MBP keyboard is baaaaad

[Simon R.]

Got my new MBP a couple of weeks ago, and at that time I thought it was just a matter of adjusting but time went by.... and I can now say that I really believe the keyboard on the MBP is terrible. The one on the regular MacBook is much better. On the MBP I find myself missing letters more than ever before, because it seems you need to apply a pretty even and centered presssure for the keys to respond. It's a shame really and I am glad I am at least not a writer or anything, I would be pulling my hair out all day with a keyboard as bad as this.

[James L]

Got my new MBP a couple of weeks ago, and at that time I thought it was just a matter of adjusting but time went by.... and I can now say that I really believe the keyboard on the MBP is terrible. The one on the regular MacBook is much better. On the MBP I find myself missing letters more than ever before, because it seems you need to apply a pretty even and centered presssure for the keys to respond. It's a shame really and I am glad I am at least on a writer or anything, I would be pulling my hair out all day with a keyboard as bad as this.

It's a matter of preference. I am not an Apple apologist by any means, but I love the MBP keyboard. I actually hate typing on regular, full size keyboards now after 5 years on a laptop (maybe my fingers have gotten weak).

[mrkramer]

It is just peoples preference whether they like it or not, you can get an external keyboard, if it bothers you a lot. personally I love the keyboard on my powerbook which seems similar to the one on the macbook pro.

[megfilmworks]

I find it interesting that people are so concerned about keyboards.
I have to use several different keyboards everyday, and I just type. What's the big deal. Yeah I may be a little faster on some, but in the end a keyboard is a keyboard.

[Simon R.]

I find it interesting that people are so concerned about keyboards.
I have to use several different keyboards everyday, and I just type. What's the big deal. Yeah I may be a little faster on some, but in the end a keyboard is a keyboard.

No it's not. When I type on my regular Mac keyboard I don't have to worry about watching every letter as I type because I will miss letters sometimes - that's the problem I have with the MBP keyboard. The keyboard on my old Dell Inspiron laptop was much easier and required less attention to type on, even though I prefer desktop keyboards anytime.

[mgargan1]

do you have a way to check out another mbp's keyboard? Maybe this is an isolated incident with yours? If so, take it back and see if you can get the keyboard replaced. I have had two powerbooks and i have a mbp right now... and it seems fine to me. But everyone has a different preference.

[megfilmworks]

If you play a guitar or keyboards, they are all different and execution is much more complex on an instrument than a keyboard. Practice makes perfect;)

[Taylor C]

I love my MacBook Pro's keyboard. Since it first appeared on the 12 and 17" PowerBooks, I've thought it was much better than any other notebook keyboard out there, and even most desktop keyboards. I'd buy a desktop version in a second if Apple released one, and at times have even considered buying just the keyboard on eBay and attempting to make one. It's got a really solid, yet quiet feel.

[Cybergypsy]

WoW... I hated the little chicklet keys on all 3 of my macbooks, and love the MBP Keys.....

[Alloye]

The one on the regular MacBook is much better.

I have a MBP, and while I think the keyboard is really quite good, I also think the MacBook's is better. Something about the feel of that design enables me to type at light speed. Same goes for the new iMac keyboard. I bought one last Friday and can now bang-out code like crazy! :D

[triddent222]

oh..opinions, opinions...some people shouldnt be entitled to make them (i kid, i kid....ok, maybe not....)

Anyways, I LOVE my mbp keyboard, its noiseless, responsive, extremely low profile...and the way it lights up in the dark....omg *pets keyboard lovingly* ( i just noticed the gap between the "G" and the "H" is wider than i would expect..i think..might be my eyes O_O).

I had to use an HP keyboard today...It was so painful, my delicate hands had become used to the simple, sensitive keys on this beautiful keyboard..alas, I could hear the keys on the HP keyboard from a mile away. I think I once broke my pinky finger trying to press the "Enter" key on that hideous keyboard...It's so hard *sobs*

"Ode to My MBP Keyboard"

Oh, what shall you do,
content and bright,
delicate like a maiden's bare feet.
If I could embrace your little,
tingling blossoms.
I watch as they appear,
floating,
And it awes me how perfect
the music is, oh...if I could hold you
tightly.
And in the darkness, you light my path,
as I travel through the haunted forests
Oh, you, wrap me,
let me touch you.

[vicious7]

When I first got my MBP, I found the keys very light (almost as if they were floating) and I had to slightly change the way I typed. Typically, I have heavy fingers (likely from years of PC KB use) and it felt as if I was banging on the MBPs keys.

It doesn't matter much now, though, since I got an external KB.

[main chochacho]

I'm not a fan. Feels just like the keyboard on my 1999 Lombard Powerbook.

Spongy, soft, springy.. it just feels sloppy. The backlighting is nice, but the feel and performance are substandard.

Thankfully, I do most of my work with the 'book on my desk and an external keyboard attached.. and soon enough I will have a new Pro Keyboard (Macbook style) to replace that one. The Macbook keyboard is the best I've ever used.. the keys have such a wonderful click response.

[Kilamite]

+1 for "I love my MBP keyboard"

I can type really fast with it, and it is perfect amount of spacing.

Only thing that took me AGES to get used to was the return key - on the U.K MBP's the return key is about half as wide as the American one and taller vertically. I have to stretch my pinky over to hit it otherwise I hit the key beside it.

Got used to it now though. It is a matter of adaption. It reminds me of when I get a new mobile phone that is a different manufacture - when it comes to texting the space button etc was in a different place and I hated it at first. Then I got used to it and I hate using my old phone for texting when I go out on the piss.

[squeeks]

Spongy, soft, springy.. it just feels sloppy. The backlighting is nice, but the feel and performance are substandard.


i agree i dont like it either, but its much better than the old generation bluetooth keyboard i hate that thing, i mis type on it all the time, which is why most of my posts have edited by under them

[ophidean]

Got my new MBP a couple of weeks ago, and at that time I thought it was just a matter of adjusting but time went by.... and I can now say that I really believe the keyboard on the MBP is terrible. The one on the regular MacBook is much better. On the MBP I find myself missing letters more than ever before, because it seems you need to apply a pretty even and centered presssure for the keys to respond. It's a shame really and I am glad I am at least on a writer or anything, I would be pulling my hair out all day with a keyboard as bad as this.


Just a thought, did you check out a MBP at a store before you shelled out the 2k plus for it? May have decided then that you didn't like the keyboard and went with sometime else.

[squeeks]

Just a thought, did you check out a MBP at a store before you shelled out the 2k plus for it? May have decided then that you didn't like the keyboard and went with sometime else.

you can never tell something like that from a floor model, especially something that where it gets used all the time, the samples in our store are really really lose, completely different from the feel of mine

[Nermal]

When I got my MBP, I immediately hooked up an old Pro Keyboard and used that because I hate laptop keyboards. However, once I actually started taking the laptop around (and therefore having to use the internal keyboard), I actually prefer it to the full Pro Keyboard! I find it really nice and easy to type on, so I, like others, also recommend trying another MBP for a while to see whether it's your particular system.

[chex]

the keyboard is probably the most subjective part of the laptop, and I don't mind the MBP one too much.

Having said that, the one on my powerbook is waaay better, the feel of the keys is much firmer and I agree about the fact that you have to hit a key perfectly for it to register, though I only really have a problem with the command key.

The macbook keyboard was more accurate for me, but I didn't really like that either.

[Simon R.]

Just a thought, did you check out a MBP at a store before you shelled out the 2k plus for it? May have decided then that you didn't like the keyboard and went with sometime else.

I know several people who had MBP's before I bought it. I had thought about it, but since I only used theirs briefly, I thought it would be a question about getting used to it. So far, I was wrong. But I didn't really have any alternative to the MBP if I wanted a laptop Mac.

[CanadaRAM]

baaaaad

Hey! That's my line... ;)

[giganten]

The MBP keyboard is super.

[FuzzMunky]

Simon, you are not mad. I have the same problem.

But judging by other peoples reactions it is a rare one.

I find that certain letters on my keyboard (for example "a") can be completely pressed down and still not register as a strike. Let me clarify. I can reach key bottom without it registering and even lift up and press again in the same way, but if I then shift my finger a little over it will register. I think it is just the shoddy quality control again. I think the keys arent lining up perfectly with the electric switches underneath.

Its a real pain... I always have to check what I have written now and almost always I find certain letters missing entirely. But I've heard many horror stories about sending macbook pros in for repair, so Im wary. I hope Apple lose their popularity if they continue to cut corners like this. They are not worthy of such as fanbase these days. What with the screens, etc. It seems they have got people where they want 'em and just have to brand something with the white apple and it is revered as top quality... when actually the engineering behind it is more like that of a lada (old russian cars).

I wasn't going to post here, because I thought whats the point? But since I saw you fretting too I thought I should speak up.

[Simon R.]

Fuzz, yes it's pretty ridiculous for such an expensive notebook. I don't think I have any keys which are as bad as you explain on yours. I just think I have to hit the keys pretty much in the center and (fairly) hard for it to register. I just checked, and you can actually press down the keys completely without anything being registered. You have to push a little harder than just "all the way down" to type on it, that is probably the main thing causing missing letters.

[bousozoku]

Fuzz, yes it's pretty ridiculous for such an expensive notebook. I don't think I have any keys which are as bad as you explain on yours. I just think I have to hit the keys pretty much in the center and (fairly) hard for it to register. I just checked, and you can actually press down the keys completely without anything being registered. You have to push a little harder than just "all the way down" to type on it, that is probably the main thing causing missing letters.

Either you have a real hardware problem or you have to learn to use it properly. I'm not sure because I haven't experienced it.

The MBP keyboard is basically the same keyboard I have on my PowerBook and I rarely have a problem with it but every keyboard is a bit different and laptop computer keyboards aren't great because of limited space. When I'm at home, though, I use a separate, full-sized keyboard that's much faster.

[CalBoy]

I guess to each his own. I love the mbp keyboard, a lot more in fact, than the macbook's. In fact, the mbp keyboard feels like one of the best laptop keyboards around (next to the Thinkpad). Anyways, if it bothers you so much, just buy an external one and plug it in (as someone above suggested).

[other]

I too have noticed that it doesn't always register what you write, it's quite annoying.

[BioChron]

Personally, I love the MacBook style keyboard, but I like the MacBook Pro style as well.

- Daniel

[techlover828]

I love the macbook pro keyboard! It's so comfortable to type on.

[FuzzMunky]

Its nice, the need for some people to patronise you by insinuating you need to 'learn how to use a keyboard'. I am a pianist and I have enough control over my fingers to type on a keyboard. But, like I said, obviously not all keyboards suffer the same bad alignment and bad build quality. It is just another of the hardware issues that keep cropping up relating to Apple's cheap build process.