Just reporting back after using my 2017 MacBook in in various climate conditions versus my 2016, just in case some other folks are wondering.
1. Sticky keys are NOT, I repeat: NOT better on the 2017 keyboard versus 2016. If dust gets in between the opening and/or you use the keyboard in high humidity climate (i.e.: South East Asia), both keyboards will eventually have a stuck key or two (or three, or four, depending on how much/little you use a key).
2. The keys that are hit more/the most on the keyboard are more susceptible to getting stuck than others. But in high humidity, it's a lottery. Any random key can get stuck.
3. When a key gets stuck, hitting it really hard typically fixes it in most cases. But, if doing so doesn't fix it, then you should think about booking an appointment at the Apple store. I have had 2 keyboard replacements with my 2016 model and 1 with the 2017 model. At this point, I'm inclined to say both are just equally bad and they need to be babied (i.e.: used in air conditioned room and you should be wearing gloves, and you should type on them as if the keys are made of eggshells) if you want the keyboard to last.
4. 2016 keyboard just feels mushier regardless of whether the keys are stuck or not. I suspect this is by design. 2016 does sound a lot less loud to type on than 2017. With 2016 keyboard, because of how mushy the keys feel, sometimes I wouldn't even notice a key has gotten stuck in a corner (oh yeah, each corner of a key can get stuck individually). On 2017 keyboard, it's very noticeable when a corner gets stuck because the whole key feels mushier.
5. 2017 keys are clickier but not night and day different and definitely not worth the extra expense if all you're wishing for is a better keyboard. It still sucks a lot. I miss the older keyboard style.
Bottom line: I think this keyboard style is just flawed by design. Whoever thought this up should be fired. It's just so horrible. Replacing the keyboard is not a guarantee that sticky keys won't happen, and even without being sticky, the keyboard still feels pretty horrible to type on. I'd be okay with a bit more thickness to the computer if it means the keyboard can improve by even a little bit.
Anyway, I still love my MacBook a lot, but the keyboard is the one unforgivable weakness because I use it a lot. Hopefully Apple will learn from their mistakes and the next MacBook will have the old keyboard style.
1. Sticky keys are NOT, I repeat: NOT better on the 2017 keyboard versus 2016. If dust gets in between the opening and/or you use the keyboard in high humidity climate (i.e.: South East Asia), both keyboards will eventually have a stuck key or two (or three, or four, depending on how much/little you use a key).
2. The keys that are hit more/the most on the keyboard are more susceptible to getting stuck than others. But in high humidity, it's a lottery. Any random key can get stuck.
3. When a key gets stuck, hitting it really hard typically fixes it in most cases. But, if doing so doesn't fix it, then you should think about booking an appointment at the Apple store. I have had 2 keyboard replacements with my 2016 model and 1 with the 2017 model. At this point, I'm inclined to say both are just equally bad and they need to be babied (i.e.: used in air conditioned room and you should be wearing gloves, and you should type on them as if the keys are made of eggshells) if you want the keyboard to last.
4. 2016 keyboard just feels mushier regardless of whether the keys are stuck or not. I suspect this is by design. 2016 does sound a lot less loud to type on than 2017. With 2016 keyboard, because of how mushy the keys feel, sometimes I wouldn't even notice a key has gotten stuck in a corner (oh yeah, each corner of a key can get stuck individually). On 2017 keyboard, it's very noticeable when a corner gets stuck because the whole key feels mushier.
5. 2017 keys are clickier but not night and day different and definitely not worth the extra expense if all you're wishing for is a better keyboard. It still sucks a lot. I miss the older keyboard style.
Bottom line: I think this keyboard style is just flawed by design. Whoever thought this up should be fired. It's just so horrible. Replacing the keyboard is not a guarantee that sticky keys won't happen, and even without being sticky, the keyboard still feels pretty horrible to type on. I'd be okay with a bit more thickness to the computer if it means the keyboard can improve by even a little bit.
Anyway, I still love my MacBook a lot, but the keyboard is the one unforgivable weakness because I use it a lot. Hopefully Apple will learn from their mistakes and the next MacBook will have the old keyboard style.