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

I’ve had issues with the second-gen ‘Magic Keyboard’, too; which uses this same lousy butterfly mechanism, if I’m not mistaken. Keys pressed once periodically generate two characters or the spacebar creates two spaces when it is only pressed once.

When I periodically switch to using the keyboard on my 2015 MBP, I ask myself, “Why in the hell did they switch to such an inferior keyboard design in 2016?!”
 
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joiwomcow said:
Count yourself lucky. In the UK they take two weeks for repairs.
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I would rather have it take more time and be done properly than to be done quickly and poorly.

e.g. Last time I had a top case replaced on a MBP (the backup I am using right now), it was done at the store with a few hours turn-around time. Unfortunately it tooks three more trips back to the store with 10 days out of service, to fix problems that were CAUSED by it being replaced in the store (lost bottom screws, loose hinge screws, nonfunctional speaker). And to this day it still has a hinge problem but I refuse to bring it in again.

For my latest repair (a whole top case just to fix the space bar) I asked the store to specifically send it to the repair center where they have personnel that only fix the machines instead of walking around the store in a blue shirt.
 
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Have people been successful getting refunds (even store credit) on 2018's? If so, is it possible with the first issue or is it going to take multiple returns? My 2018 that I got in January has had a sticky space bar since it was new, but I could not take it in for repair until now because I had a thesis to write, so I just lived with it. Thinking a combo of a Mac mini and iPad Pro would be better than a MacBook Pro that may need multiple repairs over the next year or two.
 
Last night I was at home reading something, munching on Doritos. Some crumbs fell on my keyboard and I saw one sneak under one the keys. I was like, damn is that going to mess up the keyboard on my 2018 MB Pro? Who knows. I mostly use the wireless keyboard from Apple. Guess I'll find out soon.
 
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ghostface147 said:
Last night I was at home reading something, munching on Doritos. Some crumbs fell on my keyboard and I saw one sneak under one the keys. I was like, damn is that going to mess up the keyboard on my 2018 MB Pro? Who knows. I mostly use the wireless keyboard from Apple. Guess I'll find out soon.
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Oops
 
How ironic this article came out the day after I noticed the R key on my 2018 MBP wasn't traveling as far down as the other keys (as if there is something stuck underneath). I haven't tried the air cleaning method on the Apple website, but I have a Genius Bar appointment for the weekend. Definitely disappointing to have an issue four months in.
 
Yeah, I held tough with Apple on my last two 2016 MacBook/2017 MacBook Pro, but I'm now done. Both ended up with stuck keys and Apple tech said I should keep the computer cleaner! Next up will be a Lenovo P1 or similar. Yeah, it's windows, but I'd rather bitch over the OS than the hardware. Besides, the Apple support that used to distinguish Apple from all the rest, is over.
 
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Plutonius said:
If Apple really wanted to apologize, they would scrap the current butterfly keyboard for something completely new.

What really bothers me is the repairability of the latest laptops. It seems like every repair no matter how small requires Apple to replace half the laptop at a high cost.

It's ok when you have AppleCare but does that mean the laptop is only good for three years for its high cost (AppleCare included in the price).

Most people liked Apple laptops in the past mostly because of the low ownership cost over many years.
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The repairability issue is one intriguing indicator of Apple's devolving culture.

If you want an impactful set of insights into the new Cult of Apple, try and find 20 minutes to listen to Louis Rossmann.
 
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It seems unimaginable that Apple will continue this fiasco for yet another year. This latest admission/apology from Apple is a prelude to offering the same 4 year warrantee for the 3rd generation keyboard on the 2018 models. Whenever Apple says a few customers are having a problem, that is code for "it's a **** show".

Stern is a reliable reviewer for the WSJ. As these types of bad reviews pile-up, Apple's reputation and liability are at greater risk. They should just bite the bullet and add more space to the case, even if it adds marginally to the thickness. Time to admit your mistake and move on.
 
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Apology accepted.


Now, repair/replace the keyboards free of charge, and we are good to go. We will go to bar, have few drinks, have a good time, and we will all go to our homes like nothing ever happened.


Because, users shall not be responsible for the flaw in design.
 
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aaronhead14 said:
Apple really ought to just acknowledge that these butterfly keyboards are awful, and revert back to the 2015 MacBook keyboards. It’s crazy. They went from having literally the greatest laptop keyboards on the market in 2015, to having the absolute worst keyboards on the market in 2016, all just to save half a millimeter in thickness.
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I don’t agree. I find the Surface Pro type cover to be much much worse.
 
ghostface147 said:
Last night I was at home reading something, munching on Doritos. Some crumbs fell on my keyboard and I saw one sneak under one the keys. I was like, damn is that going to mess up the keyboard on my 2018 MB Pro? Who knows. I mostly use the wireless keyboard from Apple. Guess I'll find out soon.
Click to expand...

And that is how one crumb from a $4 bag of chips can bring down a $2,500+ computer. Good luck.
 
rembert said:
Gosh... the keyboard is the main reason why I'm still using a 2015 Macbook Pro. If it dies, I'll buy another. I tend to eat biscuits behind my computer. For decades my computers survived that.
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It's the same reason I'm still using a 2012 Macbook Air. Would love to have a newer model but I can't get past all these hardware design issues.
 
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I haven’t had any issues on my MacBook and MacBook Pro. I’m very OC and don’t eat over my keyboard and I regularly clean the thing but that’s just me however no machine that costs this much should fail because of crumbs or dust.

I’m not a big fan of the keyboard, I do like the clicky sound but I prefer the original and if they can just incorporate that into the new shell that would be fantastic.
 
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rembert said:
Gosh... the keyboard is the main reason why I'm still using a 2015 Macbook Pro. If it dies, I'll buy another. I tend to eat biscuits behind my computer. For decades my computers survived that.
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Same. I refuse to buy the new ones for the problems as well as I don’t enjoy typing with so little cushion, and I love MagSafe and a variety of ports and sd. I’ll never eat or keep drinks near computers but I hate 2016 to present MacBook pros.
 
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Y’all overreact so hard to this. Apple knows it’s not a big deal, so they are giving you an apology.

They’ll fix it if it’s damaged, but it just isn’t a huge issue.
 
a small number
Click to expand...

Anything under 50% is a "small number".

Give it time. Apple sold 3 years of laptops that are defective. Every NuKeyboard will fail the moment dust hits it.

No recall from Apple.

Never an admission of fault, just "a small number" for CYA legal reasons.

Reverse switching is happening all over the place.

Apple killed the Mac.
 
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rembert said:
Gosh... the keyboard is the main reason why I'm still using a 2015 Macbook Pro. If it dies, I'll buy another. I tend to eat biscuits behind my computer. For decades my computers survived that.
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The 2015 models are easily to find secondhand, too! I picked up my 2015 MacBook Pro 15.4” for $900 on Craigslist. 2.8Ghz, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD, dual graphics. On eBay they go for more like $1200, still a great deal in my opinion. There are screen delamination issues with some of these, but Apple will replace the screen within 3 years of the purchase date if it’s delaminating.
 
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NickName99 said:
Loving my 2.8Ghz 2015 MacBook Pro 15.4”. Keyboard works great, 1TB SSD is upgradable. I’ve got MagSafe, Ports, an SDRAM card slot.

Highly recommended.
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Nope! Sorry. Too many problems, omissions and terrible design decisions with these laptops. Not to mention the insane pricing/BTO strategies. Not buying.
 
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