On this forum you hear from a lot from 2016/2017 MBP owners with bad keyboards. How about those who have these laptops with no problems? Please reply if you haven't had any problems with they keyboards and indicate how long you've had your MBP.
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2016/2017 MBP Owners without Keyboard Problems?
- Thread starter groove-agent
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As one of the first users of the butterfly mechanism (April 2015), I haven’t had a single issue with the following Macs:
1. 2015 rMB
2. 2016 MBP (only owned a few weeks)
3. 2017 MBP (almost since launch)
And when I say no issues, I really mean that. Not one stuck key, no need for compressed air, no need to tilt the Mac around.
You want to know my secret? Keep it clean, use common sense, and if the money is a big thing for you - just be a bit careful with your $2,000+ machine.
Simple as that. It really, really is.
I work daily with tens of people who have butterfly gen 1/2 machines. Not one of them has had any serious issues.
Crumbs do cause keys to get stuck, so just don’t use your laptop as a plate. Be a normal person.
1. 2015 rMB
2. 2016 MBP (only owned a few weeks)
3. 2017 MBP (almost since launch)
And when I say no issues, I really mean that. Not one stuck key, no need for compressed air, no need to tilt the Mac around.
You want to know my secret? Keep it clean, use common sense, and if the money is a big thing for you - just be a bit careful with your $2,000+ machine.
Simple as that. It really, really is.
I work daily with tens of people who have butterfly gen 1/2 machines. Not one of them has had any serious issues.
Crumbs do cause keys to get stuck, so just don’t use your laptop as a plate. Be a normal person.
There are no dust free environments in which I can do my work. Dust and small debris just should not be a problem for any laptop, not even mentioning the price. There is something wrong with the design of at least the keyboards on the macbook and mbp 2016. I’m probably not a normal person by your definition, but I also am very carefull around my costly machine, without sacrificing a good user experience by using a keyboard protector for instance. Still I have had to blow compressed air under the keys of my mbp 2016, it worked for a few days but the problems keep coming back, including stuck keys. It seems to be occurring more when the machine is warm (normal workload warm, not hot). Not acceptable to me or to any normal person I guess.
Dust is not enough to stop this keyboard. I agree that more substantial pieces of debris are.
I’ve never heard of temperatures affecting the keyboard. Sounds like you’ve got a broader issue with your MacBook, my friend.
I have to ask, what kind of environment are you working in?!
If you’re not a ‘normal person’ as per my sarcastic definition above, then that’s evidently your issue. Stop using your MacBook as a plate!
I’ve never heard of temperatures affecting the keyboard. Sounds like you’ve got a broader issue with your MacBook, my friend.
I have to ask, what kind of environment are you working in?!
If you’re not a ‘normal person’ as per my sarcastic definition above, then that’s evidently your issue. Stop using your MacBook as a plate!
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on my 2016 i had so many problems. the last one that made me replace it was unresponsive keys. now i got the 2017 instead and not a single issue
I was also being sarcastic. I don’t use my macbook as a plate at all. I keep my food and drinks away from it at all times. I clean keyboard and screen every day. The problems do occur more when the device gets warm though so there might be something wrong with it, true. My bet is on the design of the keyboard. I have had it sent back this week, I will soon find out if I am right or wrong. There are some users reporting that the keyboard problems come back even after replacement of the top case. We’ll see.
Had a 2016 15" for 4 months, one speaker blew (not bootcamp related), screen made popping sounds after 3 months so often that I had troubles editing sound in FCP X, and keyboard got done for 15+ keys being sticky/clicky when hot, supplied video for them... Was refunded after long discussion with store manager and bought the 2017 model with a discount for my trouble. Had it for nearly 3 months now, keyboard is great when stone cold or when really hot exporting videos, no issues. I really like typing on this keyboard now 
You guys are scaring me. It seems you need to be very careful using this keyboard. I have never had to blow air under keys and ensure my hands were clean to use any other keyboard. Why do we have to be so careful with this system?
Some of you haven't had your machines very long. Don't you worry that after your warranty runs out the keyboard will fail? I suspect Apple is on the hook for keyboard replacements for life otherwise there will be a class action lawsuit.
Maintaining your keyboard with compressed air etc seems like such a pain. It should be able to handle every day use. My 2015 had coffee spilled on it, food probably has accidentally failed in it, and dust. I even use mine outside. It just keeps working. This is what I would expect from a premium priced laptop. I shouldn't have to baby it. Laptops are supposed to be portable and thus somewhat need to be rugged.
Hopefully they will fix these design flaws. Something tells me they're going to ride out these issues until the next MBP. For now, I just can' t justify the price for this laptop. This sucks because I want to replace my 2012.
Maintaining your keyboard with compressed air etc seems like such a pain. It should be able to handle every day use. My 2015 had coffee spilled on it, food probably has accidentally failed in it, and dust. I even use mine outside. It just keeps working. This is what I would expect from a premium priced laptop. I shouldn't have to baby it. Laptops are supposed to be portable and thus somewhat need to be rugged.
Hopefully they will fix these design flaws. Something tells me they're going to ride out these issues until the next MBP. For now, I just can' t justify the price for this laptop. This sucks because I want to replace my 2012.
Honestly, I've come to accept it as a calculated risk that I am personally willing to take. I'm not thrilled with the keyboard's reputation for durability so far, but my primary interest in Apple computers is how much money they can make me, and right now they make me more money than other devices, so I've decided to accept it for what it is. With the newer design, I've decided to buy AppleCare+ and sell the machines before the warranty runs out. There are many design features from these machines that I love. These, for me, outweigh the risks - much like they did for me in 2015 where the benefits outweighed the risk of what came to be known as staingate. As every MBP (and every computer in general) has had problematic areas, and the frequency of these problems are almost always estimated using anecdotal reports and nonrandom sampling (as Makers don't publish specs,) and virtually every purchase made is somewhat of a calculated risk, I think the best one can do is look as the pros and cons of a said model to decide if the pros outweighs the cons for them, FWIW.
First 2017 MBP 13" had a couple keys in the app-left quadrant start misbehaving mechanically. The upper left corner of the key wouldn't depress... so if you hit the key off-center you might not register the keystroke. Off to repair, and the depot claimed damage. It was 5 weeks old. The store took pity on me and replaced it.
Second notebook, same problem only now on the "H" key.
I treat my computer really well. Office environment, no contaminants around. WTF.
Second notebook, same problem only now on the "H" key.
I treat my computer really well. Office environment, no contaminants around. WTF.
I have a 2015 rMB and a 2016 tbMPB and neither one has had a single keyboard problem. It's because I have Uppercase/Moshi keyboard covers on both of them.
Once can argue whether such covers *should* be necessary, but the fact of the matter is that the covers have kept both keyboards incident-free.
Once can argue whether such covers *should* be necessary, but the fact of the matter is that the covers have kept both keyboards incident-free.
I've had my 2017 15" MBP since it was available last June and don't have any issues at all. My MBP spends hours running full blast rendering in Blender (7 hours overnight last night alone for example). Blender uses roughly 760% of my CPU (4 cores, 8 thread, max of 800%) on average. Thing runs like a champ.
One thing I did notice yesterday is if I use Apple's USB-C to power/HDMI/USB-A to run the power to the laptop, it doesn't provide enough wattage to keep charging under this load. I have to plug the power adapter directly into a USB-C slot on my MBP in order to charge the battery under full load.
One thing I did notice yesterday is if I use Apple's USB-C to power/HDMI/USB-A to run the power to the laptop, it doesn't provide enough wattage to keep charging under this load. I have to plug the power adapter directly into a USB-C slot on my MBP in order to charge the battery under full load.
Exactly, a design flaw that means it stops working unless you go through a rigorous cleansing regime and studiously avoid any areas where it might get some debris under a key just isn't good enough for a £2.5k machine. I want to just be able to use my computer without having to worry about that.
I've had my 2016 15" TB MBP since December 2016. No problems at all - with the keyboard or anything else. Great laptop as far as I'm concerned - though I realise that other people haven't been so lucky
So far so good here, then again I only got my 2017 5 days ago. I do really like the way the keyboard feels actually, so I'm really hoping it holds up. I did buy Applecare+ for the first time on a Mac though because I'm not sure I fully trust the keyboard.
It will be interesting to see how it holds up over my next 3 years of college, as I feel like going through college is some of the hardest abuse a laptop can take...in and out of my backpack multiple times a day, using it in crowded lecture halls, trying to fit a decent meal in while studying all night (its going to be hard trying to keep this keyboard spotless), carrying it with me everywhere I go...not to mention there will be significant load on it at times, between my hobby use of Lightroom, and school use of big data w/ functions in excel, inventor and Catia...etc...So if either dust or heat causes issues on these keyboards, mine will be a true test because it will be subjected to it all.
It will be interesting to see how it holds up over my next 3 years of college, as I feel like going through college is some of the hardest abuse a laptop can take...in and out of my backpack multiple times a day, using it in crowded lecture halls, trying to fit a decent meal in while studying all night (its going to be hard trying to keep this keyboard spotless), carrying it with me everywhere I go...not to mention there will be significant load on it at times, between my hobby use of Lightroom, and school use of big data w/ functions in excel, inventor and Catia...etc...So if either dust or heat causes issues on these keyboards, mine will be a true test because it will be subjected to it all.
Hi everyone!
Simple question: is there someone with a 2017 MBP who does not have keyboard problems?
If so, how long have you had it?
I'm about to acquire one and I've been scared by the amount of post, videos, blog, etc with this topic.
Thanks!
Simple question: is there someone with a 2017 MBP who does not have keyboard problems?
If so, how long have you had it?
I'm about to acquire one and I've been scared by the amount of post, videos, blog, etc with this topic.
Thanks!
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I’ve had 3x 2017 machines, 1x 13”, 2x 15”. My business partner has a 15” 2017. No issues with any of them.
I also have a few friends that have 2017 machines and they haven’t experienced any problems either.
I also have a few friends that have 2017 machines and they haven’t experienced any problems either.
I have a 2016 model that has been repaired/upgraded under warranty with a 2017 keyboard.
Very bad experience with the 2016 keyboard, with months of recurring issues with double-registering presses and sticky keys, until I finally threw in the towel and sent it back to Apple, but the 2017 one is working fine at the moment (knocking on wood...).
There is anecdotal evidence that the failure rate of the 2017 model might be lower, however no one but Apple would be able to come up with a credible statistics, and they'll never say anything on the matter. If you are worried, get Apple Care or an extended warranty via credit card purchase, as out-of-warranty replacements are very expensive.
Very bad experience with the 2016 keyboard, with months of recurring issues with double-registering presses and sticky keys, until I finally threw in the towel and sent it back to Apple, but the 2017 one is working fine at the moment (knocking on wood...).
There is anecdotal evidence that the failure rate of the 2017 model might be lower, however no one but Apple would be able to come up with a credible statistics, and they'll never say anything on the matter. If you are worried, get Apple Care or an extended warranty via credit card purchase, as out-of-warranty replacements are very expensive.
For the first time in my life, I am in the market for a laptop (i've always used desktops).
Always wanted a mighty Macbook Pro, but the new models sound like nightmares and am tempted to buy a 2015 or earlier.
Always wanted a mighty Macbook Pro, but the new models sound like nightmares and am tempted to buy a 2015 or earlier.