More observations from a hyper-sensitive user here...
I picked up my 2017 Pro on Friday and mentioned (I think in another thread) that I do believe the keyboard has been revised. After testing it and many display models in two stores I agree the 2017 is firmer, more stable, and less noisy than the 2016.
However...
I noticed the return key on mine is a little less springy than the rest of the keys. Again, incredibly minor - I'm sure most people would never notice. But it feels less clicky then the rest.
Returning in to two Apple Stores in recent days, the return keys are similarly unsatisfactory on nearly all the display models.
Note, I'm from the UK and here we have the ISO-style vertical return key, and not the US horizontal return key.
I wonder if, due to the unusual shape of the key, that the revision - perhaps a factory-fitted shim, though we don't know what it is - could not be applied to the return key. It is like all the other keys are improved, but the return key still feels like the 2016 revision.
Has anyone else noticed this on their vertical return key-equipped 2017 Pro?
Thanks for the 2017 keyboard observations, you asked for comments so if I could chip in.
I have had the 2017 nTB, UK spec, since the Wednesday after WWDC after giving the 2016 model a miss due to the clicky-clacky keyboard which I tried several times, on several different machines though just could not type quietly or comfortably on. This is from being an experienced near silent typist on the 2015 rMB. The 2016 MBP just jarred and actually caused me joint pain in my fingers after a short while typing.
Had a feeling Apple would address the keyboard issue and thought I'd get an order in as soon as WWDC concluded, as it could always be returned if no improvement. The 2017 keyboard is brilliant, my absolute favourite keyboard to type on, much more so than the 2015 rMB and even the second gen magic keyboard, which is still great. But the 2017 MBP is even better, so precise and a real pleasure to type on for extended periods.
However, exactly as you have described, the vertical return key is soft/mushy/wobbly/slightly slanted/yucky. All the other keys are excellent without exception, a totally consistent feel on each key, the noise the keys make if pressed harder is uniform too, a nice dull sound, unlike the return key which is high pitched and unpleasant. I just press it gently and get on with my work.
Thanks for the mention of all the UK spec display models you tried being the same, saves me the consideration of returning this one as am delighted with it all, from fit & finish, to screen quality and brightness through to the whole user experience. Wouldn't want to make a return risking other defects and little chance of a better return key action.
Pity about the return key, but it works and if it stops working then off to see the geniuses I will go. But in reality it doesn't feel like it will cease working, it simply just isn't as well engineered in feel or sound as all the other keys.
For anyone considering it, I have the 128gb version and find it a perfect business machine. Though not sure how suited to personal use it would be as on arrival it had under 100gb of storage available and when one considers leaving adequate free space not to slow the drive down, there wouldn't be much space for anyone who was not to a large degree in the 'cloud'. But for biz, perfect! And a higher turbo-boost than the £500 more expensive TB base model. Battery life is excellent and I for one am glad it doesn't have terraced batteries as the ones in the 2015 rMB can be less than impressive.
