iFixit Teardown Suggests 2018 MacBook Pro Keys Feature a Silicone Barrier to Prevent Malfunctions Due to Dust

[Superhappytree]

Why doesn’t Apple just adopt some mechanism where the keys rise up when you open the MacBook and then go back down when you close it? That way they could keep the same depth as the original keys. I’ve always wondered why they never implemented something like that. It would make everyone happy anyway.

 

[niculw]

What i really wanna know is if the replacement program uses this technique on older builds, i broke one of my keys on a 2017 15” due to it was sticking, and going for a replacement keyboard next week, so ill find out soon enough

 

[groove-agent]

A
Arn locks them up on Friday nights. They aren't allowed out unless they write 10 articles each, at least 500 words.

Is Arn Steve Jobs incarnate?

 

[simonmet]

First off, way to go iFixit! Those guys are awesome. I love their clever use of "cover up".

This is clearly an intended fix for the keyboard failures, but Apple doesn't want to admit it. This may be in light of class action lawsuits still in progress and not wanting to admit that the previous keyboards were flawed.

PS. The 2016-2018 keys are definitely larger in area than the previous generation, thereby having a reduced gap between the keys. I can't see how this improves accuracy. Again it just seems like somebody decided bigger is better and not that there might be an size that isn't 'as big as possible', just as there might be an ideal thickness that isn't 'as thin as possible'.

Further, a larger key area also means a larger perimeter for dust and particle ingress to occur.

 

[SteveJUAE]

The stupid thing about the oversized trackpad on the 15" is that when you're resting your palms naturally while typing you can feel the line at the edge of the trackpad as it borders the area that was formally entirely palm rest and this is so annoying.

If you type a lot you should not be resting your palms if it makes you bend your wrists let alone the coolness of the shell chilling your skin be mindful of RSI

 

[vipergts2207]

What i really wanna know is if the replacement program uses this technique on older builds, i broke one of my keys on a 2017 15” due to it was sticking, and going for a replacement keyboard next week, so ill find out soon enough

This is what I’d like to know. If so I’ll be getting my keyboard replaced before the warranty is up. My guess is no though. This is just built-in, self-destructing, obsolecense for those with $3000+ computers purchased only a year or two ago. If they do put the new keyboard in as a replacement though, it would be quite telling. Why give older computers the newer, quieter keyboard feature of the new model unless there are reliability concerns about the old one?

 

[Glockworkorange]

If someone has a 2016 & 2017 with the keyboard issue, it’d be nice for Apple to fix it by swapping it with the new 2018 one.

“Cause it’s quieter.” Lol. Sure.

 

[Dustonfoster]

I have nothing against the Touch Bar but if I could save a couple $$ I could easily do without.

 

[CBlakeston]

I keep seeing people complain the screen isn’t higher resolution? What resolution should it be? 8K? I’m genuinely curious? It’s already pin sharp and and it can’t be that folk want more real estate? What resolution are 15” Windows laptops?

 

[Lobwedgephil]

Makes sense, they needed to fix it, but can't say they did.

 

[jasonefmonk]

I can’t find a definitive answer as to whether the “escape” or “touchbarless” MacBook Pros have gotten the 3rd-generation keyboard. They are priced the same with no apparent changes, but have new images for the Apple Store. When you buy one is it still a “Mid-2017” or similar in System Information?

 

[bernuli]

What good is a short throw keyboard if it takes the same amount of force to move the keys?

 

[Abazigal]

Always use protection, kids.

 

[supercoolmanchu]

Apple, just go back to the 2012-2015 keyboard design. It's far superior. It feels better, it was more reliable, and it was MUCH quieter. It checks all the boxes. Why did you change it and make it suck so much in these newer models? Just swallow your pride and go back to your great design!

Totally, and you’d have a native port for your iPod classic cable, and once you got Internet Explorer installed, the whole world would be your oyster!

Maybe they should also include a sponge and an eye dropper for all your spilled milk?

 

[Hastings101]

instead claiming people are dumping dust on their laptop or eating chips and cheetohs directly over their keyboards.

People who don’t eat chips over their keyboards aren’t living life to the fullest

 

[pika2000]

Oh no...

If you listen closely, you can hear the sound of thousands of tech divas on Twitter, blogs, YouTube, throwing out the scripts they were writing to FUD people about the keyboard...

... just to make new ones spinning this around...

iFixit is the first. It's a "cover up" now... according to them...

Apple: damned if you do, damned if you don't.

If I were Tim Cook, I would drop the battery replacement costs from $29 to $9 and shut them down for good.

That’s what happen when we have a new economy based on making up stuff.

 

[BeatCrazy]

So, does that mean that people that take their 2015-2017 MacBooks and MacBook Pros in for repair (under the free keyboard replacement program) will get these new gasket-equipped keyboards? I would only hope so, or else Apple is not really solving the problems for those customers.

No. I took my 2016 nTB in last week. Got the standard 2017 keyboard.

 

[farewelwilliams]

Uh, no. Because it's not. Next question.

People wanted:

Old keyboard system (even ignoring the reliability problem, the new keyboards feel gross to type on. the new ones are still super loud, too.)

The old, smaller trackpad (new one is too big - lots of accidental input)

Ports - USB-C is great, but 20 years of legacy won't vanish overnight. Having the ability to hook up my stuff without dongles is essential

The stupid ****ing touch bar to go away - Transitioning from typing on keys to touching glass mid-sentence is just gross.

A resolution bump - the 15" MBPR still has the reduced effective resolution of the original Retina MacBook Pro.

Core count bump - delivered

32GB of ram - delivered

Pricing reduced to 2015 levels - nope, a semi-decent largely base 15" config is still well over $3000. A bit much for a fairly terrible laptop.

new keyboard is fine

i rather have a larger trackpad (but the one without the taptic engine, seems to keep a click held down unintentionally when the stronger of the two fingers is lifted off the trackpad)

i rather force USB-C upon everyone so the demand for USB-C devices go up. higher demand + more competition in USB-C == better for consumers

i haven't used touch bar enough to have an opinion yet. so far, i prefer the volume sliders and brightness controls via touchbar.

resolution bump - yep, definitely needs 4k. i don't recall a reduction in resolution since 2012 rMBPs however. is it really reduced?

 

[pika2000]

What good is a short throw keyboard if it takes the same amount of force to move the keys?

I’d argue that it makes no difference. People have trained muscle memories on how much strength to push traditional keyboards, so having more resistance on shorter travel keyboards may actually provide better user experience.

 

[supercoolmanchu]

What good is a short throw keyboard if it takes the same amount of force to move the keys?

I think you may have confused pressure with distance.

Not having to push the key as far = faster response.

 

[aaronhead14]

This is funny to me as I recall the same thing being said about the keyboards on the 2012-2015 models as being inferior when they were first introduced compared to the 2011 and earlier non retina models.

This is funny to me as I recall there wasn't anybody who complained about the 2012-2015 keyboard being extremely loud, and malfunctioning so much it resulted in a huge class-action lawsuit. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
[doublepost=1531535092][/doublepost]

Totally, and you’d have a native port for your iPod classic cable, and once you got Internet Explorer installed, the whole world would be your oyster!

Maybe they should also include a sponge and an eye dropper for all your spilled milk?

Or maybe I just want a keyboard that isn't super loud, and also doesn't need to be replaced every year due to keys getting sticky...

 

[redheeler]

Ok, MR staff, it’s friday night. Stop posting and go get a %&@! drink.

Shhh, I enjoy seeing more Mac news than iOS news. Doesn't happen often around here (or anywhere else that covers Apple).

 

[simonmet]

If you type a lot you should not be resting your palms if it makes you bend your wrists let alone the coolness of the shell chilling your skin be mindful of RSI

That's not the case from my experience. Lifting my arms and not allowing them to rest while typing is tiring and causes strain and fatigue. I know what feels comfortable for me and it's the rested position with a slightly propped up back end.

And if the case is too cool you're not working hard enough!

 

[vipergts2207]

No. I took my 2016 nTB in last week. Got the standard 2017 keyboard.

The nTB didn’t get updated and I doubt they’d start using it in repairs anyway until it had been announced as a feature in the new MBPs. Though I personally don’t think they’ll move to them anyway.

 

[Rogifan]

A cover up? This is why I hate iFixit. Too much snark and way to big of an ego, especially when it comes to anything Apple.