Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

heifetz7

macrumors member
Original poster
Oct 5, 2011
87
31
Ok, maybe not so great since it breaks more frequently than it should, and the cost for repair is ridiculous. I had my MBP repaired for free fortunately, and Apple does have the repair program. However, after upgrading to a new MBA, I actually miss the old keyboard. It is not as comfortable to type in because of the lack of travel, but I think purely from a design standpoint, the flat keyboard looks slick! I just wish Apple figured out how to make it have more travel or comfortable to type in, and also made repairs easier. I'm sure this was a Ives invention, and now that he is gone, Apple is going to more practical designs, but at the same time, the designs aren't going to be as good (but more practical!).
 
@heifetz7 I agree. I understand how many people were upset about it, and I have experienced a little bit of sticking, but personally I like the slightly clickier feel and it definitely looks good. However I have no qualms about the taller keys.
 
im a big fan of the 2021 MBP keyboard. best keyboard out of all the apple keyboards. im a big stickler for key press feel
 
I had a 2016, 2018 (CRU), and a 2019. The 2016 and 2018 butterfly keyboards were absolute trash. The 2019 was great, and the 2021 is just as good, if not better.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Lucas Curious
I had to use 2016 and 2017 MBPs with a butterfly keyboard as work machines for quite some time, and also kept a 2018 MBP as a personal device until the M1 Max was released. I ended up having to request a top case replacement on all of them.

I acknowledge Apple's efforts to improve the design over the years, however all revisions failed to solve the underlying reliability issue. After all, you know a design is doomed from the start when a machine is already covered by a replacement program on release day. Good riddance :)
 
  • Like
Reactions: internetrando
I actually liked the Butterfly keyboard. Took me a bit to get used to, but then it was great.
Reliability though... not so much. I never eat at my MacBook or do other stupid things... but after like 6 months a few keys started misbehaving.

What I actually DO miss though, is the old PowerBook G4/early MBP keyboard, which I think was the best of them all.

1643536512040.jpeg
 
  • Like
Reactions: diggy33
What I actually DO miss though, is the old PowerBook G4/early MBP keyboard, which I think was the best of them all.
It had too little contrast between the keycap color and the letter color when the backlight was on, though. I think that was the main reason it was phased out.
 
I actually liked the Butterfly keyboard. Took me a bit to get used to, but then it was great.
Reliability though... not so much. I never eat at my MacBook or do other stupid things... but after like 6 months a few keys started misbehaving.

What I actually DO miss though, is the old PowerBook G4/early MBP keyboard, which I think was the best of them all.

View attachment 1951481
Agree 100%. I absolutely loved that good silver keyboard.
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.