Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Gen 3 butterfly keyboard

macintoshmac said:
Indeed. keyboard failure in itself is not cool considering that the pre 2016 ones were rock solid, and now the expense we will incur if we need to replace it, is beyond not cool. It's downright punch-worthy in the faces of those designers who did not consider twice before making the keyboard such an expensive replacement, and, well, same goes for battery, then, I presume? Replacing the battery will mean getting a new top case and Touch Bar as well? Someone was completely disconnected with reality at Apple.
Click to expand...

I was shocked but my 2016 NTB started exhibiting spotlight effect at the bottom of the screen they can't even access the video cable now supposedly, have to replace the whole screen&toplid part. Thats totally fine, I have AppleCare.

(heres the post on my screen issues for reference- https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...reen-effect-what-to-do.2115084/#post-26373220)

...But my battery is also a recalled serial#, something I put off for a while to minimize downtime without a laptop so they HAVE to replace that too/theres no way to not do that repair right now since any other repairs necessitate get this one taken care of (but my volume down key has always been weird, half the underlying switch is broken a tech discovered and has been since day1) which includes the whole top case.

So aside from the logic board and bottom plate with serial# engrained on it, I'm getting everything replaced. Sent off to a repair depot for all to be done in one swoop.

if anything goes wrong its probably the logic board replaced, the top case (battery/keyboard/touchbar/speakers), or the screen lid. Not much else as far as I know.


Wasteful but
To me that indicates the margin on these Macs are INSANE if they're willing to just dish out top case replacements like that. Though, as mentioned, they did put themselves in a corner with thinness/glue/and low repairability overall. but they had to have factored that in as well cost wise.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: frou, biffysix and macintoshmac
tangfish said:
The one thing I wanted to see to upgrade my MBP is a solved keyboard problem. I’ve had 3 keyboard replacements done in a 9 month stretch. I can’t rationally buy a new machine without a redesigned keyboard meant to address the issue that’s been plaguing me. I guess I’m in the tiny percentage of people who had the problem, but 3 times....
Click to expand...


After all this why would you want to buy an new Mac at all?
 
I had 3 keyboard replacements done on my 2016 TB model as well. Couldn’t bear the disruption to business so I caved in and bought a 2018 one. Just yesterday sold my 2016 at a $2,000 loss. Good times...
 
tangfish said:
I had 3 keyboard replacements done on my 2016 TB model as well. Couldn’t bear the disruption to business so I caved in and bought a 2018 one. Just yesterday sold my 2016 at a $2,000 loss. Good times...
Click to expand...

$2,000 is a lot of loss. How would you talk of the differences in the keyboard between 2016 and 2018? What's your take?
[doublepost=1535103810][/doublepost]
navaira said:
EUGHHHHHHH

My S key started randomly repeating. It's not happening very often, but for a writer it's rather painful to have to deal with :(
Click to expand...

Which model? 2018? :eek: I am a writer too, and it is very annoying if a key becomes random.
 
macintoshmac said:
$2,000 is a lot of loss. How would you talk of the differences in the keyboard between 2016 and 2018? What's your take?
[doublepost=1535103810][/doublepost]

Which model? 2018? :eek: I am a writer too, and it is very annoying if a key becomes random.
Click to expand...

$2,000 is a lot in absolute terms but relative to all the positives I’ve gotten from Apple and AAPL over a lifetime, it’s something I can happily overlook. There’s a lot of vitriol and entitlement here in this thread.

I am still grateful as hell for Apple, and the world is a better place because of all they continue to do.

Are they gonna make some major screwups from time to time? Sure. Was my business greatly impacted when my first keyboard had my MBP gone for a month? Yes. But I forgive them and on balance I really couldn’t be more fortunate for all the things their products have enabled me to do in artistic and business endeavors over the many years I’ve depended on their products, day in and day out.

Through thick and thin! (but I’ll admit, sometimes “thin” comes at too high a cost)
 
  • Like
Reactions: macintoshmac
tangfish said:
all the positives I’ve gotten from Apple and AAPL over a lifetime, it’s something I can happily overlook.
Click to expand...
I can't see how this can be overlook? I mean unless you're getting free computers from them, there's no way this can be justified. These computers can cost near 3,000 and have them fail like this is inexcusable.
 
  • Like
Reactions: markedlymac and turbineseaplane
tangfish said:
$2,000 is a lot in absolute terms but relative to all the positives I’ve gotten from Apple and AAPL over a lifetime, it’s something I can happily overlook. There’s a lot of vitriol and entitlement here in this thread.

I am still grateful as hell for Apple, and the world is a better place because of all they continue to do.

Are they gonna make some major screwups from time to time? Sure. Was my business greatly impacted when my first keyboard had my MBP gone for a month? Yes. But I forgive them and on balance I really couldn’t be more fortunate for all the things their products have enabled me to do in artistic and business endeavors over the many years I’ve depended on their products, day in and day out.

Through thick and thin! (but I’ll admit, sometimes “thin” comes at too high a cost)
Click to expand...
In his previous incarnation, Tim Cook was a saint. That is the only explanation for why he has such good customers :D
I went through something similar as well, losing 3 laptops to graphic card failures, and yet still bought an Apple to replace the faulty ones. And I don't even have AAPL to back me up.

So while I was initially perplexed by your post, I understand your sentiment.
 
thadoggfather said:
I was shocked but my 2016 NTB started exhibiting spotlight effect at the bottom of the screen they can't even access the video cable now supposedly, have to replace the whole screen&toplid part. Thats totally fine, I have AppleCare.

(heres the post on my screen issues for reference- https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...reen-effect-what-to-do.2115084/#post-26373220)

...But my battery is also a recalled serial#, something I put off for a while to minimize downtime without a laptop so they HAVE to replace that too/theres no way to not do that repair right now since any other repairs necessitate get this one taken care of (but my volume down key has always been weird, half the underlying switch is broken a tech discovered and has been since day1) which includes the whole top case.

So aside from the logic board and bottom plate with serial# engrained on it, I'm getting everything replaced. Sent off to a repair depot for all to be done in one swoop.
Click to expand...
You'd almost think it'd be cheaper (materials and payroll) for Apple just to swap out and give you a new machine. Lol. Because basically that is almost what you are getting, sans the logic board and bottom plate as you said.
 
macintoshmac said:
Oh this does not bode very well. Writers are a great resource for tracking keyboard errors because on an average a person can do anything between 5 and 10 thousand words a day, depending on the kind of writing.
Click to expand...
I think in the end we will still some 2018 keyboard failures, just not on a scale of what we saw on 2016 and 2017 models.
 
  • Like
Reactions: macintoshmac
'S' stopped registering twice, it's 'O' now. How is this even possible? Maybe this keyboard just needs to chill out a bit.

I actually can't figure out how to properly clean a keyboard of a computer that switches on the moment any key is pressed.
 
  • Like
Reactions: macintoshmac
navaira said:
'S' stopped registering twice, it's 'O' now. How is this even possible? Maybe this keyboard just needs to chill out a bit.

I actually can't figure out how to properly clean a keyboard of a computer that switches on the moment any key is pressed.
Click to expand...

Not good at all. Could you please provide some details about your use? Where do you use the computer, how dusty is the environment, etc?

About any key starting the computer - please try this for me as an experiment:

Shut down the computer and do not close the lid. Now, does it get boot up with any keypress?
 
macintoshmac said:
Not good at all. Could you please provide some details about your use? Where do you use the computer, how dusty is the environment, etc?
Click to expand...
I only use it indoors (so far). It's as dusty as, dunno, an average apartment? According to Coconut Battery, the laptop is 27 days old. I don't eat anywhere near it, I've had a 2016 rMB long enough to learn that. I make sure my hands are clean before touching the keyboard.

macintoshmac said:
Shut down the computer and do not close the lid. Now, does it get boot up with any keypress?
Click to expand...
Oooops. It doesn't! Thanks for this, I was trying to google this and all I got was "clean your Macbook Pro with canned air"... The keyboard didn't actually need cleaning, I'm just somewhat paranoid now.
 
  • Like
Reactions: macintoshmac
I don’t think we should have to redesign all of our habits around the keyboard (not eating, washing hands, avoiding somewhat dusty environments like outdoors, etc.) - the keyboard should be designed around our usual habits as users!

What is it about pressing any key to boot the machine up after shutting down with lid open? I was under the impression only the Touch ID button powers it up from that state.
 
  • Like
Reactions: AdamA9, p8blr, navaira and 2 others
navaira said:
I only use it indoors (so far). It's as dusty as, dunno, an average apartment? According to Coconut Battery, the laptop is 27 days old. I don't eat anywhere near it, I've had a 2016 rMB long enough to learn that. I make sure my hands are clean before touching the keyboard.


Oooops. It doesn't! Thanks for this, I was trying to google this and all I got was "clean your Macbook Pro with canned air"... The keyboard didn't actually need cleaning, I'm just somewhat paranoid now.
Click to expand...

Wow, that is not at all good. On my 2016, I started getting random keypresses some months in, but got resolved after some heavy-duty spanking. Later on, couple months ago, the issue resurfaced with a couple more keys and would not go away, prompting me to get a keyboard replacement.

I took my computer with me in a zippered bag wherever I went, and used it in a normal educational institute environment, never outside under the elements even. Yet.

It is sad to see that you face the same issue now with a 2018 model, one that is not even a month old at factory. What are the wise guys at Apple Stores saying for this? Are you going to get a refund or will you get a replacement?

I really wanted to trade my 2016 in and buy a 2018, but I think that as I am covered till 2020, might just wait and see what they make of a redesign. I am beginning to feel that the 2018 might as well see a replacement program in the coming months this way, so my not trading in wouldn't mean much anyway and I would only get a computer with a keyboard that feels better than the 2016, is all. Wow.

If only Apple were able to pinpoint where exactly is the problem coming from. Does not seem to be dust triggered, since I know my usage and I now know your usage with not even a month of use. This is something else going on.

Lastly, I have to ask since you also owned a 2016, how is the feel of the new keyboard versus the old? Worth enough to trade in?
 
  • Like
Reactions: Painter2002 and turbineseaplane
tangfish said:
What is it about pressing any key to boot the machine up after shutting down with lid open? I was under the impression only the Touch ID button powers it up from that state.
Click to expand...
Yes, that's correct. I just didn't try it.

macintoshmac said:
It is sad to see that you face the same issue now with a 2018 model, one that is not even a month old at factory. What are the wise guys at Apple Stores saying for this? Are you going to get a refund or will you get a replacement?
Click to expand...
I honestly don't know yet. Might go to the Apple Store and just ask, but I'm pretty sure the only answer I'll get will be "it works for me". The store I bought it from (authorised reseller) accepts returns without giving a reason within 30 days, not sure what they would say if I returned it and immediately bought an identical one though. But I also don't know whether those are teething problems and the keyboard will stop doing whatever it is that it's doing, or is it just going to get worse. The 2016 rMB just needed some canned air twice, plus of course I had to wear rubber gloves and use it in dust-free laboratory all the time, but after those two times I spent months using it without problems. (Apart from constant anxiety.)

macintoshmac said:
Lastly, I have to ask since you also owned a 2016, how is the feel of the new keyboard versus the old? Worth enough to trade in?
Click to expand...
Absolutely. This keyboard feels MUCH nicer. Not just quieter, but also...softer. For someone who writes a lot this is a major improvement – in my opinion, of course.
 
navaira said:
EUGHHHHHHH

My S key started randomly repeating. It's not happening very often, but for a writer it's rather painful to have to deal with :(
Click to expand...

As a writer, you could easily get by with a 2015 MBP and not have any keyboard problems at all. Or a 2014. Or a 2013. Or a MacBook Air. The list is long. Point being: you don't need a rocket ship to make money with words.
 
  • Like
Reactions: macjunk(ie)
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back