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Disappointed! Very loud keyboard sound

I

IT7

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Aug 2, 2011
6
4
God's Land
I am a bit disappointed after typing on MacBook Pro (13in TB) that I got yesterday. Keyboard has improved when compared with MacBook but they are very loud and one is bound to get attention (negative) in a quiet environment. It is going to be very difficult to take notes or work on the MacBook Pro in library/meetings. It is distracting even when you are working on your own.
I am surprised how it passed apple developers and researchers test for so called "Consumers Experience."
I have been using MacBook Air for the past 6 years and type on it for 4-5 hours/4 days a week. I believe apple is going backwards when it comes to consumers friendly products. I can live with dongles but not with this keyboard. I am returning it. Sorry Apple!
 
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I run hot and cold on this, because my favorite keyboards are the old mechanical cherry switched keyboards. Of course that's with desktops and I find myself in situations where a quieter keyboard on a laptop is a must.

I've been to conferences where I'm typing up notes of what was being discussed and the last thing I want is to have an annoyingly loud keyboard.

I've also been in hotel rooms where I'm working on a small table at 5:00am and I really don't want to wake up my wife.

Aside for the noise the lack of key travel is what bothers me the most.
 
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IT7 said:
I am a bit disappointed after typing on MacBook Pro (13in TB) that I got yesterday. Keyboard has improved when compared with MacBook but they are very loud and one is bound to get attention (negative) in a quiet environment. It is going to be very difficult to take notes or work on the MacBook Pro in library/meetings. It is distracting even when you are working on your own.
I am surprised how it passed apple developers and researchers test for so called "Consumers Experience."
I have been using MacBook Air for the past 6 years and type on it for 4-5 hours/4 days a week. I believe apple is going backwards when it comes to consumers friendly products. I can live with dongles but not with this keyboard. I am returning it. Sorry Apple!
Click to expand...

Don't be sorry, you're doing what's right. The keyboard is loud as **** from even listening at the review from LR on youtube. Don't buy into their ********.
 
I'm not 100% accustomed to the keyboard yet, sometimes I miss a key when typing really fast but I can see that at the end of the road, I'll be able to type faster. I find my fingers have less travel and have to do less work. But yes it is louder, especially when typing quickly.
 
Yeah, I noticed the keyboard is alot louder than the previous keyboards. But I like how it feels when I type and the 'loudness' doesn't bother me.

Was typing away with my 1-year old sleeping next to me, it didn't bother her.
 
Fozzybadfeet said:
Yeah, I noticed the keyboard is alot louder than the previous keyboards. But I like how it feels when I type and the 'loudness' doesn't bother me.

Was typing away with my 1-year old sleeping next to me, it didn't bother her.
Click to expand...
I am glad that it didn't bother your 1- year old. I hope that folks in library and meetings are as forgiving as your 1-year old is.
 
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IT7 said:
I am a bit disappointed after typing on MacBook Pro (13in TB) that I got yesterday. Keyboard has improved when compared with MacBook but they are very loud and one is bound to get attention (negative) in a quiet environment. It is going to be very difficult to take notes or work on the MacBook Pro in library/meetings. It is distracting even when you are working on your own.
I am surprised how it passed apple developers and researchers test for so called "Consumers Experience."
I have been using MacBook Air for the past 6 years and type on it for 4-5 hours/4 days a week. I believe apple is going backwards when it comes to consumers friendly products. I can live with dongles but not with this keyboard. I am returning it. Sorry Apple!
Click to expand...

Felt the same way after trying one. I'd be willing to use an adapter or whatever for awhile. But the keyboard just feels so cheap.
 
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IT7 said:
I am a bit disappointed after typing on MacBook Pro (13in TB) that I got yesterday. Keyboard has improved when compared with MacBook but they are very loud and one is bound to get attention (negative) in a quiet environment. It is going to be very difficult to take notes or work on the MacBook Pro in library/meetings. It is distracting even when you are working on your own.
I am surprised how it passed apple developers and researchers test for so called "Consumers Experience."
I have been using MacBook Air for the past 6 years and type on it for 4-5 hours/4 days a week. I believe apple is going backwards when it comes to consumers friendly products. I can live with dongles but not with this keyboard. I am returning it. Sorry Apple!
Click to expand...

This isn't a deal breaker for me, but I agree. I do a lot of phone consults with patients while typing notes on my MBP, and yesterday several of them commented on how loud my typing was. That's distracting when I'm trying to have a conversation with them. Hopefully I'll learn to type a little more softly, because I think these new keyboards are here to stay and I'm not ready to move to Windows because of this.
 
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If only there was a thread about this already.... The mods must love new product launches.

Its a wee bit louder and the tone of the noise is maybe a bit deeper, but if you're working in an absolutely silent environment, any typing noise is going to seem louder than it actually is. And some of the reviews I've seen about the new MBP the reviewers seem to be trying to punch a hole through the case to make a point.

The keyboard is what it is but sitting here in a room with three different people typing on an old MBP, a new MBP and a Magic keyboard, there's noise from all of us, its just slightly different pitches of noise.
 
ascender said:
The keyboard is what it is but sitting here in a room with three different people typing on an old MBP, a new MBP and a Magic keyboard, there's noise from all of us, its just slightly different pitches of noise.
Click to expand...
What if you added someone with an iPad Pro using the screen keyboard and made it a quartet, what would be the order of loud to quiet?
 
IT7 said:
I am a bit disappointed after typing on MacBook Pro (13in TB) that I got yesterday. Keyboard has improved when compared with MacBook but they are very loud and one is bound to get attention (negative) in a quiet environment. It is going to be very difficult to take notes or work on the MacBook Pro in library/meetings. It is distracting even when you are working on your own.
I am surprised how it passed apple developers and researchers test for so called "Consumers Experience."
I have been using MacBook Air for the past 6 years and type on it for 4-5 hours/4 days a week. I believe apple is going backwards when it comes to consumers friendly products. I can live with dongles but not with this keyboard. I am returning it. Sorry Apple!
Click to expand...


seriously take a deep breath..you are returning over a keyboard? You need to give yourself time to get used to it. I actually find this thing is quiet once you learn how to go softer on it and rest your hands properly. Don't blame Apple because you don't want to give it time to get used to it. Don't get me wrong it can be loud if you are typing like you would on a chiclet keyboard. This thing doesn't require you to move as much around the keys as those keys do. Just give it more time and relax and go slow, once you get use to it this thing is the best keyboard they have ever made if you ask me. Super responsive and easy to use.
 
ArcticBlue00 said:
Is it louder than Retina MacBook?
Click to expand...


If you have Gorilla fingers it probably is. I don't find it to be as loud as people make it out to be. For me it sounds like a muted little thump as I type, not clicky clacky AT ALL. Just remember some of this is user error and people not willing to relearn anything. I am a pretty tough critic and I find this keyboard, once you adjust to be really nice. it's the least of the issues with this laptop when you consider the battery life isn't ideal.
 
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teerexx52 said:
Ahhhhh yes I see. It is quieter that way:)
Click to expand...


it does take a little getting used to, retraining the brain/muscle, but I am trying to be open minded and relearn to type like this on it. The REAL issue is when you go back to a chiclet keyboard its kind of goofy. But when I do I appreciate this thing more and more. I am growing not to like the old keyboards more I practice on this new one quite honestly


Don't think Apple didn't test the heck out of this thing before they released it, it's not some careless thing just because they wanted to save space. I think it's really how a laptop keyboard SHOULD be
 
IT7 said:
they are very loud and one is bound to get attention (negative) in a quiet environment.
Click to expand...

I just received my 13" MBP (touch bar) last night and the keyboard is both quieter and smoother than my 2015 12" rMB it replaces.

Overall My first impressions are:
  1. Heavier. Yes I noticed the extra weight the moment I picked it up.
  2. Touch bar very nice and functional. I haven't tried a program which requires a function key yet, but as I type this it offers word suggestions like the iOS bar above the virtual keyboard.
  3. The keyboard is both smoother and quieter.
  4. Size is almost the same, but it won't fit in the 12" sleeve so I ordered a replacement through Amazon.
  5. Screen is brighter and appears to be a bit smoother in animations of the views.
  6. I like the addition of the finger print authorization.
  7. If shut down it automatically turns on, ok feature, I guess.
  8. Since I have been using the USB C and dongles for going on two years I like the fact I now have four of them.
  9. I'm glad they have the audio out port (head phone jack).
I like it, and except for the weight huge improvement over 12" for a travel capable computer.
:D

PS. I'm typing this is a coffee shop and those with Windows computers have noisier keyboards.
 
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skids929 said:
it does take a little getting used to, retraining the brain/muscle, but I am trying to be open minded and relearn to type like this on it. The REAL issue is when you go back to a chiclet keyboard its kind of goofy. But when I do I appreciate this thing more and more. I am growing not to like the old keyboards more I practice on this new one quite honestly


Don't think Apple didn't test the heck out of this thing before they released it, it's not some careless thing just because they wanted to save space. I think it's really how a laptop keyboard SHOULD be
Click to expand...
Why? They didn't test the crap out of iPhone 4 when it had antenna gate. They also didn't test the crap out of iPhone 6 Plus when it was prone to bending. They also didn't test the crap out of TB3 ports when they don't support all cables. I can go on forever.
 
dark_mark said:
Why? They didn't test the crap out of iPhone 4 when it had antenna gate. They also didn't test the crap out of iPhone 6 Plus when it was prone to bending. They also didn't test the crap out of TB3 ports when they don't support all cables. I can go on forever.
Click to expand...


I don't know why I am taking the bait on this..You can never account for all real world situations, they don't have a crystal ball. That doesn't mean they don't test for consumer experience on a keyboard. Most of what you mentioned are testing for quality issues, there aren't any quality issues with this keyboard, people are just saying from a consumer experience perspective they don't like it. So your point is weak.

They keyboard is different (GAWD NO!!) and it takes some getting used to. Once you do it is unequivocally better than the old. But thats a subjective opinion, people have a right to hate it but I don't think it's a reason to return the laptop and have a knee jerk reaction on a forum.
 
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It bothered me the first day. A few days later, I doesn't bother me at all anymore.
 
I have a 15" ($2799 model) and after a day of use, I noticed that the 'Z' key becomes loud and feels sticky. This only seems to happen after the machine has been on for a while. I'm guessing something causes it to get warm and affects that key?

Is anyone else having similar issues? I have an appt. at the store where I picked it up on Sunday. I'm just hoping I can reproduce it while I'm there.
 
After getting used to the keyboard I find it to be incredibly quiet actually. Once you're used to not slamming your fingers down so hard it's great.
 
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PhoneI said:
It bothered me the first day. A few days later, I doesn't bother me at all anymore.
Click to expand...

If you don't use anything other than the MacBook Pro to type on then you adapt, that's what humans do, they adapt to change.
As such you quickly 'adapt' and get used to it.

If on the other hand you have another MacBook you occasionally go back to then it remains quite the opposite; you will always find one different to the other.
 
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