M1 MacBook Air Keyboard

[Chairman.Jobbie]

You might want to anyway, the larger drive is faster and therefore will work better as swap for virtual RAM.

I hope that my Air, by nature of it being fully loaded, has the better keyboard; I didn't notice much of a difference between it and the bas MBP I tried, but it is a hair under my 2014 MBP's.I figure Ill get used to it just as I have with every Powerbook, MacBook, and MacBook Pro keyboard design Ive used (minus the scissor switch keyboard which I never bought).

How do you know the larger drive is faster?

I have about 60gb of files. Unlikely ill go over 100gb so there will always be 150gb free. Swap ranges from 1-4gb average.

 

[darngooddesign]

How do you know the larger drive is faster?

I have about 60gb of files. Unlikely ill go over 100gb so there will always be 150gb free. Swap ranges from 1-4gb average.

Because people have tested them and reported the drive speeds on one of the big Air vs Pro or 8GB vs 16GB threads.

 

[Johnny907]

My favourite keyboard on an Apple laptop was the one that came with the original 2012 retina MacBook Pro 15". The worst by far was the one that shipped with the Late 2016 MBP, the first MBP with the new 'Butterfly' keyboard. The travel was very shallow and it almost felt like typing on an iPad screen. Also the keys were prone to get dust under them causing them to work intermittently. The one that I had had already been to the Apple Store once to remove dust under the keys.

The Magic Keyboard ( draft name IMO) in the M1 Air and Pro, after using it for a week feels much better to type on. Not as good as the 2012 15" Retina MBP, but infinitely better than the late 2016 MBP.

The Air also due to its tapered design makes typing more ergonomically comfortable, particularly on the wrists. This is one advantage the Air has over the M1 Pro.

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You never tried typing on the original 12” MacBook keyboard, I assume.
Typing on the onscreen keyboard on my iPad is more enjoyable than that thing was 😂

 

[Apple_Robert]

I really like typing on the M1 MBA. So much nice than my 2011 MBP.

 

[Zazoh]

You never tried typing on the original 12” MacBook keyboard, I assume.
Typing on the onscreen keyboard on my iPad is more enjoyable than that thing was 😂

You’re not wrong.

I think Apple’s long game is to eventually get to a haptic keyboard. The 12 rMB was a test to see how much tolerance folks have for typing on a flat surface. Ironically I’m typing on the iPad screen now. The all glass M13 MacBook Air is about 12 years out though.

They also want voice everything but Siri is 50 years from that. It is the worst.

 

[macnmac]

Hehheh. I did have Cherry MX Blues for maximum output, but with my wife now sharing the same home office due to lockdown, I had to switch to Cherry MX Silent Reds. Which are surprisingly good!

haha i love the clicking noise although it drives some people crazy

 

[Chairman.Jobbie]

I got my 16gb Air. The keyboard is very good. Fwiw there are differences in the Air keyboards if my experience is anything to go by. The 8gb I had had slightly raised keys so you can see the light under the keyboard - good keyboard. However, this keyboard I using now has just the right feedback. Keys not as high as previous keys but not as low as the MBA I returned. So probably perfect. I know some forum members have returned the MBA for an MBP because of the keyboard - shame as they preferred the MBA.

 

[M12020_16gb_500gb]

I currently have 2 M1 MacBook Airs in my possession and im due to return one .... on 512 SSD and one 256 SSD - I dont need the extra SSD so got the base model.

My M1 buying is a mess - I hate this buying & returning - but just when I had settled on the base model Air I've noticed there is a difference in keyboards. The one i'm suppose to return has a beautiful keyboard - I love it, the feedback is perfect. And coming from a terrible butterfly keyboard I REALLY love it. I LOVE typing on it.

The new Base Air MacBook that I was as planning to keep the keyboard is not bad but it is definitely less firm than the good one.

Unfortunate that this difference exists - and it does exist - not sure why this is as they come out of the same factory using the same build & components. Other people have mentioned the Air keyboard is not as good as the Pro (me included) but it seems even between Airs there can be a difference.

I might end up keeping the more expensive MBA just for the keyboard. Damn.

Man, so I am not crazy!!! I also noticed that difference.
initially I bought 2 MBA (silver & SG) since because of the pandemic I could not see them in store. Then the one I wanted to keep (SG) had a usb c quality control problem (too tight), but I also noticed a difference in the feel of tje keyboard AND trackpad... so I exchanged for a new one because of the USB C. Now the new one have the keyboard I don’t like!!! And also the trackpad is harder to press and the « silent click » function make no difference while it did with the last one... Apple has some quality control issues or their contractors don’t deliver the same parts quality. I feel like a crazy customer now by returning it to buy a new on.. AGAIN...
I really need the softer keys because with carpal tunnel syndrome, I need easier to press keys. I guess it is a bit of a lottery to get the one you want.. and it takes 2+ weeks to get it because they don’t have it in store. I just wish the same parts were used on all models..

 

[xraydoc]

While I’ve got n=1 in terms of keyboards, the one on my MBA is great.

 

[geejay9876]

My keyboard stopped working a few months ago. All stores were closed, and I had work to finish! So I recalled I still had an old (I mean OLD) Olivetti PC XT keyboard from the eighties stowed away in a dark cobwebbed corner in the attic. Twice as heavy as most notebooks. 🙂

Hooked it up. Expected to get a new keyboard the next day.

...I am still using it. SHEER BLISS. Lovely feel. Deep mechanical travel. Noisy as hell. I love it. A workhorse of a keyboard. Over 30 years old!

I had forgotten about the greatness of those classic well-constructed typing monsters. Butterfly keyboards? Never again.

How did you hook a XT connector to USB-c? I am only aware of ps/2 to usb connectors.