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MacBook Pro owners - how do you type? (sharp edge/slit wrists!!)

entatlrg

entatlrg

macrumors 68040
Original poster
Mar 2, 2009
3,385
6
Waterloo & Georgian Bay, Canada
Been spending a lot of time typing on my MacBook Pro the last few days.

I hate to complain and I've read it here on the forums too about the sharp edges of the MBP digging into the wrists of some people.

Sure, if your typing style is to hold your forearms and hands above the keyboard without using the wrist rests then you're not going to get the digging in.

But, if your typing style is to have your wrists resting on the notebook while you're typing then you're going to get the cutting into the wrists.

After typing a lot of hours on my MBP now I have two options the way I see it, either learn to hold my forearm/wrist above the keyboard as I type or keeping going with my typing style of 20 years and end up with cut wrists.

Sorta sucks...
 
entatlrg said:
Been spending a lot of time typing on my MacBook Pro the last few days.

I hate to complain and I've read it here on the forums too about the sharp edges of the MBP digging into the wrists of some people.

Sure, if your typing style is to hold your forearms and hands above the keyboard without using the wrist rests then you're not going to get the digging in.

But, if your typing style is to have your wrists resting on the notebook while you're typing then you're going to get the cutting into the wrists.

After typing a lot of hours on my MBP now I have two options the way I see it, either learn to hold my forearm/wrist above the keyboard as I type or keeping going with my typing style of 20 years and end up with cut wrists.

Sorta sucks...
Click to expand...

Never been a big issue with me - but I understand what you're saying.

I noticed when I installed my invishield it helped out a lot.:cool:
 
I changed

I've noticed that also with my new uMBP. My older one that was not the case tho. So for now I've changed how I type or rest my wrists. Kind of funny it's not just me.

:)
 
I don't hang my wrists over the edge, so it's not an issue.

If you find that you are hanging you wrists, it means you computer is too high up and you need a lower table (your lap, would be a great place ;))
 
TwinCities Dan said:
There was a thread a couple weeks ago that had many options listed...

Here's a link. :)
Click to expand...

Thanks, I searched and read some threads about it, but didn't notice that one.

Invishield a good idea too, would take away that 'sharpness' thanks.

Also, the info about the notebook being to high up is correct, it's only on my desk it digs in, I could raise my chair but I'm high up already, lol.
 
After typing on a Dell XPS Studio 16 with the same issue, I finally realized why IBM Thinkpads bevel off the edge. Just goes to show how much though they put into the ergonomics of their laptops (I personally think they have the best keyboards/typing).

However, I thought that it would not be an issue with the MBP since the keyboard is built so deep into the computer (towards the screen). I thought this was Apple's way of resolving the edge problem.
 
The most ergonomic way of typing is to keep your wrists straight, relaxed and above the palmrests, not to rest them on the palmrests. The problem is usually that desks and chairs are not adjustable enough so you're forced into bad positions.
 
PDE said:
The most ergonomic way of typing is to keep your wrists straight, relaxed and above the palmrests, not to rest them on the palmrests. The problem is usually that desks and chairs are not adjustable enough so you're forced into bad positions.
Click to expand...

C'mon. People should be able to type how they feel most comfortable typing--which is not usually by elevating your wrists so they are hovering mid-air.

Why do you think they call them palm-RESTS?

It's clearly a defect that many manufacturers have gotten wrong--including the Dell I am typing on now.

I am not sure if Apple suffers from the same problem for all. When I used a MBP in-store, it felt ok, and I thought this was due to the keyboard being pushed so far back towards the screen.

I've only seen Lenovo address this issue with the beveled edge.
 
NovemberWhiskey said:
C'mon. People should be able to type how they feel most comfortable typing--which is not usually by elevating your wrists so they are hovering mid-air.

Why do you think they call them palm-RESTS?

It's clearly a defect that many manufacturers have gotten wrong--including the Dell I am typing on now.

I am not sure if Apple suffers from the same problem for all. When I used a MBP in-store, it felt ok, and I thought this was due to the keyboard being pushed so far back towards the screen.

I've only seen Lenovo address this issue with the beveled edge.
Click to expand...

Nonsense.

Sure its a "defect", I wonder how many people are on that team at Apple trying to solve this "issue" right now? :rolleyes:

Everything PDE just said is 100% correct. :eek:
 
NovemberWhiskey said:
C'mon. People should be able to type how they feel most comfortable typing--which is not usually by elevating your wrists so they are hovering mid-air.

Why do you think they call them palm-RESTS?

It's clearly a defect that many manufacturers have gotten wrong--including the Dell I am typing on now.

I am not sure if Apple suffers from the same problem for all. When I used a MBP in-store, it felt ok, and I thought this was due to the keyboard being pushed so far back towards the screen.

I've only seen Lenovo address this issue with the beveled edge.
Click to expand...


Sure, anybody can type any way they please. But that's also why so many people suffer from carpal tunnel syndrom, tendonitis, neck and shoulder pain! Not that Apple is trying to force people to type correctly, but the best way to type (as in the most ergonomic, least harmful) is to not rest your hands/palms while typing -- that's been demonstrated in many research studies.

Apple doesn't call them palmrests - users do. And even if Apple did, that doesn't mean it's good practice to rest one's palms there while typing. Besides, maybe they're called that because one should genuinely rest them there between typing?

The issues is that laptops are often placed on regular tables and are thus too high for comfortable use....and in order to type ergonomically you are forced to either rest your wrists on the edge or lift your entire shoulder/arms/elbows to type without resting palms. Either solution is poor, but then again pretty much all laptop use is inferior in terms of ergonomics.

I don't like the sharp edges either, but they do remind me to have good posture while working.
 
I actually have never noticed the edges digging in to me. I do think my desk is a little too high though and it feels better on my lap. Guess thats why they call it a laptop computer. :D
 
PDE said:
Sure, anybody can type any way they please. But that's also why so many people suffer from carpal tunnel syndrom, tendonitis, neck and shoulder pain! Not that Apple is trying to force people to type correctly, but the best way to type (as in the most ergonomic, least harmful) is to not rest your hands/palms while typing -- that's been demonstrated in many research studies.

Apple doesn't call them palmrests - users do. And even if Apple did, that doesn't mean it's good practice to rest one's palms there while typing. Besides, maybe they're called that because one should genuinely rest them there between typing?

The issues is that laptops are often placed on regular tables and are thus too high for comfortable use....and in order to type ergonomically you are forced to either rest your wrists on the edge or lift your entire shoulder/arms/elbows to type without resting palms. Either solution is poor, but then again pretty much all laptop use is inferior in terms of ergonomics.

I don't like the sharp edges either, but they do remind me to have good posture while working.
Click to expand...

Please take a picture of how you type and post it here. I would love to see it.
 
NovemberWhiskey said:
Please take a picture of how you type and post it here. I would love to see it.
Click to expand...

I don't need to. There are thousands of pictures and diagrams on the internet showing good typing posture. The problem with any laptop is that if your keyboard is at a good height (slight below your elbow when they're hanging straight down), then the screen is much too low. Similarly, when the LCD is at a good height (just below eye level), your keyboard is much too high. Unless you have an external keyboard and a way to elevate the LCD, you're going to have to make compromises. My compromise is always the position of the screen since I can still sit straight, be comfortable with my typing and use my eyes (instead of hunching over which you see a lot of people do) to look down at the screen.

However, very few tables are good for laptop typing unless they are height adjustable. Not only are they generally too high but even when they're just right, the laptop keyboard is higher still and may cause difficulty finding an ergonomic position. One solution is to prop up the back of the MBP so that your wrists are straight, but even then your hands will still be a too high -- but at least you won't have that edge cutting into you.

In other words, there are no good ergonomic positions when you're only using a laptop. An external keyboard makes things better, but not great.

I don't understand what's so difficult to understand about this? I'm not saying Apple's design is good. In fact, I'm not saying anything about their design at all! I'm just saying that regardless of what keyboard one is using, there are basic ergonomic rules of thumb that are good to abide by. If you don't, and spend a lot of time typing, you are likely to injure yourself in the long run. If you try to follow these basic principles, including not resting your palms on the palmrest if possible, the edges on the MBP become less of an issue. And you minimise the risk of injury.
 
No problem with using my MBP, Its either on a lap desk for when I'm using it in my living room, or my typing posture is such that I don't drive my wrists into the edges of the MBP.
 
I must be another member of the "bad posture" crowd -- noticed the sharp edge within 10 minues of out-of-the-box start-up. Seems to bother people with big hands/long fingers more (hits me right on the heel of my palm). Regardless, been 6 months and I wouldn't trade it (although I'm typing this on my company-provided Lenovo and the beveled edge is a most welcome ergonomic feature).
 
hexspeed said:
I must be another member of the "bad posture" crowd -- noticed the sharp edge within 10 minues of out-of-the-box start-up. Seems to bother people with big hands/long fingers more (hits me right on the heel of my palm). Regardless, been 6 months and I wouldn't trade it (although I'm typing this on my company-provided Lenovo and the beveled edge is a most welcome ergonomic feature).
Click to expand...

It's unfortunate that Apple chose this design. The most comfortable Apple laptop ever made was the Powerbook G3 Pismo -- everything about it was comfortable: rounded palmrest, rounded and very easily-pressed trackpad button, display would go back far, multiple bays to enable very long battery life or extra drives, great speakers for a laptop (better than MBP today). Don't want to be nostalgic because I think the latest MBPs are great, but in terms of ergonomics the old ones were better.
 
Maybe someone could come up with some Apple-accessory wristbands, like the ones tennis players use. Slid them on before getting behind the keyboard (only if you have the issue, of course. Sometimes I do, because my desk is higher than ideal for a laptop...)
 
external keyboard

If you are typing a lot, you could also try apples wireless key board. Works great for me. Put your MB/P on a stand and you might improve your posture as well.
 
I don't know how the edge on the macbook is affecting you guys. I went to the apple store to check it out, and the Macbook is so thin, and the keyboard is so far in towards the monitor that the edge is no where near my wrist. It is about 1/3 - 1/2 into my forearm, and I do not feel the edge.

I have long arms (I am 6'2''; size 12 shoe) and I feel like if anything, people with shorter arms should be even more comfortable because the edge would be even closer towards their elbows.

We are talking about the new uMBP right?


If you want a computer that digs into your wrists, try the Dell Studio XPS 16.
 
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