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Any one prefers the new keyboard?

MacBH928

MacBH928

macrumors G3
Original poster
May 17, 2008
8,910
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So I check the new tMBP yesterday, I was kind of impressed with the keyboard. Almost every reviewer hates on short travel keys and its supposed to be a negative.

When I tried it, the keys felt sold not wobbly, and while this might sound silly the shorter key travel makes you put less effort into typing.

Any one used it for long typing session? Can you tell me it gets better or worse?

Also, any one knows if there is any difference between the keyboard on macbook unibody 2008 and the 2015 MBP or is it exactly the same?
 
The new keyboard is incredibly awesome. Nice and clicky, almost like a mechanical one. The older version in comparison feels like typing on mushy rubber. The new one is very crisp and precise.

Anyone who hates it is entitled to their rage, but they are wrong, lol. Go back to mush-land I guess.

When I go back to my work Lenovo X250, it's a pretty painful typing experience...and I always thought Thinkpads had the best keyboards. Not anymore.
 
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MacBH928 said:
So I check the new tMBP yesterday, I was kind of impressed with the keyboard. Almost every reviewer hates on short travel keys and its supposed to be a negative.

When I tried it, the keys felt sold not wobbly, and while this might sound silly the shorter key travel makes you put less effort into typing.

Any one used it for long typing session? Can you tell me it gets better or worse?

Also, any one knows if there is any difference between the keyboard on macbook unibody 2008 and the 2015 MBP or is it exactly the same?
Click to expand...

I've only had my new MacBook Pro for a day, but so far I like the butterfly keyboard. It feels faster and more accurate. I'm thinking of downloading a program that measures typing speed and accuracy to see if there's some measurable difference.

---

Just to add, I'm one of those who was concerned with the reviews of the new keyboard, but when I went into the Apple Store to try one I thought, this feels fine! I expect this is a very subjective matter.
 
I really like the new keyboard. I have some repetitive stress issues and it is very comfortable to type on. I am finding I can just glide my fingers over the keys, letting me type faster with less finger movement than on a normal keyboard.

I like it better than even the new magic keyboard, which also has a very nice feel.
 
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I'm not a fan of laptop keyboards in general. I always prefer a desktop with more space. I was initially indifferent about the new keyboard, but the more I use it, the more I appreciate how good it is. The positive feedback and the solid, no-play feel of the keys is what's impressing me. I am typing smoother and faster because of less effort needed for strokes. This keyboard is a real innovation that shouldn't be overlooked. Having that little travel with that much feedback. I always loved the mechanical, old school keyboards for the feedback. This has the feedback with almost no travel. People who reviewed it probably didn't spend more than a couple hours on it typing. It definitely grows on you. This is what I've heard from everyone, it just gets more and more impressive over time.
 
I can't believe I'm saying this but..gulp...I LIKE THE NEW KEYBOARD WAY MORE THAN THE OLD ONE. And its a weird experience because when i first tried it, i wasn't immediately taken to it. I used it for a bit and was like "meh...its not bad but it's not good". Then when i went back to an older macbook keyboard? It felt mushy and all over the place. Like typing on a qwerty marshmallow. I hated it. All the keys felt loose and wiggly. The backlighting sucked. The clicking sound was not nearly as satisfying as the new one.

So yeah. It's one of those things where you gotta remind yourself going into it that your initial opinion on it may not be your final opinion. It's a great keyboard
 
thesaint024 said:
I'm not a fan of laptop keyboards in general. I always prefer a desktop with more space. I was initially indifferent about the new keyboard, but the more I use it, the more I appreciate how good it is. The positive feedback and the solid, no-play feel of the keys is what's impressing me. I am typing smoother and faster because of less effort needed for strokes. This keyboard is a real innovation that shouldn't be overlooked. Having that little travel with that much feedback. I always loved the mechanical, old school keyboards for the feedback. This has the feedback with almost no travel. People who reviewed it probably didn't spend more than a couple hours on it typing. It definitely grows on you. This is what I've heard from everyone, it just gets more and more impressive over time.
Click to expand...


Interesting thoughts. It is interesting to hear the different reasons why people like mechanical keyboards.

I like having travel on a keys and that is one of the reason I like mechanical keyboards, more than clickiness of keyboards. In fact, I use MX Brown switches, with minimal clickiness, on my mechanical keyboards. In general, the lack of travel is one thing I dislike about all laptop keyboards.
 
I tried it in the Apple Store before buying and it felt okay to me. After using the computer for 2 weeks, I love the new keyboard.
 
jerryk said:
Interesting thoughts. It is interesting to hear the different reasons why people like mechanical keyboards.

I like having travel on a keys and that is one of the reason I like mechanical keyboards, more than clickiness of keyboards. In fact, I use MX Brown switches, with minimal clickiness, on my mechanical keyboards. In general, the lack of travel is one thing I dislike about all laptop keyboards.
Click to expand...
Yeah, I thought it was the travel that I liked too about mechanical keyboards, but apparently it's just the positive feedback. Chiclet style keyboards with more travel, even in the older MBP's, just feel mushy without a positive click you can feel. I am actually a little concerned about using it too much because when using other keyboards, you have to readjust to typing with more force. It's like trying to use a typewriter now. You literally have to punch down on those keys. We're all going to end up with tiny, emaciated fingers with these new keyboards.
 
I love the new keyboard.. I am one of the oddballs that liked the keyboard on the 12" though, so there is that..
 
Hell to the No. One of the main reasons why it's going back this weekend... I was hoping it would be a significant upgrade from my wife's rMB. I guess I'll be making the refurb buyers happy lol.
 
thesaint024 said:
Yeah, I thought it was the travel that I liked too about mechanical keyboards, but apparently it's just the positive feedback. Chiclet style keyboards with more travel, even in the older MBP's, just feel mushy without a positive click you can feel. I am actually a little concerned about using it too much because when using other keyboards, you have to readjust to typing with more force. It's like trying to use a typewriter now. You literally have to punch down on those keys. We're all going to end up with tiny, emaciated fingers with these new keyboards.
Click to expand...

Time for some finger exercises to maintain that kung-fu grip!
 
I have noticed that after using it for a while, I think I can actually type faster. It sort of requires one to type... not sure how to describe it... gently? I find with the lower key travel, my hands sort of glide around more quickly once I learn not to press as hard as I used to. I actually have been ditching the external keyboard because I like it, and the touch bar.
 
I don't care for the keyboard at all. One of the reasons I am heading to the Apple store right now to return it.
 
Since I've adapted to typing softly, I can say that this is by far the best keyboard I've ever used, that's not an exaggeration, it's true, I can type so fast on it and it's almost fun to type on. My Magic Keyboard is great, but this beats it by far.
 
I've been comparing the old and new keyboards at my local Apple store. I actually like the new one quite a bit.

One thing I did notice though was the louder click of the new keyboard. That said, I found varying loudness from two machines...maybe the click mechanism gets worked in?
 
I almost didn't buy it because of the initial impression of the keyboard. A few weeks in, I am a full convert. It doesn't feel shallow and I type just as well as before. The old rmbp now feels pretty squishy. The mind adapts quickly.
 
Never had the MBP before, but I love this keyboard so much. Beautiful sound plus very accurate. The travel is perfect for me, and the backlight looks perfect with the keys not having any gap between them and the metal. Overall, a fantastic experience. I pity those who are choosing not to purchase based on the keyboard alone.
 
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