Butterfly Mechanism Keyboard Hatred and Future?

[jjjoseph]

I officially think the Butterfly is the evil. I recently was on a job working onset where I had to move around constantly and write emails all day. I was basically in hell typing, then re-typing, then re-typing emails. Butterfly works fine one second, then doesn't, then does, then something gets stuck, and i'm smashing keys like a maniac.

The MacBook Pro that is supposed to be this mobile powerhouse, freeing me from my desktop, but it became an object of torture. I was trying to type on the laptop all day, dying, pulling my hair out, then I would come home at night and sit in front of one of my work stations, typing on my Aluminum Wired Apple Keyboard, and it was like I was transformed into Mavis Beacon! I was like WTF, how am I typing so fast and so legibly. It solidified how horrible this miserable the butterfly keyboard is.

Anyway I live by MacOS, so I can't abandon Apple. I can also get the keyboard repaired, just need to get around to doing it.. Now, I am in a pickle because I have to get a new Laptop and I can't figure out which keyboards are which?

What MacBook and MacBook pros have First Gen Butterfly, Second Gen Butterfly, Third Gen Butterfly?

Where is this information listed?

When Apple Repairs an original butterfly do they replace with the latest generation?

Should I wait for the new 16inch MacBook Pro? It will be flawless right?

I realized I just need a Laptop for Coding and Emails, so I might just buy a MacBook Pro with an older keyboard for $500, and just wait until the 16" MacBook Pro.

Anyway, love Apple, but hate the Butterfly.

 

[Howard2k]

2018 gen (upon KB failure) and 2019 gen laptops get the 2019 keyboard, which seems to be improved. 2017 gen and 2016 gen do not.


Allegedly there is a 16” imminent which may have a new keyboard mechanism. This new keyboard will possibly hit the the other Pros in early/mid 2020.

 

[Velin]

Many, many of us agree. Butterfly keyboard = horrendous.

 

[leman]

I really like the feel and the precision of the butterfly keyboard, but due to its reliability issues its probably non-salvageable from the PR standpoint. Even if Apple fixed the design, psychological damage has been done.

I hope they find a way to have a keyboard as precise as the current butterfly one without calling it "butterfly"

 

[TopherMan12]

I really like the feel and the precision of the butterfly keyboard, but due to its reliability issues its probably non-salvageable from the PR standpoint. Even if Apple fixed the design, psychological damage has been done.

I hope they find a way to have a keyboard as precise as the current butterfly one without calling it "butterfly"

I agree. Apple's reputation has taken a bit of a hit with the butterfly fiasco. I think they would do well to offer a generous trade-in program for those who have been affected by the bad keyboard design if the new MacBook rumors are true and, presumably/hopefully, fix the problem.

 

[pcd213]

That would be lovely if they did but Apple doesn’t tend to admit failure. A trade in program would admit that they failed.

 

[Bending Pixels]

Count me as another user that likes the keyboard

 

[leman]

That would be lovely if they did but Apple doesn’t tend to admit failure.

They kind of did though by starting an extended repair program.

A trade in program would admit that they failed.

A trade in program would be a generous thing, but I am not sure that it would be a smart move from business perspective. It would cost Apple a lot of revenue, and since people's memory tends to be rather short (in many different ways), there is a high risk that it would draw unnecessary attention to the problems. To put it differently, it is possible that long-term PR would be negative.

Sometimes it makes more sense just to do a poker face and continue walking as if nothing has happened. Its a delicate balance. Existing customers are already covered by the warranty, so its not like they are losing out in any case.

 

[pcd213]

Yeah, I suppose I meant that Apple doesn’t like to admit failure on stage in a keynote event. They certainly don’t like to admit failure, in general, but I don’t really see them offering any type of trade in program, even though I would likely benefit from it greatly.

 

[Plutonius]

I officially think the Butterfly is the evil. I recently was on a job working onset where I had to move around constantly and write emails all day. I was basically in hell typing, then re-typing, then re-typing emails. Butterfly works fine one second, then doesn't, then does, then something gets stuck, and i'm smashing keys like a maniac.

The MacBook Pro that is supposed to be this mobile powerhouse, freeing me from my desktop, but it became an object of torture. I was trying to type on the laptop all day, dying, pulling my hair out, then I would come home at night and sit in front of one of my work stations, typing on my Aluminum Wired Apple Keyboard, and it was like I was transformed into Mavis Beacon! I was like WTF, how am I typing so fast and so legibly. It solidified how horrible this miserable the butterfly keyboard is.

Anyway I live by MacOS, so I can't abandon Apple. I can also get the keyboard repaired, just need to get around to doing it.. Now, I am in a pickle because I have to get a new Laptop and I can't figure out which keyboards are which?

What MacBook and MacBook pros have First Gen Butterfly, Second Gen Butterfly, Third Gen Butterfly?

Where is this information listed?

When Apple Repairs an original butterfly do they replace with the latest generation?

Should I wait for the new 16inch MacBook Pro? It will be flawless right?

I realized I just need a Laptop for Coding and Emails, so I might just buy a MacBook Pro with an older keyboard for $500, and just wait until the 16" MacBook Pro.

Anyway, love Apple, but hate the Butterfly.

I use the bluetooth Apple magic keyboard with numeric keypad on my MacBook Pro.

I own two of them and keep one at each of the locations I usually use my MacBook Pro.

They work well in MacOS and Win 10 in bootcamp.

I would not count on the keyboard in the 16" MacBook Pro not having issues.

 

[skaertus]

I really like the feel and the precision of the butterfly keyboard, but due to its reliability issues its probably non-salvageable from the PR standpoint. Even if Apple fixed the design, psychological damage has been done.

I hope they find a way to have a keyboard as precise as the current butterfly one without calling it "butterfly"

Count me as another user that likes the keyboard

I am another one who really likes the butterfly keyboard.

I have a 2016 MacBook Pro with Touch Bar, and I think that its butterfly keyboard is the best one that I have ever used on any laptop. It is very satisfying to type on it, and the audible click makes it up for the lack of key travel. It is definitely better than the keyboard in my previous retina MacBook Pro.

I also have a 2018 MacBook Air, with another version of the butterfly keyboard (I lost track of generation count, but I suppose it is the 2nd generation). The butterfly keyboard in the 2018 Air is also good, but I prefer the keyboard in the 2016 Pro; the audible click is definitely more satisfying.

But that is just me. Everybody else seems to prefer the latest versions of the butterfly keyboard, and mot people tolerate it, instead of liking it.