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2018 MacBook Pro's 'Quieter' Keyboard Compared to Previous MacBook Pro Keyboard

I don't remember people complaining about the noise of the keys, I sure don't. But hey, I'm happy if they made them quieter I guess.

Durability is what people are concerned about.
Aside from the keyboard it feels like a very solid well made laptop.
 
Does anyone know if Apple will eventually replace 2016 and 2017 models taken in for service with the new keyboard? I don’t see why they still wouldn’t be a perfect fit. Everything is the same except for some additional battery capacity perhaps but they haven’t redesigned the logic board size.
 
827538 said:
I don't remember people complaining about the noise of the keys, I sure don't. But hey, I'm happy if they made them quieter I guess.

Durability is what people are concerned about.
Aside from the keyboard it feels like a very solid well made laptop.
Click to expand...

The keyboard feels really cheap though and that's what you touch most. This generation (2016-) will not be remembered fondly.
 
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So it’s even worse now? The previous keyboards was awful, and my #1 deterrent for upgrading from my MacBook Air. It just has such minimal travel and feedback that it barely feels like you’re typing correctly. It’s like they’re trying to get closer and closer to making it feel like one those awful, flat, tablet-cover keyboards.

Give me back my clicky keys, Apple! I want my typing to feel substantial and responsive.
 
TimmeyCook said:
Are you crazy?

What about the controversy, the fear, uncertainty, doubt (FUD) that keep this readership coming back, and the "sponsors" coming in?

My "favorite" was when ConsumerReports claimed that the MBP had bad battery life, and all the "pros" on twitter, all the divas, started to "complain" about their MBP's. Then ConsumerReports and Apple found it was a bug, fixed it, and the test ran and came up with 18 hours of battery life (yes, 18), and then every diva SUDDENLY stopped complaining about the batt life.
Click to expand...
@TimmeyCook
StevieJobs said "Apple never used to be like this back in my day"
 
DDustiNN said:
So it’s even worse now? The previous keyboards was awful, and my #1 deterrent for upgrading from my MacBook Air. It just has such minimal travel and feedback that it barely feels like you’re typing correctly. It’s like they’re trying to get closer and closer to making it feel like one those awful, flat, tablet-cover keyboards.

Give me back my clicky keys, Apple! I want my typing to feel substantial and responsive.
Click to expand...

My 2017 MBP keyboard is the best I've ever used. I can type faster and more accurately. Coming from a MBA, here.
 
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Reliability and durability is more important than how quiet a keyboard is. With people claiming issues with keyboards from the previous two years, you would think Apple would be advertising improvements made to the new models to alleviate hesitancy of future buyers.
 
matthew12 said:
Still don't care about the volume of the keys. Do they function as they should? That's all that's important.
Click to expand...

You say this because you haven't lived with someone who uses the 2016/2017 models. The click-click-click will slowly drive a person insane. It's so annoying that I don't use my 2017 except as a local postgres database, which is just absurd.
 
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Relentless Power said:
If it was, I never even had an issue with the previous generation keyboard. It worked perfectly fine for me and I never thought it was that loud to begin with.
Click to expand...
My work machine goes from work dock to home dock. My home machines live in a dock. I never touch the keys. Even if I did I couldn't complain about key noise. I used to use Blue switches. There's no laptop keyboard that could be considered too loud if you've used Blues. I have since switched to Browns. My wife is happier therefore my life is infinitely better. My co-workers are happier as well, but who cares..
 
I had my 2017 keyboard replaced a few days ago. I'm fairly confident they replaced it with the new keyboard.
 
Naraxus said:
There was no "FUD" as you put it. It is a VERY real issue that affected a sizeable number of people and one which Apple was content on sweeping under the rug and blaming their customers for. It's also one of the reasons they were extorting money for repairs until they got caught and started offering "Free" repairs.
Click to expand...

Source for that?

How many people are REALLY having this issue in the real world?

I tell you: ZERO.
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vipergts2207 said:
Nothing near that severe is needed for these keyboards to act up.
Click to expand...

Only a hammer like Linus Tech Tips.
 
69Mustang said:
I used to use Blue switches. There's no laptop keyboard that could be considered too loud if you've used Blues. I have since switched to Browns. My wife is happier therefore my life is infinitely better. My co-workers are happier as well, but who cares..
Click to expand...

LOL, only a few people on MacRumors have any idea what you're referring to.

My current switch of choice are Reds and combined with me having a very soft touch with little bottoming out, they might be just a touch more quiet than Browns, but it's close enough that it depends on how you respond to not having a tactile point. I've never been a Blues kind of guy. I love loud keyboards, but that ping just makes me want to scream.

You can get rubber ring dampeners that will reduce the rattle of any Cherry MX style switch. It won't make them quiet, but it definitely lowers the pitch and brings the sound level down a little.

The keycaps actually have quite a bit to do with the sound too. Just the keycaps alone can create an amazing rattle if you have ones that allow for any wobble at all. I have a Matias Ergo Pro with their quiet linear ALPS switches. The switches themselves are fairly quiet especially considering that they're ALPS clones, but I swear that thing makes noise if you even just breathe on the keycaps.
 
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BrooksA said:
The keyboard feels really cheap though and that's what you touch most. This generation (2016-) will not be remembered fondly.
Click to expand...

My MacBook has the 1st gen butterfly keys and I'm happy with them. I do prefer the feeling of the second gen switches. But I have to disagree with your statement, the keys on my 2013 Retina MacBook Pro felt very squishy and cheap. These keys at least feel solid no matter how you press on them.

I like the butterfly keys, the second gen feels great to type on and it looks like they've made the third gen keys more robust.
 
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