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Can Apple just admit the design is flawed and move to something reliable in the next gen?

Or perhaps bring back the old retina MacBook Pro to sell as a different range - put the latest internals in it, replace thunderbolt ports and USB A with USB-C thunderbolt 3, put in Touch ID and an equivalent display to the new Macs.

I still use my 2015 retina MacBook Pro for this reason, the excellent port selection and the keyboard make it a joy to use. Personally I’d love to see a return to this design (or similar). At the very least just giving us that keyboard again would be very welcome
 
Get the machine with apple care and see how you feel! Theres a return receipt for a reason ;) i came from a macbook pro 2015 to this one (for the color) but i love it anyway! The very very very slight keyboard issue is something apple honors and fixes. I say it's worth it because nothing beats Mac OS
So pay Apple more by buying AppleCare because they are making unreliable keyboards?
 
I don't understand how anyone likes how these keys feel when they type. There is almost no travel. Why is that better? I get that it makes the laptop thinner, but I care more about the typing experience.

Couple that with the fact the design is unreliable, and it is not a good look.
 
They made the keyboard like that so air could travel through the system and keep the laptop cool... they just didn't think about the cons, bit rubbish that Tims response is "LOL Sorry, idk :| " haha. my keys have stuck but just blow through the keyboard and it clears up all the dust
 



Last year, Apple introduced new MacBook Pro and MacBook Air models with a redesigned third-generation butterfly keyboard that was meant to address issues with sticking and non-responsive keys. However, as noted by The Wall Street Journal's Joanna Stern, some customers are continuing to experience these issues.

ifixitbutterflykeyboardteardown.jpg

Third-generation butterfly keyboard on 2018 MacBook Pro via iFixit

In a statement, an Apple spokesperson acknowledged the issues and apologized:Apple added that affected customers should contact the company for support.

Unfortunately, while Apple initiated a service program offering free repairs of affected 2015-2017 MacBook and 2016-2017 MacBook Pro models with first- and second-generation butterfly keyboards, the latest 2018 MacBook Pro and 2018 MacBook Air models with third-generation butterfly keyboards do not qualify at this time.

Stern wrote her column without using the letters E or R as a clever way of illustrating the problem -- there are toggle switches to turn each letter back on. Humorously, there are also toggle switches to read the article with double E's or double T's, as repeating letters are one symptom of the sticky keys.

wsj-keyboard-column.jpg

In an internal document obtained by MacRumors last year, Apple said the third-generation keyboard has a silicone membrane under the keycaps to "prevent debris from entering the butterfly mechanism." However, the membrane has only reduced the keyboard issues instead of eliminating them entirely.

Apple has not admitted this reasoning publicly, instead saying that the third-generation keyboard delivers a "quieter" typing experience.

Stern concludes with a plea to Apple to "stop prioritizing thinness over usability."

Article Link: Apple Apologizes Over 'Small Number' of Users Who Continue to Have Issues With Third-Generation MacBook Keyboards




Last year, Apple introduced new MacBook Pro and MacBook Air models with a redesigned third-generation butterfly keyboard that was meant to address issues with sticking and non-responsive keys. However, as noted by The Wall Street Journal's Joanna Stern, some customers are continuing to experience these issues.

ifixitbutterflykeyboardteardown.jpg

Third-generation butterfly keyboard on 2018 MacBook Pro via iFixit

In a statement, an Apple spokesperson acknowledged the issues and apologized:Apple added that affected customers should contact the company for support.

Unfortunately, while Apple initiated a service program offering free repairs of affected 2015-2017 MacBook and 2016-2017 MacBook Pro models with first- and second-generation butterfly keyboards, the latest 2018 MacBook Pro and 2018 MacBook Air models with third-generation butterfly keyboards do not qualify at this time.

Stern wrote her column without using the letters E or R as a clever way of illustrating the problem -- there are toggle switches to turn each letter back on. Humorously, there are also toggle switches to read the article with double E's or double T's, as repeating letters are one symptom of the sticky keys.

wsj-keyboard-column.jpg

In an internal document obtained by MacRumors last year, Apple said the third-generation keyboard has a silicone membrane under the keycaps to "prevent debris from entering the butterfly mechanism." However, the membrane has only reduced the keyboard issues instead of eliminating them entirely.

Apple has not admitted this reasoning publicly, instead saying that the third-generation keyboard delivers a "quieter" typing experience.

Stern concludes with a plea to Apple to "stop prioritizing thinness over usability."

Article Link: Apple Apologizes Over 'Small Number' of Users Who Continue to Have Issues With Third-Generation MacBook Keyboards

after dozens of times where some dust grain got stuck under a letter which let to it's failing, some letters started to always operate at least two sometimes more times while 'pushed' once. Top case needed to be exchanged, which led to a broken logic board, which was exchanged as well. Totally not satisfied with the keyboard. I'l like my old keyboard back :D
 
If they are saying a "small number" is because the majority of user are experiencing it and they are doing poor damage control trying to downplaying it.

What it is scary is that after 2016, they failed to address the issue and Apple made a poor Mickey Mouse fix.
Even scarier is how Apple is creating failure after failure products and fail to fix them in time (Mac Pro, Macbook Pro 2016+, iMac Pro).

This is how much Apple cares about innovation. PLease someone tell Cook, Ive and Schiller that Design with non working poor quality products do NOT work.

And still after all these flaws no one is getting fired.
 
My keyboard has started to play up...

Two weeks later more Keys not responding, so now needs new keyboard, which is going to take 3 days!

I pay for Apple for premium products that will last...this is not good!

Let's not even start with the awful environmental impact your repair now will make since Apple decided to glue the keyboard, speakers, battery and trackpad together! All 4 of those will have to be disposed of just to fix one of them.
 
Jobs would have fired everyone responsible for this disaster and he'd have been right to do so.

This ongoing mess is so, so, so toxic to Apple's reputation. That article by Joanna Stern should be the only thing on Cook's desk today and I bet the myopic fool doesn't even read it.
Cook’s too busy dealing with the new Apple Food delivery service rollout to deal with these unimportant matters.
 
I'd really love to see anyone try and defend this poor design choice by Apple. I'm almost sure they have people inside Apple who told Ive this would happen but much like with the asinine decision with the antennas they're too scared of angering "Sir" Ive which only further illustrates how much he needs to be shoved out the door.
 
"stop prioritizing thinness over usability."

This right here. This needs to be the new company-wide mandate. I don't have dirt issues with my 2017 MBP keyboard but the new butterfly mechanism with reduced travel distance to account for the thinness has me typing errors nonstop. I HATE the new butterfly keyboards with a passion.
 
Gotta avoid these MacBooks with Butterfly keyboards like you'd try to avoid an STD. Stay the hell away.
No buy.
Wow, that is a terrible analogy. Seriously? In one scenario you lose money, in the other you could potentially lose your life. How in the hell is that equal?

2.1 stars, would not read again.
 
I suffered from double and triple spacing when hitting the space bar on my 3rd gen and it was the most annoying issues I've ever had with a Mac I've owned. What's surprising is this was supposed to be an improved keyboard (and is in many ways) and never had issues with my Gen 1 keyboard on the original 2016 MacBook Pro.

Thankfully when I sent it in Apple offered to keep the computer for testing and issued me a new one and haven't had the issue since.
 
I just came here to say that ever since Apple made their first version of the utterly disgusting butterfly keyboard I have not made a new Mac laptop purchase. I hate that miserable keyboard so very much - including their recently improved versions. They are just too proud to admit the mistake and go back to the better days when laptops had great keyboards but were half a millimeter thicker. I have a friend who has one of the new MacBook Pros and he's never used the touchbar because it's just too far away from the external keyboard he is forced to use.
 
I'm still having problems with a sticky tt key (see?) on my work laptop, and there's nothing I can do about it because it's going to take 2 weeks to fix this shitt. I hate this keyboard so much.
 
I’m constantly amazed at how many people hate the butterfly keyboards! I’ve got a first-gen MacBook that took a bit getting used to....and now a 2018 MacBook Pro that I actually LOVE!

Having said that if it starts acting up I’m not gonna be happy...and as a stockholder I’m super concerned about the impact this must be having on sales. Since SO MANY people seem to hate those keyboards they better bail on the design ASAP!
 
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I've also read about this. A lot of the posts where people complain about the keyboard having problems, I find that they're not using the TB model. The TB model has an extra fan. Both my wife and I have had 0 problems on our 2017 TB models and we've done some pretty intensive CPU / heat processes before as well. I do wonder how much this affects the failure.
[doublepost=1553705777][/doublepost]

As a 2017 MBP owner, BRING BACK MAGSAFE. That's a big thing I miss from my 2015 MBA. :(
I have a 2017 15" TB MBP, and I experience this type of problem (you can see in my previous post in this thread). 2016 15" model I used to have was much worse, as some keys in it would start making an incredibly noisy snapping sound any time the laptop gets hot, and then started failing outright. This 2017 was very good to me for about 1.5 years, but now I guess the dust accumulated enough that it finally started making problems. But so far I'm removing keycaps and cleaning it as necessary, so it's still workable. I'm curious, how do you clean yours (you mentioned that you do in one of previous posts)? Btw, as a developer, are you too annoyed with the new arrow keys layout? I just can't ever get completely used to it.

As for magsafe, I use this 3rd party cable, with a tiny USBC magnetic adapter which is seriously good:
https://www.amazon.com/Magnetic-Rep...B-Type-C-Smartphones/dp/B07K2J8L25/ref=sr_1_3
The connector sits firmly in the USB port, the magnet is just the right strength, and it provides full 87W of power, that's needed for 15" MBP.
 
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I’m lucky I haven’t had any issues otherwise these butterfly keys are the best I’ve used. The old keyboards are so wobbly and mushy.
 
They have to release a re-designed model this year. I expect it during WWDC. I've already had to take my 2018 13 inch in for a new keyboard and I do have AppleCare. Wondering if I should upgrade
 
I have a 2017 15" TB MBP, and I experience this type of problem (you can see in my previous post in this thread). 2016 15" model I used to have was much worse, as some keys in it would start making an incredibly noisy snapping sound any time the laptop gets hot, and then started failing outright. This 2017 was very good to me for about 1.5 years, but now I guess the dist accumulated enough that it finally started making problems. But so far I'm removing keycaps and cleaning it as necessary, so it's still workable. I'm curious, how do you clean yours (you mentioned that you do in one of previous posts)? Btw, as a developer, are you too annoyed with the new arrow keys layout? I just can't ever get completely used to it.

As for magsafe, I use this 3rd party cable, with a tiny USBC magnetic adapter which is seriously good:
https://www.amazon.com/Magnetic-Rep...B-Type-C-Smartphones/dp/B07K2J8L25/ref=sr_1_3

I hate the arrow keys. My wife has never really "cleaned" her keyboard. I use canned air on mine now and then. We both travel with our laptops in a zipped laptop case purchased on Amazon for $20-$30.

Thanks for the link about the 3rd party USBC magnetic adapter. :D

I would never pop the keycaps on these laptops. I'd be worried about breaking them!
 
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If Apple had made this announcement Monday, I would have been one of those people in this thread thinking "I haven't had any issues with my keyboard at all" -- except that I would just be THINKING it to myself instead of being annoying and posting it.

But yesterday my spacebar got sticky, and I broke the mechanism trying to lift the key top up to blow it out with air. So it was off to the Genius Bar for a top case replacement... I don't completely trust my Time Capsule backups so I brought it home to do a full backup before shipping it off, and while backing up another key started getting flaky.

This is a new 2018 i9 version that's just a nightly browsing machine (I use my iMP for most "work" things).

edit: typo
 
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How would you rate the design of the Magic Keyboards (1 and 2)?
Do you thing Apple should use one of these designs for their MacBooks?
I have a 2016 MacBook and I'm not please with the way the keyboard feels, the very short travel distance, and sometimes missing to type a key.
I've been using a keyboard cover while on the road to prevent dust or debris from getting inside, but it just makes the whole typing experience more annoying.
 
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How would you rate the design of the Magic Keyboards (1 and 2)?
Do you thing Apple should use one of these designs for their MacBooks?
I have a 2016 MacBook and I'm not please with the way the keyboard feels, the very short travel distance, and sometimes missing to type a key.
I've been using a keyboard cover while on the road to prevent dust or debris from getting inside, but it just makes the whole typing experience more annoying.

The magic keyboards are pretty thin themselves. But I've seen these used in colleges for years without any problems (that I know of). I one one myself.

I don't think a keyboard cover would work good on this keyboard because of the low key-travel and may make the overheating issue a problem.
 
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