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Problems with MacBook butterfly switch keyboards

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Re: Problems with MacBook butterfly switch keyboards

#71

Post by indemnity »

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…

Yep, I have the 2013 15” rMBP and the 2016 15” rMBP.

Much prefer the keyboard on the 2016 model.

Just two gripes:

- keyboard is noisy as hell, very noticeable in conference calls

- trackpad is way too big, it’s hard to find a resting position. six months in i still accidentally touch it when not meaning to.

Re: Problems with MacBook butterfly switch keyboards

#73

Post by manigandham »

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.

Re: Problems with MacBook butterfly switch keyboards

#74

Post by aaronbrethorst »

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.

Command B, Command R, Command R, Command Period, F7, ^F6.

I can hit most of these (except the function key shortcuts) by feel 100% of the time. I cannot hit any touch bar targets by feel, with the exception of the Escape key.

Re: Problems with MacBook butterfly switch keyboards

#75

Post by manigandham »

Gaelan wrote: post #9

I actually really like my 2017 MBP's keyboard. There isn't much key travel, but the keys do have a very satisfying "click." I prefer it over older apple keyboards. Keys do have issues weekly or so, but that's resolved by hitting the key a bunch; it's an inconvenience, but certainly not a dealbreaker.

That seems rather unacceptable given the price of these computers and the history of perfectly fine keyboard designs.

Re: Problems with MacBook butterfly switch keyboards

#76

Post by eknkc »

I have a 15” 2016 model and I’m close to throwing it out of my office window.

My b and n keys acted up randomly. B would hit twice on each press and n would miss keystrokes sometimes. Cleaned it with air, massaged the keys, removed caps and cleaned etc. Other keys started following. Apple here in Turkey does not have the same support you guys in US seem to enjoy.

They gave me a 15 day repair window, no offer of replacements etc. I simply can’t live without it for 15 days so I’m still using this piece of shit broken laptop.

I’d buy a replacement and send this one to repair only to sell it but then I’d still need to buy a MBP because of macOS.

One of these days I’m gonna pull thr plug and go all linux.

Re: Problems with MacBook butterfly switch keyboards

#77

Post by IanCal »

threeseed wrote: post #65
crispinb wrote: post #43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> For development it is amazing. I have dedicated buttons for Build, Run, Debug, Stop, Step Into and Step Over I have these in IntelliJ as standard key combos (some being Fn keys). All of these I can touch type. I can't see how this would be improved by having to look down at the mini-screen at the top of the keyboard.

You can use it for things wouldn't normally remember or that require arcane key commands. Two buttons I use are to Expand/Collapse All Code Folds.

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.

Re: Problems with MacBook butterfly switch keyboards

#78

Post by [deleted] »

threeseed wrote: post #41
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…

There is a functional Escape key. It's right there in the top left corner. I use it hundreds of times a day. It's definitely not as nice as a dedicated key but you get used to it. And if you want permanent function keys then just go to the Keyboard control panel and enable it.

[deleted]

Re: Problems with MacBook butterfly switch keyboards

#79

Post by Yetanfou »

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…

The solution seems clear to me: you don't need to stop using laptops, you need to switch to another brand. There are plenty of laptops (or notebooks or whatever you prefer to call the things) with keyboards which work by manufacturers who put function over form instead of the other way around. The only snag you might hit is if you're stuck - emotionally or otherwise - to a given operating system but even that is solvable, albeit slightly hackish.

The essence of the thing is that Apple only looks at its bottom line so that bottom line is the only way you have to influence their behaviour. Don't like what they sell? Don't buy it, get something else.

Re: Problems with MacBook butterfly switch keyboards

#80

Post by kalleboo »

threeseed wrote: post #68
ux-app wrote: post #52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

stop making excuses for Apple's dumb decisions. With physical buttons I can find a key by feel just by running my fingers across the top row. Good luck accurately hitting any button on that stupid little touch screen.

The Escape key is always in the same position (top left). I always hit it with 100% accuracy just like I did on my previous MacBook. And I am not making excuses for Apple. I think they should've made Escape key in particular a physical key.

No right now in the top left corner of my touchbar is an (X) key, the esc key is to the right of it.
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