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M1 vs M2-M4 Macbook Air Fit and Finish
- Thread starter Mity
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I know but it doesn't mean these people find it to be a pleasant typing experience. Apple uses the cheapest plastic possible as the keys and the spring mechanisms under the keys are likely even worse. The only way Apple can put in better quality keycaps is by giving it more travel. Ive never used a keyboard that has to wiped down immediately with rubbing alcohol just so the keys don't show grease marks.
But they're obviously not unusable right? Since millions of people use them. I find it a pleasant type experience, for sure, it's subjective.
I don't wipe down my keyboard immediately with rubbing alcohol, though I went from M1 to M4, and I have read about some people having issues with the keyboards on the M2 onwards.
I'm sure if that was widespread there would be more post though? What does your keyboard look like? Assuming you actually do use it.
OK. I hadn't picked up that your previous comment ("I also hate the keyboards on the Apple Silicon MacBook Pro models") was only about Silicon MacBook Pros. I haven't used a Silicon Pro much but don't recall finding it different from my Silicon Airs.
I can’t imagine a silicone keyboard being very nice to type on.
I find the keyboard on my 14” M3 Pro is perfectly fine. I have little to complain about. If I had to be more nitpicky, I wouldn’t mind a smidgen more travel, and a slightly more positive action, as occasionally there isn’t quite enough feedback when reaching for the shift key when typing quickly.
I’ve not noticed the keyboards on Apple Silicone Macs to be problematic at all.
I find the keyboard on my 14” M3 Pro is perfectly fine. I have little to complain about. If I had to be more nitpicky, I wouldn’t mind a smidgen more travel, and a slightly more positive action, as occasionally there isn’t quite enough feedback when reaching for the shift key when typing quickly.
I’ve not noticed the keyboards on Apple Silicone Macs to be problematic at all.
Not sure if you were serious but in case of any confusion, I have not been referring to any silicon keyboard covers! "Silicon" has only be used to refer to the generation of Mac in my posts.
I do know that you were referring to Apple Silicon. The shorthand of using 'silicon' to refer to Apple Silicon always amuses me for its ambiguity and inaccuracy. Intel CPUs are silicon too! It just reminded me of those awful silicon roll-up keyboards. 😆
I use an external mechanical keyboard when using the mac at home -unmatched typing experience,. When out of the house and I have to use the mac keyboard, I put on latex gloves or else I have to completely wipe down the entire keyboard. Putting on gloves is quicker. Always sanitizing the keyboard is very tedious to do each time.
I avoid using the laptops keyboard as much as I can to prevent wear and tear.
My sister uses rubber covers on her laptops to prevent dust getting on the keys and it's a horrible typing experience. The thing bounces each time a key is pressed.
But you realize that this is not the routine experience. Most people use their keyboards just fine. You do you and stuff, but that's not typical.
It may not be normal but I've got a few friends wearing gloves now too when they found out I do it. They think it's a brilliant idea. Macbook keyboards are fragile and this is the first laptop I've ever owned where I have to wear gloves if I use the keyboard.
I've been typing on mine for 10 months now. Occasionally I wipe it down with an isopropyl alcohol wipe, and it's as good as new. I don't know what's wrong with yours that you need to wear gloves to use it!
Just an idea, for if you get tired of wearing gloves (or if your skin says "No"): I've used my keyboards without any of that type of precaution and I typically only have one computer and keep it for around ten years. So the keyboard gets a LOT of use. Every day.
I find that 95% of the keyboard holds up just fine. A few keys will have some of the black worn off after around year 7-8. What I do then is buy new Apple key caps for those keys, and it takes only a few minutes to pop them on. For example my original 2015 keyboard is showing some wear on the "N," "M," "A," "L," and Space bar. But that's after ten years of daily use.
Caveat: I have the pre-butterfly keyboard, so if Apple has now made it impossible to replace key caps (I hope not!) then this might not apply.
I have to wear gloves often when I'm working (not on the computer) and I would not want to have to wear them any more than necessary as it's a little hard on the skin to be "trapped" in the gloves every day. We're all different though so maybe this solution would not appeal to you.
Well I don't do it by choice but because it's a flawed product. The same reason why I always wipe down any lose dust from the keyboard, palm rests and trackpad with a brush, then wipe down any dust from the screen before closing the lid each time. This is the only laptop ive used in my life that has to have this done.
I've even considered bringing one of my mechanical keyboards with me just so I don't have to use the macbook's keyboard. Even with this keyboard weighing more than 4lbs, heavier than the laptop itself. The less I have to use the macbook keyboard, the better. So if I have to carry around an extra device to prevent me from having to use the macbook keyboard, its worth it.
For instance in late April I have to go out of town for 3 days and Im likely going to bring the keyboard with me because just the thought of me using the macbooks keyboard for 3 days is not a good feeling.
It’s sad yours is so unpleasant to use, I hope you manage to find a solution that works for you!
It's not the age of the M1; even a brand new M1 will be smoother all around. I have two M1s, a base model that I used for 2 years and then a CTO 16GB/1TB that I only began using in the last 12 months. Until very recently, the newer one was being used in clamshell mode without much keyboard use so it was like new and not the age of the machine. The body of the M1 is smoother all around than on the newer Airs but there is less difference when it comes to the trackpad. I recall the trackpad being almost the same if not identical in texture.
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I have an M2 MBA and I love it. It has been the best laptop I have ever owned in the decades of computer use I have experienced. The keyboard is great. I think the feel and key travel is a great balance of thin and comfortable. The keycaps are the one thing that bother me as after about 3 months of light use I noticed the shiny keys. I have never experienced shiny keys on any other laptop from Windows to cheap old Chromebooks. I have learned to just get over it as the rest of the laptop has been so great but I just don't understand how Apple can make such an important part of a laptop wear so fast. I had a 16" M1 MBP and the same thing happened so it is something that affects the entire line no matter the cost.
Personally since the rest of these m series laptops age so well my guess is Apple felt the need to have something age cosmetically quickly to encourage people to upgrade. The problem is that these keycaps age so quickly regardless of the model that buying a new device doesn't really help if the same thing will happen in a matter of months.
people say it is the type of plastic and give all sorts of reasons why it is okay. Personally I don't agree. Apple could easily change the type of plastic with little cost or other reasons and make a much more durable keycap but they don't.
A lot of people don't seem to care but it is one thing that bothers me. As far as my typing experience I find that the M2 and beyond air keyboards are probably my favorite in a long time. I hated the scissor keyboards a lot and these newer models seem to fix the bad experience I had before. I just wish I didn't have shiny keys and my Windows laptops even after several years have never had this problem?
Personally since the rest of these m series laptops age so well my guess is Apple felt the need to have something age cosmetically quickly to encourage people to upgrade. The problem is that these keycaps age so quickly regardless of the model that buying a new device doesn't really help if the same thing will happen in a matter of months.
people say it is the type of plastic and give all sorts of reasons why it is okay. Personally I don't agree. Apple could easily change the type of plastic with little cost or other reasons and make a much more durable keycap but they don't.
A lot of people don't seem to care but it is one thing that bothers me. As far as my typing experience I find that the M2 and beyond air keyboards are probably my favorite in a long time. I hated the scissor keyboards a lot and these newer models seem to fix the bad experience I had before. I just wish I didn't have shiny keys and my Windows laptops even after several years have never had this problem?
Are you saying you know the M2 keyboard to be different from the M1 gen? Or, you have experience only with an M2 most recently.
This looks interesting, to consider?
Where do you buy new Apple key caps? Or are you referring to any generic key cap such as those available on Amazon?