Doubtful, it’s a service they voluntarily opted to purchase - though hopefully those who had to pay out of warranty top case replacement charges will be refunded
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Apple Launches Repair Program for Faulty MacBook and MacBook Pro Keyboards
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Most people are pegging it at 5 to 10%, I don't have any evidense to say its worse or better but that's better then what occured to the 2011 GPU which has a failure rate much much higher.
I think they meant compared to the number of iPhone sold in Apple Phone, inc.
This is the big problem with blogging - small operations like iMore don't dare bite the hand that feeds it.
Rene Ritchie in particular is pretty oleaginous and will act as an apologist/cheerleader for Apple practically whatever they do.
The Macstories team are pretty similar in this regard and tend to act as intellectual critics of Apple, but who are basically friendly.
Then people like John Gruber and Jason Snell you get the impression are very well connected and tend to get a free pass to be 'friendly critics' to Apple, as they're usually sounding out what prominent developer influencers in the Mac community think and reflecting that. They act as lightening rods and early warning systems, so to speak.
I do really like John Siracusa even though his requirements are way way beyond the average user, I think that he acts as a critic that is reminding Apple to keep on the straight and narrow regarding their pro products.
Marco Arment... Hmm. He does make some good points, but he also grandstands quite a bit when he knows that he has a receptive audience. Is the 2015 really the most perfect Mac laptop ever made? With the plastic hinge that gets squeaky over time - I mean, really?
MacRumors is always really balanced, I find - however they're punished because of it (and publishing rumours of course!) and therefore don't get invited to Apple events or get exclusives.
I'm really glad that they're like this though - Apple is making some really bad mis-steps of late and they need people from outside of the 'group think' to call them out on that.
Do you have links to info about this? I would *love* if the upcoming 2018 Macbook Pros have a new keyboard, but I haven't seen anything about it. Thanks.
And in a few years, be forced to buy a new one because it's still the same keyboard. Hopefully they've learned something and the next iteration won't have this. Be ready to shell out dough.
I had mine replaced on my 2016 mpb - thankfully under warranty for sticky keys and a broken T key. They replaced the entire top half of the machine including the case, keyboard, touchbar, trackpad and battery. Have to say I love the keyboard (when it works) and apples customer service (in my experience) was great. (But when you pay $429aud for the extended warranty - it better be!)
Was planning to buy a MBP 2017 yesterday but chickened out due to keyboard issue.
Given that Apple has announced a free keyboard replacement program, they will just replace the keyboard with the same faulty one over and over again. I guess this program is used to just shut the mouth of some current users and get more potential ones to buy MBP 2017 with faulty keyboard.
Since they already admitted design fault, if they have a new revision for replacement, they would have mentioned it already. So, it means replacing the same faulty keyboard over and over until the users get tired and buy the next model when it comes out.
Given that Apple has announced a free keyboard replacement program, they will just replace the keyboard with the same faulty one over and over again. I guess this program is used to just shut the mouth of some current users and get more potential ones to buy MBP 2017 with faulty keyboard.
Since they already admitted design fault, if they have a new revision for replacement, they would have mentioned it already. So, it means replacing the same faulty keyboard over and over until the users get tired and buy the next model when it comes out.
How many repair programmes does that total now?
I've had lots of issues with Apple gear over the years from coating coming off screens, feet falling off, dodgy camera pictures under fluorescent lights, battery issues to name but a few.
I think the only Apple product that I have that hasn't been repaired/replaced are my Apple TVs, Time capsule and my first iPhone 3GS. Every other product I own has been back in the shop at least once, some multiple times.
Apples quality control is bad, glad their customer replacement service is top notch.
I've had lots of issues with Apple gear over the years from coating coming off screens, feet falling off, dodgy camera pictures under fluorescent lights, battery issues to name but a few.
I think the only Apple product that I have that hasn't been repaired/replaced are my Apple TVs, Time capsule and my first iPhone 3GS. Every other product I own has been back in the shop at least once, some multiple times.
Apples quality control is bad, glad their customer replacement service is top notch.
We don't know that yet...
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Only 2015 MBP models, obviously - the 2015 MB was the first Apple laptop with this design.
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All too often, it seems that Apple only launches these repair programs after they've been sued.
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10% failure is massive, and massively expensive. Hopefully enough to get Apple to redesign these keyboards so this isn't a recurring failure cycle, with failure following repair following failure following repair ad infinitum.
I hate to put a dampener on this but, I’ve had my keyboard replaced three times now. It makes no sense to replace them with the same keyboard as Inevitably it’ll just keep happening. If mine fails again I’m gonna go bonkers and ask either for a whole replacement or money back. Every time I’m without my laptop for 14 days. And last time they insisted on backing my laptop from a developer beta to GM, which was why it took so long. And then when I got it back it was still the beta. Which means they hadn’t performed their proper tests.
I have never thought of Macstories as being critical of anything. Their whole stick is that the face of macstories loves his iPad and has a wealth of experience getting work done on it, and people frequent it when they want to know more about iPad productivity and apps. But by and large, they seem to stick with reporting facts and recommending new apps while staying away from making any sort of commentary.
People have no idea what the actual numbers are. Laptop keyboards can have all kinds of issues that run the gamut from minor to major in terms of the repair. Note that Apple doesn't specify a certain type of repair with this program. IMO, that's the giveaway that there's no monolithic issue with the keyboard. Odds are that most repairs have been of the minor variety and don't involve replacing the entire keyboard etc.
totally agree MBA keyboard is flawless...
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Apple has gone down ever since 2013
I wish you worked at Apple! If true, every non 2016-17 MBP keyboard would have 3-5 times the fail rate of that. Based on your estimation, Apple should start a program to replace every keyboard BUT the 2016-17, given that they've shown they can eliminate hardware failure down to 2-3 percent with that superior design.
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This is a pretty interesting take! What I gather from this is that you are saying there are all sorts of things wrong with this keyboard...please link an article that explains the multiple failures...
It's a reaction to the mounting court action, negative press and pressure from users. Had Apple done it's homework in the first place situation would have never arisen, a point well worth considering...
You should be greatful not everyone rolled over and simply accepted Apple's deflections and excuses as many did.
Apple have finally done the right thing, equally over a year late. All those who have paid to have keyboards repaired/replaced should contact Apple for reimbursement ASAP.
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Apple doesn't say that this program is for "failed" keyboards or specific to replacing the entire keyboard. It's for any type of repair, minor to major. So the "small percentage" that Apple is talking about can include repairs as simple as a compressed air fix.
Apple would never place such a program in place for such small numbers, that's common sense. The failure rate will be significantly higher and one Apple will not care to disclose in an open court...
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True that. But that narrative doesn't quite inspire the froth-worthy faux outrage of "Finally!"s and "About Time!"s that people are itching to get out.
It's unknown what they will do...It was a surprise to me that the 2017 second gen keyboard was designed to work as a replacement for the 2016 model...(to me this suggests Apple knew they had a problem...I don't believe they often design components cross year models...not that it hasn't ever happened, but usually doesn't.) It's quite possible (although there is no evidence for this) that the 2018 model has a third gen keyboard designed to fit into the 2016 and 2017 models. This would make a lot of sense given this program. If Apple had a 2018 keyboard that built on the lower failure rate of the 2017 model, that fit in the 2016-2017 models, the program would serve as a mechanism in fixing the problem for those affected, but wouldn't cause a major recall and repair program that would be more costly (fixing every keyboard, even those that aren't broken)...It's quite possible, however, that they believe the improved (although reportedly not without fault) 2017 second gen keyboard is "good enough."
It’s great that Apple is doing this and about time for those that have had the issue. The “small percentage” claim is probably accurate considering the amount of MacBook Pros that Apple sell, they have said themselves that the Pro is there best selling Mac.
Having tried the new keyboard in the Apple store a number of times I actually like it and so do a lot of other people, I don’t think the new keyboards are an issue for the majority of people who buy a MacBook or MacBook Pro, for example a few people i know have them and they haven’t mentioned any issues so far.
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This is subjective because a lot of people do in fact like the new keyboard. I think the less travel is really good, especially for someone like me who writes a lot on a daily basis for a living.
Having tried the new keyboard in the Apple store a number of times I actually like it and so do a lot of other people, I don’t think the new keyboards are an issue for the majority of people who buy a MacBook or MacBook Pro, for example a few people i know have them and they haven’t mentioned any issues so far.
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This is subjective because a lot of people do in fact like the new keyboard. I think the less travel is really good, especially for someone like me who writes a lot on a daily basis for a living.
I think it is easier to have finger injury typing for long on the butterfly keyboard since it is like hitting a hard floor.