Keyboard quality on rMBP

[Tim018]

Hi guys,

Long time Thinkpad user, potential to join the apple crowd...

Programmers and people who type a lot, how do you feel about the keyboard on the new rMPB's?

Reason I ask, I have ordered a new one and waiting to it to ship from B&H. I tried out one at the store today and it felt squishy and didn't have a lot of feedback.

What are your opinions on the keyboard and is this something I'll just get used to? Thanks!

Tim

 

[flur]

I think it's something you'll get used to. It is on the softer side, but I've grown to like it. It's rather nice to be able to go for hours without the tips of my fingers getting sore.

 

[Steve121178]

ThinkPad's have the best keyboards on the market so it will be a small step down from what you are used to. However, the keyboards on MacBook's are pretty damn good.

 

[sk24iam]

I can feel that the keys are a little soft. They do feel different than the ones on the wireless apple keyboard I owned before.

 

[cjmillsnun]

ThinkPad's have the best keyboards on the market so it will be a small step down from what you are used to. However, the keyboards on MacBook's are pretty damn good.

The quality of ThinkPad keyboards is not what it was unfortunately. Nowadays they are not that different to Apple keyboards.

 

[Steve121178]

The quality of ThinkPad keyboards is not what it was unfortunately. Nowadays they are not that different to Apple keyboards.

I disagree. My main work laptop is a ThinkPad T440s and its keyboard is exceptional. Somehow it's even better than the T420s I had before it and better than any other ThinkPad I've owned.

 

[scaredpoet]

I disagree. My main work laptop is a ThinkPad T440s and its keyboard is exceptional.

The T440s is discontinued. Probably one of the last ThinkPads Lenovo made with a decent keyboard. Current model ThinkPad keyboards don't even come close.

 

[Steve121178]

The T440s is discontinued. Probably one of the last ThinkPads Lenovo made with a decent keyboard. Current model ThinkPad keyboards don't even come close.

My 440s is Haswell based and only recently superseded by the Broadwell based T450s. It also has the same keyboard. The keyboard is widely praised as being the best. The keys have just the right amount of travel and they are sized perfectly. The keyboard is also very sturdy with zero flex.

 

[scaredpoet]

My 440s is Haswell based and only recently superseded by the Broadwell based T450s. It also has the same keyboard. The keyboard is widely praised as being the best. The keys have just the right amount of travel and they are sized perfectly. The keyboard is also very sturdy with zero flex.

To each his own, I guess. I have a have a couple co-workers who just recently got the Lenovo T450s, and their chief complaint out of the box is that the keyboard is not as good as it used to be on the ThinkPad line. Although it's been a while since I've personally owned Non-Mac hardware, I used to own ThinkPads back when they were more reminiscent of the IBM styling, and I can say that they definitely don't feel the same now.

 

[Tim018]

Thanks for the replies guys. The story I seem to be understanding is that it is not the same, but I will get used to it and it really isn't that bad. So thank you for the advice.

Also, I have t430, the first year of the chicklet keyboard style for thinkpads and I really like it. It is very similar to the t440/t450.

For those in the know, is $1250 out the door for a '14 13" rMBP 256gb 8gb ram + parallels a good deal? Thanks!

 

[thadoggfather]

Thanks for the replies guys. The story I seem to be understanding is that it is not the same, but I will get used to it and it really isn't that bad. So thank you for the advice.

Also, I have t430, the first year of the chicklet keyboard style for thinkpads and I really like it. It is very similar to the t440/t450.

For those in the know, is $1250 out the door for a '14 13" rMBP 256gb 8gb ram + parallels a good deal? Thanks!

It's about on par with refurb for $1149 and tax when its in stock.

I got my 2015 8/256 for $1304 and tax after stacking 10% off movers coupon and $50 edu coupon at best Buy.

Worth it for me!

 

[Tim018]

It's about on par with refurb for $1149 and tax when its in

Yep, that was the thought. I haven't seen that model in the refurb section for quite a while and I've been watching very closely. Well, I hope it works out well, I'm excited to join the Apple crowd again!

Any owners of the rMBP, how is the heat/fan noise? That is what I remember disliking most about the 1st gen unibody macbook 15"

 

[Giev]

ThinkPad's have the best keyboards on the market so it will be a small step down from what you are used to. However, the keyboards on MacBook's are pretty damn good.

The praised ThinkPad keyboards were the NMB keyboards which have been discontinued for some time now.

OP, I have quite a few now: Old Thinkpads, new thinkpads, classic Macbooks and retina MacBook Pros. I terms of feedback its like:

Old Thinkpads (NMB) > Classic Macbooks = Apple Wireless Keyboard > Retina Macbooks

Its not to say that the rMBP keyboard is bad, its just on the soft side.

 

[technosix]

Hi guys,

Long time Thinkpad user, potential to join the apple crowd...

Programmers and people who type a lot, how do you feel about the keyboard on the new rMPB's?

Reason I ask, I have ordered a new one and waiting to it to ship from B&H. I tried out one at the store today and it felt squishy and didn't have a lot of feedback.

What are your opinions on the keyboard and is this something I'll just get used to? Thanks!

Tim

I spend a lot of time on my MBPR, in addition to many years I've enjoyed the finest keyboards ever on my various Corp grade ThinkPads dating back to the early T series. Apple is just different and like anything else takes a bit of getting used to.

Designed as a consumer laptop they didn't have a reason for a really good keyboard since customers don't know the difference anyway. Apple's massive profit is due to their masterful cost cutting wherever they can get away with it. I rate the Apple laptop keyboards as decent but lacking the crisp positive tactile experience of business class ThinkPads.

Conversely Lenovo learned from Apple that consumers will put up with cheaper keyboards so they've been including them in less expensive models for over a decade.