Apple Launches Repair Program for Faulty MacBook and MacBook Pro Keyboards

[JustMartin]

...
I can't imagine Tim Cook being as transparent as Steve Jobs. And it is hard to imagine a great Lenovo-style keyboard coming to a Mac notebook given how small they want them and how they fill every last inch with battery. But I still think they'll do some sort of re-design.

You mean Steve "You're holding it wrong" Jobs?

 

[x-evil-x]

Well it won’t be long before a redesign now. I can’t imagine they will keep selling laptops that have to be covered by a repair program. Hopefully updates soon!

I dont see them going back to full travel keyboards if they want to keep things thin.

 

[pier]

Apple needs a redesign of the keyboard. If not for technical and practical reasons, for marketing ones.

Unlike the butterfly keyboard which is very polarizing, the previous one was universally lauded. Apple needs another hit keyboard.

 

[falainber]

My take is that Apple is taking design cues from the iPad when it comes to designing the macbook pro.

For example, the new MBP lacks MagSafe because the envisioned use case is that with the improved battery life of these laptops, you shouldn't need to camp near a power outlet 24/7. In this context, MagSafe is deemed a crutch for the fact that laptops then could only get so much battery life. You should be free to use your laptop anywhere you wish, just like an iPad, and charge your device only at the end of the day (say while you sleep).

Meanwhile, the butterfly keyboards and touchbar seem to draw inspiration from the onscreen virtual keyboard of the iPad. The end goal could be typing on a glass surface that is able to adjust itself on the fly to suit your current workflow. No physical keyboard, no chance of keyboard failure.

And I stress that I am not saying whether what Apple has done here is right or wrong, just ruminating on their rationale for having done the things they did with regards to the MBP redesign.

So, Apple switched to industry standard (USB C). Your take - "Apple is taking design cues from the iPad". Interesting.

 

[Abazigal]

So, Apple switched to industry standard (USB C). Your take - "Apple is taking design cues from the iPad". Interesting.

The MacBook Pro was obviously never going to sport 4 lightning ports.

 

[citysnaps]

So they have a roadmap that says no meaningful mac updates for years at a time? A roadmap that has horribly fragmented their macbook, iPad, and iPhone product lines?

Looking at the current state of Apple, there cannot possibly be any roadmap.

And perhaps more to the point, even if there was a roadmap, sticking to it blindly and ignoring real engineering issues and market issues is a recipe for bankruptcy. Even Timmy isn't stupid enough to stick to a roadmap for the sake of following a roadmap.

Of course Apple has a roadmap. It's quite easy to see. And no meaningful updates? Really. Like the iMac Pro and later MBPs with four Thunderbolt 3 ports, each supporting 40 Gb/sec transfer rates along with charging?


"A roadmap that has horribly fragmented their macbook, iPad, and iPhone product lines?"

Horribly fragmented? Sounds like you don't know what that term means in the context of product families, and what the consequences of fragmentation entails.

 

[Naimfan]

Both my wife and myself have this issue. I think it's because they are very susceptible to dust/debris getting stuck under the keys.

I actually like the butterfly keys, but they need to be made more robust.

Having been through at least a dozen machines, not a single one of them had dust - all failed due to heat warping the butterfly. If Apple weren't so obsessed with thin at all costs, this wouldn't happen. We've never had the keyboard fail on the 2015 and earlier models.

 

[MrUNIMOG]

So many of you seem to get this wrong. This service program is for defective keyboards and certainly only affects a very small percentage of users, as stated. Not everybody will have such an issue and not 50 %.

People with crumbs in their keyboard who just need to take out a dust blower to make things work again this program is not for.

 

[lilrush]

Apple st

Simple actually, nothing means for many people who haven’t had issues with their, fill in the blank, product there is nothing wrong. A common theme on the internet is to ignore that larger population and focus on whatever little corner they frequent.

Apple started a repair program. Apple themselves admits the product has a flaw.

 

[thewap]

Looking at the butterfly key design, it looks as though the pivot point of the key depends on the plastic butterfly component. This design I naturally assume is a time ticking bomb for future failure as relying on the thin plastic separator of the butterfly(bottom center) as a pivot point would easily lead to breakage. This does not look like good engineering to me, and question why Apple did not design the butterfly assembly with spring metal due to material fatigue considerations and liabilities...

 

[ryannel2003]

This makes me worry a lot less about my machine now that it's out of warranty. I've owned it for a year and so far the keyboard hasn't failed yet. Keys have gotten stuck a few times but a good cleaning always fixed it.

 

[project_2501]

So many of you seem to get this wrong. This service program is for defective keyboards and certainly only affects a very small percentage of users, as stated. Not everybody will have such an issue and not 50 %.

People with crumbs in their keyboard who just need to take out a dust blower to make things work again this program is not for.

Many people didn't pay premium prices for a laptop that has such a vulnerable keyboard (ergonomic issues aside).

And the figure is far higher than "a small percentage". Corporates that issues hundreds are finding about 40% of these laptops have keyboard failures within the first year.

40%

 

[Damtoft]

Why is the 2018 macbook not eligible? Did they change something to the keyboard?

 

[project_2501]

Why is the 2018 macbook not eligible? Did they change something to the keyboard?

this isn't a 2018 macbook - they're still selling the previous ones

 

[ThisBougieLife]

Why is the 2018 macbook not eligible? Did they change something to the keyboard?

The latest MacBook was released in June 2017.

 

[triangletechie]

I've had my 2017 TB MBP since around November of last year and haven't experienced any keyboard issues. I did have sticky keys on a 2016 model. But it is nice to have this extended coverage for a few years.

 

[KPandian1]

I advise folks to take the things you hear in forums with a grain of salt. As an example, you say that people have been struggling with this keyboard issue for 3 years, yet the second generation keyboard on the current MBP has not even been out for 2 years yet. It has only been in the public’s hands for 17 months, a far cry from “3 years”. As you can see, things read in a forum should be taken with a grain of salt.

The issue is the keyboard architecture, the low profile, decreased travel, Apple designed butterfly keyboards. It is three years and more that the butterfly keyboard has been in the consumers' hands - released in April, 2015. The 17 month or so number that you suggested are for the MacBook Pro models 2016 on.

While hyperbole is common in fansites, that is not the case in this issue; and, more people buy the MacBooks than MacBook Pro models.

 

[Uni Grad]

Ever since Steve Jobs died, and Bob Mansfield was replaced by an iPad guy (Dan Riccio) in late 2012, Mac designs have gone downhill. Plain and simple.

Hello Bob Mansfield.

 

[qb7]

I had NEVER bought AppleCare before. Never needed it. I have 2x of the late-2016 MBPro's both of which had repeated keyboard services. Right before their 1 year warranties expired I bought AC for both. Wish Apple would refund the cost of AC now that they have the extended repair and now that both have the 2nd generation scissor keyboards as of their most recent services. Ugh.

 

[KPandian1]

Looking at the butterfly key design, it looks as though the pivot point of the key depends on the plastic scissor component. This design I naturally assume is a time ticking bomb for future failure as relying on the thin plastic separator of the scissor(bottom center) as a pivot point would easily lead to breakage. This does not look like good engineering to me, and question why Apple did not design the scissor assembly with spring metal due to material fatigue considerations and liabilities...

Butterfly.

 

[thewap]

Butterfly.

Noted, and edited..thank you!

 

[Naraxus]

I'm glad apple finally stepped up to the plate and offered the repair program.

With all due respect this isn't "stepping up" - it's covering their asses and caving in the face of multiple lawsuits. If they truly were stepping up they would have come out with this repair program a couple years ago when these issues first started.

This is Apple trying to score publicity points while hiding the fact that this is a horrible design flaw.

 

[MrUNIMOG]

I’ve been to the Apple Store for mine and was told that it happens due to me owning a dog. Basically that it’s my fault and I can pay for a replacement or blow it out with a can of compressed air.

Even living away from a pet for a few months my keys still stop working.

If you can blow it out and it starts working again, your keyboard isn't defective. This service program isn't for you. Simple as that.

 

[Frank Dalton]

Like the iMac Pro and later MBPs with four Thunderbolt 3 ports, each supporting 40 Gb/sec transfer rates along with charging?

Those Thunderbolt 3 ports that cost me over $150 in dongles to actually do anything useful with. Wonderful innovation.

 

[MrUNIMOG]

Many people didn't pay premium prices for a laptop that has such a vulnerable keyboard (ergonomic issues aside).

And the figure is far higher than "a small percentage". Corporates that issues hundreds are finding about 40% of these laptops have keyboard failures within the first year.

40%

If you don't like the ergonomics of the keyboard, you don't have to buy the device. Simple. I love the keyboard though.

Wherever you got that 40 % from, I'd like to see a source for that. If this were true, Apple would know and we'd not seen an only slightly revised version of the keyboard in 2017.