Noisy keyboard

[marclondon]

I've at long last bought a new Mac Mini and 13inch MacBook Pro to replace ageing machines. Mini is fine but I'm having difficulty getting on with the MBP owing to the noisy keyboard - it's far more noticeable than the old 2009 MBP and indeed the extended Mac desktop keyboard I have, both of which are really good.

Otherwise the MBP is great - the keyboard is also fine to type on, bar the noise, which would be off-putting in meetings I attend.

I'm in two minds about returning it as not even in first week yet - it's a very expensive machine that I would have to live with for several years.

Any thoughts? Are other latest notebooks just as bad (should I decamp to Windows). Or maybe I should go for an older MBP. Actually Windows is not an option as the idea is to have a backup machine should one fail.

 

[GoldfishRT]

Which model did you purchase?

The 2018s are much more tolerable with noise, the 2019s further still. But if you bought a MBP without Touch Bar those still use the second gen keyboard which is very very noisy.

You can try a keyboard cover to dampen the noise a bit. But I hate how those feel personally.

 

[marclondon]

Which model did you purchase?

The 2018s are much more tolerable with noise, the 2019s further still. But if you bought a MBP without Touch Bar those still use the second gen keyboard which is very very noisy.

You can try a keyboard cover to dampen the noise a bit. But I hate how those feel personally.

Just bought new and shipped last week and is 2019 i5 model with Touchbar. At first I thought there was a sound click on for the keys but no...

 

[Jimmy James]

Apple needs to suck it up and revert to another keyboard design. It sounds like OP is questioning whether he should keep the machine because of the keyboard. I outright refuse to buy it because of the keyboard.

 

[jerryk]

The 2009 keyboard was a bit squishy. The 2012-2015 were a little more clicky. The 2016 and later are more so, especially the original 2016. If you want a quiet damped keyboard MacBook Pros do not have that any more and really have not for a number of years.

 

[hajime]

The 2009 keyboard was a bit squishy. The 2012-2015 were a little more clicky. The 2016 and later are more so, especially the original 2016. If you want a quiet damped keyboard MacBook Pros do not have that any more and really have not for a number of years.

We may need to wait for the current management to leave before it can happen again.

 

[marclondon]

I returned it. Shame as it's perfect in all other respects but the keyboard is a deal breaker. I can't take it to meetings and type notes with any confidence and I dislike the noise and feel anyway just in my own office. I really didn't think Apple would be fouling up on this in 2019.

In contrast my new i7 Mac Mini is fantastic. I will have to keep the old Mini as a backup machine while I ponder the notebook situation. I do have a 2009 MBP with a nice quiet keyboard but sadly I can't control the fan for long on it now.

 

[pshufd]

You can't please everyone. Many like noisy keyboards - witness the sales of clicky mechanical keyboards. And lots of people like quiet keyboards. I prefer clicky myself and use Cherry MX Blues.

 

[marclondon]

I'm not so concerned about noise from a desktop keyboard but on a notebook that's used in quiet situations such as libraries, meetings and lectures then it's more of a concern. As Apple sells a lot into the education market, I'm surprised it opted for this design.

I've found a good local (to me in London) source of refurb Macbook Pros and will probably pick up a 2015 model when I need it.

https://www.hoxtonmacs.co.uk

 

[jerryk]

I find the keyboard pretty quiet. But, you have to adopt a lighter touch. And I also prefer mechanical keyboards with their more positive key press feedback. But MX brown switches for me. As a result I like the keyboard on my 2018 MBP.

 

[pshufd]

I'm not so concerned about noise from a desktop keyboard but on a notebook that's used in quiet situations such as libraries, meetings and lectures then it's more of a concern. As Apple sells a lot into the education market, I'm surprised it opted for this design.

I've found a good local (to me in London) source of refurb Macbook Pros and will probably pick up a 2015 model when I need it.

https://www.hoxtonmacs.co.uk

I have a fully-loaded 2015 (2.8, AMD, 1 TB) for sale locally for $1,300. I'm quite tempted. I noticed that some of the online resellers have dropped their prices on 2015s too.

 

[LogicalApex]

You can't please everyone. Many like noisy keyboards - witness the sales of clicky mechanical keyboards. And lots of people like quiet keyboards. I prefer clicky myself and use Cherry MX Blues.

Couldn't agree more. Also a MX Blue fan myself!

That being said, I think the users who are complaining must be people who "bottom out" and as a result are literally hammering on the keys. When I'm typing on my 2018 MBP it is insane how little noise I hear compared to what people here report. My only guess as to why that is... I don't "bottom out" with every keypress. This is not only faster, but much less strenuous on the fingers so you have far less fatigue.