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augustya

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Feb 17, 2012
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People here whole earlier had a 13" or a 15" rMBP and who have shifted to the rMB 12" do you guys think typing on the Retina MacBook keyboard is ok ? is it comfortable ? Does it not let you do a lot of typos ? Typing mistakes ? I thought it would be first not comfortable typing on it and second it would lead to a lot of typing mistakes.

I tried it for a while in the Apple Store and I thought it was clumsy !! Does it take time to getting used to it or what ? Something like that ? I am already getting nightmares about this keyboard because even if right now it is not my problem it will soon be my problem I am planning to buy the 15" rMBP and Apple is gonna have this obnoxious butterfly keyboard implemented across all its Mac Laptops. Suggestions and observations fellow Macigans !
 
It definitely takes getting use to, and you really have to be a touch typist IMO. I have let others try, and they seem to make mistakes constantly. Personally, I type faster than on a traditional keyboard. The same is true when I use the magic keyboard. I love the low travel.
 
I hope and pray lol ! That Apple just does not making this mistake again by implementing it (The Butterfly Keyboard) in the pro notebooks.
 
I think that all things considered it's better than the old keyboard which I found mushy and imprecise. I am a good touch typist however who also types fairly lightly. The biggest problem I think they have with this keyboard is that the tolerances are so small that it's not terribly robust and may not last as well in the long haul. I'm sure they will improve it, but I would buy AppleCare for one of these computers to cover the keyboard alone.

I think the best case for any new computers would be a new keyboard that had the large keys, precise feel, excellent feedback, and precise backlight control, paired with about twice as much travel. That'd be a pretty killer mobile keyboard.
 
Love they keyboard but Im one of those people who can type on an iPad screen without an issue. Low travel / win for me
 
I hope and pray lol ! That Apple just does not making this mistake again by implementing it (The Butterfly Keyboard) in the pro notebooks.

There is no doubt that it's coming. They have always been obsessed with thin. I'd be shocked if the next generation of MB pro's didn't have the butterfly keyboard.
 
I have to adjust any time keyboard dimensions change. I have used the same size/style full size keyboard with numeric keypad for decades (yikes) now - so that is what I am currently very used to. I'm in the market for a Macbook and spent considerable time typing on one to see how I would feel about the new keyboard. After a very short time, I had almost no trouble adapting to the Macbook keyboard. I think the difficulty, for me, will be switching back and forth between the Macbook and my desktop. If it is a problem, I may just switch out my desktop keyboard for something more similar to the Macbook.

Personally, I think the Macbook's keyboard is a positive. I really believe I will be faster on it, once I get used to the shorter key travel.
 
The new keyboard, Once you get used to it, it's hard to turn back from him. I have gotten so used to it that other keys seem so squishy. The newest Bluetooth keyboard from Apple it's pretty similar to the MacBook. They actually have slightly more travel than on the MacBook, but they have the same butterfly mechanism. I use the keyboard, and I have a usb numpad.
 
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Butterfly is just the switch type. The amount of travel is what you're concerned about.
 
I still prefer my MBP keyboard but I don't mind the rMB keyboard either. Takes some adjustment going from rMBP to rMB but not the other way.

My favorite keyboard Apple made was my old MBA 11" keyboard. Old style keys with less travel. Loved that keyboard, but the screen on that computer was terrible.
 
After a week or two, I preferred the new rMB keyboard to my 2013 rMBP keyboard. But I also think the new iMac bluetooth keyboard is pretty great.
 
I move between a rMBP and a rMB multiple times per day. The rMBP stays docked at my desk as my primary computer. I still have to run VM's for some apps, and I've found that the rMB just chokes on some of those.

That said, I actually like the feel and layout of the rMB over the rMBP, even though the differences are negligible. What I do NOT like is the "clickety click" sound of the rMB when I'm typing. It's noisy. It's not an issue unless I'm in a conference call and the laptop is close to the phone, in which case everyone can clearly tell I'm typing. I'm the owner/boss so nobody is going to say anything about it, but it does bother me as it forces me to constantly toggle mute on/off to compensate for the racket.

Otherwise, very happy with the keyboard. Just wish they'd do something to dampen the sound. But then, if they did, this would likely lead to a squishier keyboard. Can't have it all I guess......
 
Is it the clickity clack or are you typing too hard? I have a similar issue and it's because I hit the keys harder than I need to. If my recorder is on the desk next to the computer, it sounds like I'm hitting the table with a hammer. Not really, but it's loud.
 
"Too hard" is a matter of personal style I'm sure. But the thing is, I'm typing the same way on both the rMBP as I am on the rMB, but nobody ever notices it when I'm on the rMBP. It's simply louder on the rMB. I'm not typing any harder or faster on the rMB....the key clicks are just louder.
 
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Right, but much less force is necessary on the rMB than the rMBP. So if you're typing just as hard you're probably typing harder than you need to, thus creating the extra noise.
 
yeah, the rMB keyboard has no dampening, so if you type hard you are going to make a ton of noise as the entire chassis will resonate. Type lighter such that you just activate the switch and it's pretty quiet.
 
Surprised people are saying that less force is needed to type on the MacBook than the MacBook Pro Retina keyboard. I haven't found this to be the case. The keyboard on the MacBook really is noisier in my opinion, but the short travel does allow you to type quicker.
 
The activation force may or may not be higher, I don't know. What we're saying is that the old style keyboards have some cushioning built into the mechanism that allows you to type with a great deal of force if that's your style. The new keyboard doesn't tolerate that as well because you bottom the key out hard against an uncushioned stop.
 
^^

My experience exactly.

I get everyone telling me to adapt my typing style, but that's really only a valid comment if you are using a single machine for most of your work. I literally leave the rMBP docked at my desk most of the time, take the rMB with me in/out of my office to use for meetings or travel, use an iMac in my home office, etc. Adapting my style of typing isn't as easy as it sounds when you switch around often.

Thats sort of like telling me its not working well because I'm "holding it wrong." :)
 
As soon as I put my fingers on the 12 inch keys, I knew we were destined for each other. 1 week in and typing on the old keys feels sloppy for me. Maybe a different story if you have big fingers.
 
I'm a lousy typist so maybe I have no clue what's better. Personally I like the keyboard better than the 11" and 13" MBA. I have had only one problem and that was a crumb (I was eating a scone at a coffee shop) that got slightly under the left shift key. It wouldn't work until I shook and crunched it (the crumb) into dust. No other problems for almost a year and I use it every day for at least 2 hours.
 
What's everyone experience in terms of small things getting underneath the key? With this low profile, something small can be deadly?
 
There is very little room for something to get under the keys because the tolerances are so tight. That's one of the benefits of this keyboard - the old ones feel like mush in comparison. However, if something does work itself under there, those same tight tolerances are a liability and even a tiny crumb can render the key non-functional.

FWIW, my Macbook is about to go back for a replacement keyboard. The spacebar stopped working a long time ago when I was on a trip - I was able to fix it myself (I had no option) and it has been good since, but I'm worried I probably damaged it, and one other key has become less clicky so I'm getting it replaced while I can.
 
I don't own one, but trying it in the Apple Store, the only thing I didn't like was the full size arrow keys. Seems to make it harder to navigate around without constantly looking at the keys.
 
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