Apple to include new scissor switch keyboard in MacBook

#639

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This app was released recently: https://pock.dev/ It puts the dock in your touchbar. It's the first time in the 9 months I've had this laptop where I've actually gone "ok, this is useful" and I am actually using it. I now have the dock auto hide and I mostly use the touch bar to open apps. That said, I'd still prefer they ditched the touchbar in favor of function keys. I'd be happy if they shrunk the ridiculous size…

Windows laptops are far worse than the touchbar: replacing the function keys with volume, brightness etc. The two worst keys are the touchpad lock key, and the WiFi key. Both of which "crash" the laptop when your average user hits them unintentionally: because either the touchpad stops working or the internet stops working. Absolute madness.

In all the laptops I've seen, volume and brightness controls require the Fn modifier to be pressed (or can be set to do so), else they behave as F1-F12 normally.

Re: Kuo: Apple to include new scissor switch keyboard in MacBook

#640
post #515

Earlier quoted context omitted.

1080p is not fine enough? How much information are you used to having on screen at a time? How much text, for example?

It's not about real estate, but rather about sharpness. At 3820x2160 ("4K") you can double every pixel, when compared to 1080p. That means that text at the exact same "size" is twice as sharp, producing less visual strain and improving readability (especially for fonts with complex strokes) The difference is absolutely striking: I will never go back to a non "retina" display if given the choice.

You quadruple each pixel...
Post reply on HN