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

[Rant] Apple notebooks have awful, cheap keyboards.

I think the keypad is really good, better than a lot of other computers I've used in my time. I also got a keyboard protector for mine, it's really nice. It took a little while to get used to though since the keys were spaced a bit far apart and were raised more than in.

It also sounds nice when I type ;)
 
I know what you mean but I have a solution for you.

Turn off the MacBook, remove the battery. Grab a facecloth, run it under hot water and ring it out so it's damp (you're going to have to man up and deal with the hot water while you do this). Next, thoroughly wipe the keys and the surrounding area while you're at it. You're done. Wait a couple of minutes for it to dry, put the battery back in and turn it on. I have found you're going to have to do this about once a week to ensure it stays pretty clean.

Oh and wash your hands before using the MacBook. You have no idea how much this really affects how clean your MacBook is.
 
I love my keyboard, but I could also deal without the shiny-ness.
I have only had my macbook for 8 months, and some keys and a spot on the space bar are already starting to shine.

I don't think it is all about how clean the keys are with the black keys, though. I think the matte black keys just show more wear.

But like I said, I LOVE the feel of the keys. They are so easy to type on. I can type much faster on my macbook than I do on my desktop PC at work.
 
I completely disagree. I have a first gen MacBook from 2006, and the keyboard has not changed one bit. Its just fantastic to type on and I hate typing on pc laptop keyboards.
My mums has got "shiny" keys after a couple of months.
 
Quillz said:
I agree that they have a nice feel to them.

I just dislike that they show signs of wear and tear so quickly and easily.
Click to expand...

I've never noticed any wear. Must have something to do with the fact I never type on the laptop keyboard and always use external keyboards and mice.

I must agree that I preferred the older Bluetooth keyboard.

Cheers,
 
Loving the new Apple chicklet keys. Best keyboard I've ever used. Perhaps not as aesthetically pleasing as the classic MacBook Pro, but I'm prepared to sacrifice that for usability.
 
I agree about the "shinyness" on the keys showing up more quickly than other brands. I don't like the "shiny" look so I got a Moshi Clearguard keyboard cover as soon as I got my uMB. Doesn't really affect typing much and my keyboard still looks like new underneath the cover.
 
Quillz said:
Woah... I made the thread title way more misleading than I intended to. Didn't mean to imply the keyboard is awful; it's not. It's just not as durable as I wish it was, is what I'm trying to say here.

So, please, don't crucify me. It's just a pointless rant, like I stated.
Click to expand...

I got ya Quillz, I understand the thread. Sometimes, people on here go straight for the drama. I agree with you about the keyboards. I see a big difference in the overall display of keys of an Apple vs the rest. ...some good, some bad :eek:

Apple has space in between the keys, I get it - this will hopefully reduce some stroke errors. That was smart by Apple, but on the whole - You're right, they are lacking with their keyboards. The durability of them is very subpar, especially the keyboards with white keys. The white keys can look pretty nasty only after a couple months of usage. Maybe that is why they only make black now on MBP's. And another poor piece of equipment is their wireless keyboard. It's pretty small, and has no numerical keypad, which is an option Apple really should be thinking about for a wireless keyboard.

So, I get your concern. And, I do not get what Apple's strategic planning is on this at all. Maybe cost?, which would be disappointing due to the price. I personally like the old MBP keyboards with the so-called windows keyboard(the old alu MBP with the matte LED screen).

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9a/MacBook_Pro.jpg
[above] I still think this was one of the best Apple products ever! And by far, the best screen Apple has made so far...I hate glossy screens, if ya can tell :D

I think your post is something Apple engineers should be contemplating about for future Macs.

CrackBookPro:cool:
 
Thats quite opposite from my opinion.

I find that this keyboard is pretty much the best one I've ever used. I love the feel of it, I think it looks good (I have the backlit keys), and it sounds good when you type with it.

True, it does show visible signs of use, such as the smudges. However I never look at the keys and the smudges are pretty easy to eliminate.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back