Is the MBP 2017 Keyboard okay?

[aevan]

There is barely any travel in the keys;

• The keys are closer together; and
• The key clicking sound isn't good.

All of this is a matter of taste. I find the feel of these keyboards really good. I honestly enjoy typing on them, I type a lot and I'm precise and fast. Some people, like yourself, dislike them. As I said - matter of taste.

Reliability, however, is not a matter of taste, and that's what OP was asking about.

I can only say that I had space bar double-typing issues with my 2016 MBP, and recently had the top replaced with a new 2017 keyboard. So far, it has been working great, but we'll see how it fares after a while. I do CPU intensive stuff and the computer does get quite warm, if anyone is wondering. I'm trying not to think about the keyboard failing and I use it like I normally would. I want at least a few more good years out of this laptop, as I really love working on it.

 

[booksbooks]

All of this is a matter of taste. I find the feel of these keyboards really good. I honestly enjoy typing on them, I type a lot and I'm precise and fast. Some people, like yourself, dislike them. As I said - matter of taste.

Reliability, however, is not a matter of taste, and that's what OP was asking about.

I can only say that I had space bar double-typing issues with my 2016 MBP, and recently had the top replaced with a new 2017 keyboard. So far, it has been working great, but we'll see how it fares after a while. I do CPU intensive stuff and the computer does get quite warm, if anyone is wondering. I'm trying not to think about the keyboard failing and I use it like I normally would. I want at least a few more good years out of this laptop, as I really love working on it.

I would respectively disagree it's a matter of taste. This is something that needs to be put to the test in a controlled environment, pitting one against the other. For instance, if something sounds bad, there can be an objective bad for people's ears. Turns out we're not that much different. Loud keyboard clicking is likely something that would bother the majority: why would anyone want loud clicking other than an exceptional edge case?

Also, keys closer together is objective: it's easier to hit two keys at the same time because of that fact.

I get you like the keyboard though.

 

[aevan]

I would respectively disagree it's a matter of taste. This is something that needs to be put to the test in a controlled environment, pitting one against the other. For instance, if something sounds bad, there can be an objective bad for people's ears. Turns out we're not that much different. Loud keyboard clicking is likely something that would bother the majority: why would anyone want loud clicking other than an exceptional edge case?

Also, keys closer together is objective: it's easier to hit two keys at the same time because of that fact.

I get you like the keyboard though.

No, pretty sure it's personal taste. You can't really assume what would bother the majority, also I don't think the clicking is too loud, and it adds a nice 'clicky' feel which I prefer the to the mushiness of previous keyboards. You're also very subjective when choosing parameters by which you measure "quality" - true, the keys are closer, but at the same time they are larger. Larger is objectively better. So is the stability equally distributed across the key. So is the individual LED on each key. It comes down to your personal typing style, things you prefer, etc. Keyboards feel different and they are highly subjective. Some people like mechanical keyboards with long travel - I don't. I could claim that the longer travel is objectively worse because you have to push the keys more to type - but I won't, because, it all comes down to the way you type and what you like.

It does come to personal preference. I see more and more members here claim their personal taste is somehow objectively 'correct'. This is a bad trend, if you ask me.

 

[booksbooks]

No, pretty sure it's personal taste. You can't really assume what would bother the majority, also I don't think the clicking is too loud, and it adds a nice 'clicky' feel which I prefer the to the mushiness of previous keyboards. You're also very subjective when choosing parameters by which you measure "quality" - true, the keys are closer, but at the same time they are larger. Larger is objectively better. So is the stability equally distributed across the key. So is the individual LED on each key. It comes down to your personal typing style, things you prefer, etc. Keyboards feel different and they are highly subjective. Some people like mechanical keyboards with long travel - I don't. I could claim that the longer travel is objectively worse because you have to push the keys more to type - but I won't, because, it all comes down to the way you type and what you like.

It does come to personal preference. I see more and more members here claim their personal taste is somehow objectively 'correct'. This is a bad trend, if you ask me.

How does the space in between each key on a keyboard not objectively affect its behaviour and performance.

 

[MrGunnyPT]

I bought a MacBook Pro 2017 Touch Bar yesterday and so far I'm loving the Butterfly Keyboard. I did end up buying Apple Care just in case due to the keyboard reports.

 

[booksbooks]

I bought a MacBook Pro 2017 Touch Bar yesterday and so far I'm loving the Butterfly Keyboard. I did end up buying Apple Care just in case due to the keyboard reports.

It's funny for me. The very first time I tried the keyboard it was at a friend's place who got one. For that quick few minutes of playing around, I liked the keyboard. In fact I thought it made me faster.

But fast forward to today after 8 months of having this, and my typing is somewhat degraded.

I can be considered a fairly good typer objectively. I had to be tested in controlled conditions and get a minimum WPM score of a certain amount for my work at the time. I've clocked in at about 80 WPM in highly controlled testing (there are certainly people who are faster). And I'm not talking about easy stuff. It's a mix of lower case, upper case, numbers, and special characters all without being able to look down at the keyboard. Accuracy is taken into consideration on the score, not just the number of words written.

The following rules apply to keyboards, as they also apply to User Interfaces on a bitmap screen, the foundation being FITTS Principle:

• The larger you make the keys, the farther the person's finger has to travel to the next hit target (next key);
• The closer the keys are together, the easier it will be for a User to hit two keys at the same time (e.g., two keys side-by-side).

The shallowness of the keys is an issue for things like comfort and registering clicks, but the above two things are objective realities that are inescapable.

 

[MrGunnyPT]

It's funny for me. The very first time I tried the keyboard it was at a friend's place who got one. For that quick few minutes of playing around, I liked the keyboard. In fact I thought it made me faster.

But fast forward to today after 8 months of having this, and my typing is somewhat degraded.

I can be considered a fairly good typer objectively. I had to be tested in controlled conditions and get a minimum WPM score of a certain amount for my work at the time. I've clocked in at about 80 WPM in highly controlled testing (there are certainly people who are faster). And I'm not talking about easy stuff. It's a mix of lower case, upper case, numbers, and special characters all without being able to look down at the keyboard. Accuracy is taken into consideration on the score, not just the number of words written.

The following rules apply to keyboards, as they also apply to User Interfaces on a bitmap screen, the foundation being FITTS Principle:

• The larger you make the keys, the farther the person's finger has to travel to the next hit target (next key);
• The closer the keys are together, the easier it will be for a User to hit two keys at the same time (e.g., two keys side-by-side).

The shallowness of the keys is an issue for things like comfort and registering clicks, but the above two things are objective realities that are inescapable.

Hmm I do spend a great amount of time typing on it.. I'm actually thinking of getting a Magic Keyboard to use at work and what not (did get Apple Care thou)

Anyhow, let's see how It goes.. So far the machine is still indexing all my information but I'm enjoying a ton out of it.. Plus only paying 100 Euros per month makes it much easier to swallow a 2k machine.

 

[varunsanthanam]

I’ve had no issues with my 2017 keyboard in terms of things breaking.

I can’t say I like it, but it’s worked for me as expected 100% of the time during my ownership (around 9 months)

 

[Tiber3m]

I am wondering if the 2017 keyboard is okay for most people. Any double clicking keys or unrespronsive keys? Problems with dust or sth. which influences the keys?

We have to keep in mind though that this new model is only out for 3 months so issues may develop over time like they did with the original MacBook.

Note: This thread is only about the mid 2017 revision and NOT about the 2016 version!

[doublepost=1528599981][/doublepost]Definitely some issues. A couple of keys seem to require harder or multiple strikes to register properly.

In addition, and I am not sure why, but the cursor frequently jumps unexpectedly to another position. The words I type are misplaced to wherever the cursor is repositioned. Sometimes it jumps to a places earlier in the line, while at other times it jumps to another spot in the paragraph.

In fact, it happened three times as I typed this reply. Very frustrating.

I thought perhaps the problem was with my palm touching the Trackpad, but I have it covered with a microfiber cloth sa I type, and it still happens.

Now I usually use a bluetooth keyboard that sits on top of the MBP trackpad to avoid dealing with the issue. There are no problems with the external keyboard.

 

[aevan]

How does the space in between each key on a keyboard not objectively affect its behaviour and performance.

So do the larger keys and greater key stability regardless of where you hit a key. In both of these, the new keyboards are objectively better. Which of these parameters matter to you personally is a subjective matter. Just as I said.

For a lot of people, the feel and performance (not taking reliability issues into account) of the new keyboard is objectively better. For a lot of people it isn't. It's subjective, there's no way around it.

 

[tubeexperience]

I wouldn't considered some keys not working to be "okay".