Not a fan of the new keyboards. Tried to get used to the new MacBook pro version. It is slightly better that the 12 inch MacBook keyboard, but still not enough travel for my tastes. Too flat and unresponsive.
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2016 MacBook Pro keyboard - how bad is it?
- Thread starter kmac007
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It's awesome. But I've been using it since the 2015 MacBook, then the 2016 MacBook and now the 13" TB Pro. I do a lot of typing on it--I like to write science fiction in my spare time--and I find it to be a brilliant keyboard. Just my opinion though. Like most computer input devices, especially keyboards, trackpads and mice, it is a very personal preference and you will have to try it for yourself. Luckily Apple has a 14 day return policy.
I have jumped between the 2015 and 2016 in the past month and I really like typing on the 2016. Once you get used to it, it's tight and accurate, the 2015 feels mushy.
BUT, and big BIG BIG but, to me, it's fricking loud. They have to get rid of the clicks in future models. You can have the feeling of a click, but you don't have to hear it! You get used to it of course, but when your typing fast it's almost comical. It's like that Little Britain skit, "the computer says no"
Also the up/down arrows are placed awkwardly in the 2016. I never got used to that. It's bizarre. I want to hear from the person that designed the placement for up/down arrow. They need to explain what they where thinking.
BUT, and big BIG BIG but, to me, it's fricking loud. They have to get rid of the clicks in future models. You can have the feeling of a click, but you don't have to hear it! You get used to it of course, but when your typing fast it's almost comical. It's like that Little Britain skit, "the computer says no"
Also the up/down arrows are placed awkwardly in the 2016. I never got used to that. It's bizarre. I want to hear from the person that designed the placement for up/down arrow. They need to explain what they where thinking.
The new keyboard is outstanding, smooth, supple, and very responsive for sure; My favorite ever. I do not find it "loud", a truck going down the highway is loud. Can you hear it more than my 2014 MBP, yes. But its not "loud", actually I think it sounds cool. My 2 cents.
And here we have a thread that proves that the detractors rarely had any time on the keyboard as folks are mostly thrilled with it. So that's another one we can put to rest.
This is a great keyboard, but only if you like the feel of things precisely engineered. Our older keyboards feel "sloppy" now.
R.
I had the 12" MacBook before and ended up selling it mainly because I could never adjust to the smaller screen size.. I absolutely loved the KB on it though..
The 12" KB got a very bad rap from a lot of people but I liked it.. The KB on the Pro is similar and I like it just as much as I did on the 12"..
Some won't like it and that's fine but I do think people need to give it a full week of use before rendering judgement. It's not something that an opinion can be formed on with a few minutes of Apple Store play time...
My only gripe, and it's minor, it how much louder it is.. I hunt and peck and hit the keys pretty hard so others may not generate the same noice level as I do..
Overall I really like the new KB..
The 12" KB got a very bad rap from a lot of people but I liked it.. The KB on the Pro is similar and I like it just as much as I did on the 12"..
Some won't like it and that's fine but I do think people need to give it a full week of use before rendering judgement. It's not something that an opinion can be formed on with a few minutes of Apple Store play time...
My only gripe, and it's minor, it how much louder it is.. I hunt and peck and hit the keys pretty hard so others may not generate the same noice level as I do..
Overall I really like the new KB..
unlike the first gen butterfly keys which left people divided and took days/weeks to get used to it....
the gen2 butterfly keys are great (imo) and you will know if you like them after 1 day of use. The biggest con, if we are nitpicking, is the clicky sound it makes.
the gen2 butterfly keys are great (imo) and you will know if you like them after 1 day of use. The biggest con, if we are nitpicking, is the clicky sound it makes.
My dad and sister both have the 2015 MB, and I kinda liked it but did miss a little more clicky feel to it. I just got my 13 tMBP this friday. And oh boy do I really it! I really like the clickyness to it and I enjoy typing on it. I feel I can type much more precise and faster on this than my old Alu keyboard on Mac Pro.
I liked the keyboard on the 2015/2016 12" MacBook, but I like it a lot more on the 13" Touch Bar MBP with the additional key travel. Other keyboards just feel really mushy now. I like the sound too, the clicking is very pleasant to my ears.
I really wasn't expecting to like this new keyboard as much as I do, but now, having typed with it for a day I'm really impressed with it. I never really seriously tested the 12" MacBook, so I can't speak to any improvements, but this keyboard is really good.
Someone on here in another thread compared typing on the "old" style keyboard as if one were typing on marshmallows, and I agree. The clicking sounds are soothing, and really the only thing I'm currently a little bit struggling with are the arrow keys.
But once muscle memory sets in, I have nothing bad to say about this new keyboard (or the machine in general).
Someone on here in another thread compared typing on the "old" style keyboard as if one were typing on marshmallows, and I agree. The clicking sounds are soothing, and really the only thing I'm currently a little bit struggling with are the arrow keys.
But once muscle memory sets in, I have nothing bad to say about this new keyboard (or the machine in general).
I just got the 2016 MacBook Pro and the keyboard is good but I really can't stand the noise, especially in a quiet room in the library. I wanna like it but paying $2000+ for a loud keyboard just isn't gonna cut it. This one is going back for that reason and a lack of ports reason. I'm not much a early adopter anyways but in a year or two once a refresh hits, this is gonna be one awesome machine. For now I'm gonna stick with the 2015.
I liked the keyboard on the 2015/2016 12" MacBook, but I wouldn't have minded more key travel. So the keyboard on my 2016 13" is much more to my liking. The clicking sound is very pleasing to the ear, it sounds much more mechanical than other, more recent, keyboards. I also much prefer the feel of these keys, I tried using my 2012 15" MacBook Pro recently and those keys just feel downright mushy.
The keyboard was one of the main reasons I returned mine. I prefer longer travel keys with deeper spaces between the keys. I found I typed way slower and was prone to more errors when typing over the week I had the Macbook Pro. The touch bar taking up the escape and function keys also annoyed me but that's something for another thread.
I usually type on external mechanical keyboards with cherry blues or my model M (Best keyboard I have owned by far) on my gaming PC so your mileage may vary.
I usually type on external mechanical keyboards with cherry blues or my model M (Best keyboard I have owned by far) on my gaming PC so your mileage may vary.
I love mine, especially the feedback. In general I usually hate laptop keyboards (especially the MacBook keyboard) but I quite like the feel from my 13" TB. As for fatigue, I type tens of thousands of words a day, usually a few hours on every sitting, and my fingers are fine. I guess these all come down to the individual user.
I type a lot; I am writing my PhD thesis and do a lot of coding. I have developed pain in my fingertips and joints after about 1 month of use. It has become so unpleasant that I feel forced to use an external keyboard as often as I can.
An another note, the keyboard has started to fail and some keys are unresponsive or register inputs twice (seem to be jammed). I will have to send it in for repair and be without a computer to work with for almost a week.
Here is a video of the keyboard issues:
(On another note, I really like the machine otherwise, especially the form factor. But the Touchbar is absolute junk - it slows me incredibly down and I have yet to find a single use case for me.)
An another note, the keyboard has started to fail and some keys are unresponsive or register inputs twice (seem to be jammed). I will have to send it in for repair and be without a computer to work with for almost a week.
Here is a video of the keyboard issues:
(On another note, I really like the machine otherwise, especially the form factor. But the Touchbar is absolute junk - it slows me incredibly down and I have yet to find a single use case for me.)
Umm just FYI, caps lock has always required a slightly longer press than other keys so that you don't accidentally enable it all the time. Just incase you get your repaired computer back and find it has the exact same issue there.
Umm just FYI, caps lock has always required a slightly longer press than other keys so that you don't accidentally enable it all the time. Just incase you get your repaired computer back and find it has the exact same issue there.
Thanks for your thoughts - but have a look at the video. I am not altering the duration of the press but the location and the force. So it unfortunately (!) has nothing to do with how long I press the button.
Thanks for your thoughts - but have a look at the video. I am not altering the duration of the press but the location and the force. So it unfortunately (!) has nothing to do with how long I press the button.
Sorry from the video it looks like you're quickly pressing it in different areas. What I mean is you need to actually press the button a little longer than others for it to register, simply tapping it (Anywhere) will not register as a press. Slow down on your presses and see if it works, and compare that to the 'A' key.
Well, that is embarrassing. I think you are right! Whenever I click longer it works!
Thank you a lot and I take the caps lock issue back! lol
Haha well glad we got one issue sorted! As I said just didn't want you to get it back and have the same 'problem' and we end up with another angry rant on this forum
.I don't think it's something you'd ever notice to be fair, it's only because these new keyboards are lower travel and so the speed of the keys is a lot more noticeable than before.
my 2011 MBA keyboard feels so dated compared to my 2016 13 TB keyboard. Initially the keys felt a bit too big sometimes I would type the wrong key however now it is the other way around, the 2011 MBA keyboard keys feels a bit too small compared to it. I still don't get why people claim it is a bit loud. I guess they must be smashing their keys?
I like my rMacbook (2016) keyboard, but miss my 13 inch model. Tried the new models out in an Apple store and they're really good, a refinement of the Macbooks keyboard. My only concern is the longevity of them, my Macbooks keys get stuck from time to time. My old Macbooks (rMBP 13 + 15) with the mushy keys never did.