I’ve only had one 2018 fail, due to heat. Apparently you can’t run the GPU and CPU hard at the same time for long stretches of time or the heat can deform the butterfly just enough to make it fail.
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MacBook Pro 2018 Keyboards - Reliable?
- Thread starter hululu
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I think that the heat is the biggest issue. I had multiple 2016/17 MBP keyboard fails. But I tend to stress them out with Unity3D and Parallels VMs. But my 1 year old MB is running flawlessly, but that one is used only for learning, surfing, youtube, etc. And the keyboard is the same as when I got the device.
I am running Unity based simulations on my 2018 with no issues. Even have it connected to ML servers running on the MBP to determine next object action. Pegs CPUs cores at 100%, but runs hour after after hour.
Good for you. But I'm not gonna throw another 3k€ at Apple and hope for the best. I moved on to another brand, and if Apple ever gets their **** together, I will come back, since I find Mac OS to be the best for my needs.
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Picking up my FOURTH MBP on Wednesday. If it fails as well, I'm going to choose between X1 Carbon and XPS 13 9370 (perhaps also Yoga S730 if it's released within a month from now). I noticed the keys that "go" are the ones used most often – this time E, O, I, A, Space Bar. O is the worst, sometimes registering twice, sometimes not at all, and sometimes – how is this possible? – too late. So I end up with words such as "smoetimes" or "prbolems". That's...new. And no, they are not my typos.
You're on X1 Carbon 6th gen, right @c0ppo?
Exactly this. It's hard for me to imagine living without macOS after 11 years, but Apple doesn't produce any portable but the ancient Air that wouldn't have those keybards. Moving to Windows might actually save me money, though. This MBP was supposed to be my only computer, so I went for 16/512 model. If I have to restore my Hackintosh to its foormer glory, I won't need a fast laptop, just one that will work with Scrivener, Photoshop, and InDesign.
You're on X1 Carbon 6th gen, right @c0ppo?
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A, O and E were among the keys I was having trouble with as well. Although all were along the not responding on first press line. None were repeating letters. But they do seem to be common problem keys. Likely as you say, because of frequent use
Well, this is going on since 2016 now. I would personally think that if the 2018 keyboard sees one full winter use, and one full summer use next year, in total a whole year of rigorous use, without any issue, then I might (merely) begin to think the issues are resolved. Otherwise, no. 10 days, 1 month, 2 months without issues, who are we kidding to think that if a keyboard on a multi thousand dollar machine did not have issues between its mid July launch till almost mid October now, we can think they are going to be fine? Seriously? Are we at that level where we are counting our blessings in the lottery we played with Apple?
We ought to expect an absolutely worry-free keyboard at the prices we pay. Especially after being burned for close to 2 years straight.
We have to remember that we had a perfectly working and perfectly reliable keyboard before 2016 machines. And 2017 machines. And no, we can't be remotely sure of 2018 machines, just 3 months into release.
If you don't think this is too early now, remember that your perspective is probably from 2016 and 2017 machines. Switch it back to the time when keyboards were the least of the worries. 2018 machines might be better from the perspective of 2016/2017 machines. This is still not remotely close to being reliable. Reliability is what we had prior to 2016. Jog the memory, friend.
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Yes. X1C + eGPU + Manjaro. Working like a charm so far
Lol... For me it's brackets ([]{}) that go first, followed by spacebar. Keys I use the most. But curiously tab key didn't get stuck. Not even once.
PLEASE say you don't mean on the X1C...! I Want To Believe!
Truth be told, I wouldn't even bother trying a fourth MBP if not for the fact that tons of laptops with Whiskey Lake CPUs are apparently going to be released in November.
Well my 2018 just developed repeating key issues with several keys. Had issues with a 2016 (that I returned for a 2017 since it had keyboard issues). The 2017 eventually messed up towards the end of a year, so sold it for the 2018. I was told today need the whole top case replaced.
I really just want a reliable keyboard. I've owned different models of MacBook Pro's since around 2006 and have never had these kinds of issues with such an integral part of the machine. I'm seriously hoping I'm just an outlier cause this has been ridiculous.
Apple Store has no loaners so was told I can buy another one while this is getting repaired and return it within the return window.
Of course not. Only way a key can fail on this little beauty is if you hammer it hard. But beware, you might damage your hammer in doing so
Personally I like the feel of the 2018 MBP keyboard - but I was in a kick-off meeting today and I noticed that the command key on my 2018 MBP has started feeling dead - with about half the travel.
Further investigation: bottom right of left Command key is "dead" - this does not bode well on a 3 month old 3kUSD laptop... :/
I’ve had a brand new 15" MacBook Pro for about 2 weeks now
Upgraded from a 13"2009 model
I think it’s amazing. No problems at all
Now I’m a quadriplegic. Car accident. So have very limited hand function
I find the new keyboard much easier to use. I can actually type faster on it. Now when I say faster that’s relative to me. I type with one finger, knuckle really. I think it’s because there is less travel
I also find the Touch Bar useful especially the word suggestions like on the iPad
Upgraded from a 13"2009 model
I think it’s amazing. No problems at all
Now I’m a quadriplegic. Car accident. So have very limited hand function
I find the new keyboard much easier to use. I can actually type faster on it. Now when I say faster that’s relative to me. I type with one finger, knuckle really. I think it’s because there is less travel
I also find the Touch Bar useful especially the word suggestions like on the iPad
I LOVE that keyboard except for the bit where it breaks after 2-3 weeks of intensive use. I hope yours will survive much longer, @Rugbydman!
Nope. Mine was broken out-of-the-box (double presses on several keys). Maxed-out 13" CTO with non-default keyboard for my country (i. e. it's as custom as it can get) built mid-September straight from China.
Nope. Long and intensive writing sessions, but Scrivener doesn't exactly max out the cpu/gpu. I used Reason, Photoshop, InDesign in those few weeks I had the laptop, but not much as I'm on a deadline that I am now going to miss.
This is why it was a bad idea to decide I don't need an extra computer and the MBP is going to be enough for all my needs...
its weird how some people have zero problems and then others are on their fourth replacement machine. I guess someone who is having a sting of bad machines is likely to post/rant to a forum about it. anyhow, it seems a bit soon to determine whether the new keyboards will solve the problems in the long run. time will tell. anytime there is a redesign there are going to be glitches. i had the 2012 redesign and that thing was plagued with no end of screen problems and gpu crashes. eventually by 2015 they had all the glitches worked out and then they dropped a redesign and the process starts again. if you need a really reliable mac buy 2015 at least for another year until they get the kinks worked out. i have a 2016 and it has had a keyboard replacement and logic board replacement. there are many things i like about the machine but it is not reliable.
Excluding 2018 models, has there been a trend for past base models vs. built to orders in reliability?
Well, for example my acquaintance had zero problems. I asked him and he sincerely said this.
He then had to work from home for several days. Now he knows he has problems.
It's just he used laptop-stand at work and wireless Apple keyboard... and never laptop keyboard. He's quite angry...
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AFAIK no. Logically this is the way it should be - keyboard is the same for base and CTO models and we're quite sure the problem is in the keyboard itself, not in the process of putting different components together (which might differ for base and CTO). On the other hand QA/QC might differ as well.
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That's my conundrum as well. I've had a 15 inch 2010 Macbook Pro with Nvidia graphics issue (green flickering screen + crashes). The 15" Retina Mid 2012 has had logic and dedicated graphic card issues and crashes. I have to use gfxcardstatus to force it to use integrated graphics to keep it from crashing. That 2012 now cannot work with an external screen as a result of disabling the dedicated graphics. I've bought my sister a 2015 15" MacBook Pro w/integrated and that's been stable so far with zero issues.
I'm due for a new laptop and need it to be reliable, as my iMac (Late 2009 27 inch) is getting very slow for most uses nowadays. I would really like to get another 15 inch MacBook Pro as the experience (when it actually works) is very enjoyable. I love Mac OS.
However, the reliability aspect of it is making me consider a Surface Laptop 2 or a Surface Book 2 as I haven't heard any glaring problems about that (please let me know if they exist). However, I haven't used Windows since Vista and don't know if it's gotten any better. I keep hearing about forced updates though. While the Macs have given me hardware problems, the OS X has been absolutely pain free.
I would love to hear thoughts from others.
This is the third generation of those keyboards... the one we all hoped would solve the problems!
I think there *is* a chance some batches are faulty and some aren't. Like people talking about the kernel panics or coil whine - I haven't experienced any of that. But then those people seem to have functioning keyboards, and I will be giving Apple the fourth and last chance, receiving my fourth MBP tomorrow... Who knows, maybe I'll get the T2 kernel panic feature this time?
