Been looking into this option aswell, it's just so frustrating the 2018 MBA really is perfect for my needs if not for the keyboard reliability. I actually really like typing on the butterfly keyboard.
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My 2011 MBA finally died today :(
- Thread starter torana355
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I just wish Apple would get their form over function head out of their ass and realise that this NEW, EXCITING, THIN, AMAZING keyboard design was a failure and go back to the reliable scissor design. Then I would gladly buy their new MacBooks.
Ok I just went and picked up a new 2018 MBA in Space Grey, fingers crossed the keyboard holds up well, thank you for all help everyone 
A thought occurs, what percentage of MacBooks have keyboard problems? It’s a rule of the net that dissatisfied consumers are far more likely to come online to complain than satisfied customers will post the news that their devices work as expected.
After using the machine for a few hours the keyboard is the least of my issues, this laptop feels slower than my 2011 MBA in general tasks, how is that even possible!! The UI stutters like an old android phone.
Edit: ok it seems to be better now after indexing.
Things I really like so far are the Screen, its really nice and is bright enough for my needs. the speakers are actually impressive for their size too. The keyboard is nice to type on but obviously the reliability will take a lot longer to judge.
The not so good things are the battery life, there is no way this thing will run for close to what Apple states it can do. It also can't run 4k 60FPS on Youtube, even in Chrome where you can select 4k resoloution it stutters horribly I suspect its due to Apple not having hardware support for the codec YouTube uses.
Edit: ok it seems to be better now after indexing.
Things I really like so far are the Screen, its really nice and is bright enough for my needs. the speakers are actually impressive for their size too. The keyboard is nice to type on but obviously the reliability will take a lot longer to judge.
The not so good things are the battery life, there is no way this thing will run for close to what Apple states it can do. It also can't run 4k 60FPS on Youtube, even in Chrome where you can select 4k resoloution it stutters horribly I suspect its due to Apple not having hardware support for the codec YouTube uses.
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Well, assuming the keyboard reliability has improved with the latest iteration, that’s good news that they replace with the new keyboard.
This is the route I'm going because I just don't want to deal with he problematic keyboard issues that plague the current laptop design...
I think you should definitely do what feels right to you, but look at the reviews on any popular website for the current MacBook Air. Amazon, Best Buy, wherever. Do they seem unhappy to you?
I have seen enough regarding the problematic keyboard issues that I'm completely turned off by the new laptops Apple is currently selling. I don't feel a laptop should be having any keyboard issues and that the keyboard should last years like the older gen keyboards do. Until Apple can get their keyboard issues resolved I will stay with the older MBAs as they do more than what I need for my computer use...
It’s just the nature of have any product apple ever releases. There’s always a new gate or a new thing that’s supposed to scare everyone away and people will recycle the same tired “wouldn’t happen if Steve Jobs was alive” bs. There was the new screens on retina MacBooks when they came out and how you either had look for if it was a Samsung or an lg won’t. Then flex gate issues. Then hard drive issues and so on and so on.
I had the “white spot” issue with my 10.5 iPad Pro. There’s a giant thread over on the iPad forum that talks about it and has hundreds of posts. Did that swear me off of iPad? No. But it’s funny because there were those that returned theirs to wait for the next iPad thinking it was gonna be perfect, then the bending issue happened. Now people are waiting even longer on that front until a new new iPad comes out.
I don’t blame you for feeling the way you feel and holding off, but as I get older I see these things so much if I lent too much credence to them I’d never be able to own and enjoy anything. I was scared off by MacBooks and went and got a highly rated dell xps. Supposed to be some of the best! After 4 replacements, decided to try out a surface book. Not a good move. Now back to MacBook Air, the one people are freaking out about and vowing not to buy, and this is the first computer that I haven’t had issues with in a long while. And the reviews on all these websites seem to share my sentiment. Seriously. Go to amazon or Best Buy and look at their reviews and see how many ever talk about the keyboard. It’s not an issue people en masse are returning their laptops for
2400 reviews. 4.8 stars. Even filter by low ratings https://www.bestbuy.com/site/apple-...test-model-space-gray/5998704.p?skuId=5998704
Indeed.
For my experience, I did return my iPhone XS Max within return period because of a minor but noticeable manufacture defect. Other than that, no issue so far. Back to my stolen iPhone 6 Plus, I can say the bend gate is pretty real as I easily bend my iPhone 6 Plus slightly with minimum force, creating a gap between the screen and shell. Kinda annoying.
For my MacBook Air, it had one SSD defect that luckily got repaired for free ($800 AUD if not, 50% of the device worth). So far no issue. I keep it on almost around the clock.
For my dell Inspiron, so far so good. The performance is mediocre but otherwise works fine. I also keep it on around the clock (don’t want to recover workspace even from hibernation).
I have heard about bend gate on iPad Pro but decide to get that one anyway. Now I can enjoy iPadOS with USB drive support without dongle. Fantastic experience. As for the bend gate, I don’t see bend at all.
In summary, people really need to treat those “reports” with a grain of salt and seriously plug their own cases into those purchases and decide whether it worths the money or not. Also, although products nowadays won’t last as long as some of those older products, they are not that weak either.
Anddddd /thread
You summed it up well my friend. All these people waiting on the next MacBook Air refresh as if that’s gonna be a totally perfect product are fooling themselves. Sometimes you just end up trading one issue for another.
I got to the point with all the hysteria and outrage that I just said screw it and stopped really caring. I care enough to do some investigating myself, but after that I make up my own decision based on a lot of things. Like whether I think it’ll happen to me, how widespread it is, how serious it is, if the company will take care of me if I experience this issue, etc. if I looked at a support forum for ANYTHING, there are gonna be people freaking you out about one issue or another. You read so many pages of this stuff that you can scared away from a purchase that might have made your life better.
I have a MacBook Air 2018 and haven’t had a single issue with it. If I listened to the outrage, I would have been robbed of almost a year of productivity and good times with it. And the fact that apple comes right out and says “we got you. If you have keyboard issues within 4 years, we got your back” says everything I needed to hear. I may not even HAVE this computer for 4 years.
In the end, I’m sure there’s an issue and I don’t doubt that some people experience this, but I don’t think it should keep everyone from buying a MacBook indefinitely
EDIT: Just checked out the front page. Remember how people were so put off by the new butterfly MacBooks they flocked to buy 2015? looks like they aren't safe either
https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...ple-initiated-battery-recall-program.2188535/
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Exactly.
Tons of people are just blindly handing out their own responsibility to make purchase decisions. What are they going to brag about later on then? Some “random people” on the internet made the decision for me, not me? Is this make those people feeling comfortable that a bad decision is not made on their own behalf? The root cause I believe, is the lack of sense and diligence about taking responsibility.
I have my own grip not buying MacBook Air 2018 because I don’t really like the feeling of typing on that keyboard very much, and Catalina refreshes my software compatibility expectation in a negative way, especially iTunes support, or iTunes feature support. If I want a new MacBook, I would go for earlier models. But that’s me.
Did anyone see this article today?
https://www.theverge.com/2019/7/4/2...3VuRCtJW29ouAOimJvTjy_QQuneHbMqqrdWlu_4Et2DGg
We'll see if this happens... I may be getting the new AIR sooner than I think
https://www.theverge.com/2019/7/4/2...3VuRCtJW29ouAOimJvTjy_QQuneHbMqqrdWlu_4Et2DGg
We'll see if this happens... I may be getting the new AIR sooner than I think
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the Dell XPS 13 looks nice
or
the burner MP looks good too.
all above my pay grade but Apple Inc just got rid of their "Designer boy". Apple managment chose a top down approach so changes like; functionality, repairability, reliability may take some time to materialize in their market. If at all. Maybe it will get worse not better.
-look close at your typical usage. Do you need a MBP or MB? Would a tablet work?
-stay away from the MB keyboard, even when 99% of the keys work it is still dangerous to type on.
-a personal windows experience right now may be good if Apple continues to under perform and over price.
-you will get a few replies: "I own a MBP and nothing bad has happened". I own a 2017 MBP, bought it with my own money.
best of luck
or
the burner MP looks good too.
all above my pay grade but Apple Inc just got rid of their "Designer boy". Apple managment chose a top down approach so changes like; functionality, repairability, reliability may take some time to materialize in their market. If at all. Maybe it will get worse not better.
-look close at your typical usage. Do you need a MBP or MB? Would a tablet work?
-stay away from the MB keyboard, even when 99% of the keys work it is still dangerous to type on.
-a personal windows experience right now may be good if Apple continues to under perform and over price.
-you will get a few replies: "I own a MBP and nothing bad has happened". I own a 2017 MBP, bought it with my own money.
best of luck
I bought a 13" 2017 Air to replace my 11" 2011 at about this time last year - largely because I had heard the rumours of what the 2018 model would bring and was singularly unimpressed. Glad I did. Nothing - not even the retina screen - they did to the Air makes it a better machine for me. Plus I didn't need to go out and find a way to recreate all my peripherals' ports or MagSafe. Ticking along just fine here.
I was going to do that but im glad I got the 2018 MBA, its not perfect by any means but the screen quality is a massive upgrade, will see how the keyboard holds up in the coming months.
After using the new MacBook Air for over a week I must say i'm in love with this machine. It runs really smooth and fast now, the screen is fantastic, the keyboard is nice to type on and the speakers sound awesome, im very happy!
Awesome man, glad you’re happy with your purchase. I’m one of those weirdos that actually legitimately liked the 12” rMB, for mostly he same reasons you noted. Fast and smooth, fantastic screen, and speakers that blow me away for something it’s size. I don’t love the keyboard, but I can deal with it. Enjoy your Air, and may it serve you well for years to come!
I also have a 2011 MBA. it still runs good. I need to get an external drive and start backing up my photos and files. Your post scared me a little. I, too, am waiting for the new keyboard on MBA or MBP.