iFixit Finds 2019 MacBook Pro Keyboard Has 'Subtle' Changes to Membrane Cover and Switches

[69Mustang]

because issue has been overblown by the media which has affected sales and the macbook brand

Wait. Your theory is Apple changed the bfly keyboard because bad press? Then changed it again because of bad press? Then changed it again because of bad press? So if the keyboard issues continue after this latest change are we going to chalk that up to bad press as well? Okay. At what point would the issue go from being the media to being the actual keyboard? 6th try? 10th? 123rd?

 

[jimmy_uk]

What they need to do is introduce a "MacBook Pro Classic." Basically the same as the old design but with upgraded internal hardware. They can keep selling their new designs.

This is what the Coca-Cola people did after the new coke formula turned out to be a disaster. Everbody bought Coca-Cola Classic, and eventually the new coke formula was phased out.

What Coca-Cola did was a marketing stunt to get droves of people to try "Coke II" then claimed they listened to the people (after the backlash) and brought back Coca-Cola classic which resulted in a significant sales boost. Win Win.

 

[eatrains]

Not only without controversy, it was the gold standard in the industry for keyboards.

Since 2016 Apple has no longer been the gold standard for keyboards. Only trackpads now. But type on any older macbook, the XPS or X1 Carbon or really any other high end laptop - significantly better and more enjoyable typing experience.

Hahahah people hated the Retina's keyboard when it came out. Not to mention complaining about lack of ports, missing drives, soldered memory, proprietary storage...

 

[joeswamp]

What Coca-Cola did was a marketing stunt to get droves of people to try "Coke II" then claimed they listened to the people (after the backlash) and brought back Coke classic which resulted in a significant sales boost. Win Win.

Maybe Apple is doing the same thing!

 

[seeforyourself]

lets just cut off the ******** on Apple.

Plenty of people haven't had issues with their keyboard and to be fair I love the travel it has but I'm also weary of damage and breaking. But apple has the repair program for a reason - to reassure customers they're just THAT confident in it and if they aren't they'll fix it.

I don't see them beefing up the keyboard in MBP models and leaving butterfly in MacBook and MacBook airs.. They need something that will fit in all their devises.. thus butterfly (for the thinness of the MacBook).

Companies that big also don't just release something without careful careful EXTREMLY careful considerations and discussion on how it will project to their earnings and PR. Apple released this 2019 model with a plan.. and im sure none of us have any clue what that entails.. 16" at WWDC, Mac Pro delay, future constant updates to the MacBook pro? no one knows but them. Keep calm.

3 of my friends and my boyfriend have the butterfly keyboard.

I had my keyboard replaced 3 times on my 17' mbp and my boyfriends once on his 18' mbp. My friend had her's replaced once and my 2 other friends didnt have any issues but they're both 18's as well.

So 50% of the macbook pro's ive been around had an issue at least once.

Also look at the ton of complaints on forums.

 

[PastaPrimav]

Having received a full refund thanks to EU consumer law, an incredibly long process that Apple actively tries to make progressively more difficult for you to complete, there is no way in hell I am purchasing this. I’m laughing out loud at the idiots that have also had keyboard problems and are now going to buy the 2019 machine. Insanity. Wake up.

Wake up to what? Even a broken MacBook is better than the alternatives.

So you're one of those people for who those absolutely insane EU laws exist?

 

[ignatius345]

This. A thousand times over.

I know not everyone was a fan of their previous keyboard but it did not have all this controversy. Clearly this new design is flawed. It's pretty obvious when a computer comes out with an extended warranty program already in place for it. And all this for what? One millimeter less depth for the whole device? It's simply not worth it.

But... Apple being Apple won't admit their coveted designs could possibly be a mistake.

And even when it's working correctly, the butterfly keyboard feels like garbage to type on.

Most people didn't have any real opinions about the last generation of Mac keyboards because they were basically vanilla, and rock-solid reliable on top of that.

 

[PastaPrimav]

So 50% of the macbook pro's ive been around had an issue at least once.

It is 100%. 100% of the units made from 2016 to present are equally susceptible to this issue. It is plainly and simply a matter of use. If the device is lightly used, it will take longer or may never present the symptoms. If the device is a primary machine being pounded on 8 hours a day, it shows the issue much sooner.

 

[ignatius345]

good

now, when will we see that all glass haptic keyboard?

I'll see it when I die and go to hell. Until then, no thanks.

 

[citysnaps]

My god. Looking back, those non-Retina MBPs were disgusting. Thick and Heavy. Jesus

Short battery life, too.
[doublepost=1558723043][/doublepost]

And even when it's working correctly, the butterfly keyboard feels like garbage to type on.

Most people didn't have any real opinions about the last generation of Mac keyboards because they were basically vanilla, and rock-solid reliable on top of that.

Nope... With mine I type much faster and more accurately.

 

[idktbh]

why apple hates the MacBook Pro so much?

 

[mikethemartian]

To be fair, they are describing the feel and look, and how it differs from the previous membrane material. They aren't describing composition. Also they seem to know the audience they're addressing. Effectively conveying the message may have taken priority textbook scientific definitions.

Hopefully, the changes mitigate the issues.

They did have Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy by Cal Poly’s materials engineering department performed on at least one nonmetal part.

 

[TMRJIJ]

Funny. I look at those older machines and think, "Wow! Look at all those ports. And magsafe, too!" The magsafe connector was great. Ethernet was great. And the keyboard was great. I'd easily trade a bit of weight to have those features back.

Thankfully, I more or less can. I bought a Lenovo and now I have tons of ports, a great keyboard and it even has a touchscreen.

Edit: I should add that I'm not criticizing your opinion that the old machines were ugly. I'm just pointing out that my, personal, opinion differs. Your thoughts about the design are equally valid.

I hope you enjoy your Lenovo. My old roommate just bought one himself for his last two years of college.

 

[dguisinger]

lets just cut off the ******** on Apple.

Plenty of people haven't had issues with their keyboard and to be fair I love the travel it has but I'm also weary of damage and breaking. But apple has the repair program for a reason - to reassure customers they're just THAT confident in it and if they aren't they'll fix it.

I don't see them beefing up the keyboard in MBP models and leaving butterfly in MacBook and MacBook airs.. They need something that will fit in all their devises.. thus butterfly (for the thinness of the MacBook).

Companies that big also don't just release something without careful careful EXTREMLY careful considerations and discussion on how it will project to their earnings and PR. Apple released this 2019 model with a plan.. and im sure none of us have any clue what that entails.. 16" at WWDC, Mac Pro delay, future constant updates to the MacBook pro? no one knows but them. Keep calm.

Get over yourself, my $5000 2018 MBP i9 laptop has failed TWICE. It mostly sits at home on a desk. It failed once on at a $1700 tech conference (the trip overall cost $5000) basically making the conference attendance useless. Real people use these machines to do real things, and it has real consequences when someone puts a shoddy product on the market. At some point, the dam is going to break and people are going to stop using their products.

 

[MacDaddyPanda]

The fastest way to get them to change. Don't buy it. If sales plunge to near 0 and everyone cites the keyboard that should make them redesign it.

 

[69Mustang]

They did have Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy by Cal Poly’s materials engineering department performed on at least one nonmetal part.

Very true. It was scientific where it needed to be. I only wanted to reply within the context of the original conversation regarding the use of 'crinkly'.

 

[mikethemartian]

Why do CPUs and GPUs keep getting redesigned so that they perform better? Why do we need 5G? Was 4G a design flaw?

As you state yourself because of performance increases. Unlike the keyboards that aren’t performing better.

 

[justperry]

I won't be buying another MacBook until the keyboard is redesigned or changed back to the previous version.
There was nothing wrong with 2015 Air/Pro keyboards they are perfect. My 2015 Air will live out as long as possible and I might have to look at Windows options unless we get a full redesign in the next 2 years

Then end up with a horrible trackpad, laptops which last for just 2-3 years, Windows Update.....actually Windows ruff said.

 

[mfvisuals]

It's pretty obvious when a computer comes out with an extended warranty program already in place for it.

I feel like this fact is not getting enough attention.

They're basically selling a product with a known defect, or at least a known tendency to defect, and nobody seems to be calling them out on it.

 

[mikethemartian]

his 3500$/month studio apartment that he shares with his girlfriend.

And her extended family.

 

[ToneDriver]

It's amazing how much these tiny components really affect the way we do work.

It shouldn't be anything that we need to pay attention to, but unfortunately we're having to now. I can't believe that with the tech we have now, we gotta worry about the keyboard working.

 

[justperry]

From the best technical analysis I have seen thus far, the 2016-2018 Macbook Pro keyboard issues were related to the metal dome. If Apple did indeed do something to improve the metal domes, this could be a complete fix.

If that's indeed the case then why don't they update the old keyboards? (Apple uses them for repairs)
It's so easy to change the dome material with the new material, cost is negliable.

The sad thing is Apple could have avoided all this pain had they simply made the keyboard easy to replace.

I miss the days of the Powerbook G4, when you could replace the keyboard WITHOUT TOOLS in literally FIFTEEN SECONDS. Imagine if that were the case today?

"Oh, your keyboard has failed. Here's a new one." (swaps) "Thank you for buying Apple."

No waiting, no expensive disassembly/reassembly, much lower costs for Apple, AND for the customer if it breaks out of warranty.

What the heck happened to Apple?

Powerbook G3 had those interchangeable keyboards as well, at least my Pismo did, pretty positive similar models before them used them as well, IIRC that the Lombard

 

[sydenham]

Having received a full refund thanks to EU consumer law, an incredibly long process that Apple actively tries to make progressively more difficult for you to complete, there is no way in hell I am purchasing this. I’m laughing out loud at the idiots that have also had keyboard problems and are now going to buy the 2019 machine. Insanity. Wake up.

How did you break your keyboard?

 

[linxy33]

I was not trying to pardon myself from the issues that the current keyboards have. I in-fact returned my 18' MacBook pro due to the idea of issues cropping up.

Regardless of Apple having a plan they ARE going to feel the full effect of releasing a (assumed) faulty product. Having it on the repair program will not save them in a an imminent law suit. But there needs to be use and proven failures cases for that to come up.

If its any proof that maybe apples 5 year road map is to move away from laptops - having their home page be 8/10ths non Mac related is a sign... its sad but true.

 

[Rogifan]

Do they have good battery life though? The "Pick 2 of 3" here is key travel, laptop thickness, and battery life. They all exist on the height axis, and it's impossible to have a thin laptop, thick battery (battery is limited in by standard width/length laptop chassis), and "classic" style laptop keys.

Idk how many people care about thickness over weight at this point. Give me the 2015 MBP thickness at a lighter weight due to new materials. It's much better than having a thinner laptop at more weight.

Dream laptop. 2015 MBP chassis. Classic keyboard (T arrow keys) w/ long battery life. 4+ TB3 ports. Minimal bezel around screen. FaceID/TouchID. No Touchbar.

My point it’s hard to blame the keyboard problems on the laptops being too thin when there are as thin Windows laptops that don’t have keyboard issues.