I know there is a long thread about this in the MBP forum but I thought it'd be nice to know whether the keyboard issues have been fixed or are less frequent in the new MBA 2018 than the MBP.
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Report 2018 MBA keyboard issues
- Thread starter Kraizelburg
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I've been using the new MBA since launch day, and am using it right now, and I've not had any issues with it at all so far.
In fact I find it a delight to type on.
In fact I find it a delight to type on.
That's good to know I was at the store yesterday but I was a bit reluctant on buying it until I had all my doubts solved
I do type a lot and I need a reliable keyboard.I've been bringing it to work with me and using it there instead of my desktop PC. I've been working on policies and directives and other writing tasks as well as email and it's been working like a camp so far.That's good to know I was at the store yesterday but I was a bit reluctant on buying it until I had all my doubts solved
Also, at home I've been working on my book some more too, so that's a lot of typing as well. I know there are a lot of issues with this style keyboard from other laptops since Apple debuted it a few years ago and I'm cognizant of that as I use this new one. So in a sense I'm kind of waiting for the other shoe to drop, but so far it hasn't.
If you are wondering if it is fixed for the Air, no. You can look at Reddit and Youtube for examples of the new Air exhibiting the same issues as the MBP's.
Whether you'll experience an issue, how long it will take for the issue to come and how many time's you'll get it - it is all up in the air. Some people haven't had an issue, some have had issues several times. Some have had the issue within the first week and others after a year etc.
Whether you'll experience an issue, how long it will take for the issue to come and how many time's you'll get it - it is all up in the air. Some people haven't had an issue, some have had issues several times. Some have had the issue within the first week and others after a year etc.
My only issue is that I hate how much I actually like it.
I’ve hated and complained about these keyboards since they were first introduced, and simply refused to buy them. I hated everything about the way they felt.
Until I finally broke down and bought the 2018 MacBook Air and did some typing.
It’s very nice. I am actually starting to prefer the butterfly keyboard over the old style. A strong compliment coming from someone who despised it so much in its initial iterations. Now I just hope it lasts as long as my 2011 MacBook Air, which is still in perfect condition.
I’ve hated and complained about these keyboards since they were first introduced, and simply refused to buy them. I hated everything about the way they felt.
Until I finally broke down and bought the 2018 MacBook Air and did some typing.
It’s very nice. I am actually starting to prefer the butterfly keyboard over the old style. A strong compliment coming from someone who despised it so much in its initial iterations. Now I just hope it lasts as long as my 2011 MacBook Air, which is still in perfect condition.
At the end I found a really good black friday deal on Dell.com and I ordered a Dell XPS 13 9370 i7-8550U, 16GB RAM and 512 SSD PCIe for 1074eur + tax. I hope I haven't made a mistake but I thought it was a very good deal.
So I will wait for next MBA.
So I will wait for next MBA.
I have been using a 2017 rMB and have had just once incident where a key got sticky, which I fixed without any fuss with a vacuum cleaner (be careful!). I don't expect to have any problems with the rMBA or any other Apple laptop with a Gen 3 keyboard as long as I don't eat or spill things into the keyboard, which is definitely a change in behavior. Historically my keyboards have looked like health hazards due to the amount of crap they're holding.
Was that written using the keyboard on your new MacBook Air keyboard? You might want to review all those policies and directives you've written so far with it.
No, I believe I was on my Linux PC at the time I wrote that post!
The 9370 is my top windows option for a 13 inch laptop. I love the form factor and the new Rose/White combo is nice! That same configuration prices out at $1,489 (in Rose) on Dells USA site. I decent price!At the end I found a really good black friday deal on Dell.com and I ordered a Dell XPS 13 9370 i7-8550U, 16GB RAM and 512 SSD PCIe for 1074eur + tax. I hope I haven't made a mistake but I thought it was a very good deal.
So I will wait for next MBA.
White version is very nice however I've read on some review that the material is different from the black version, it's more like glass than carbon fiber I think.
Sadly I will wait for the next version of the MBA and I hopefully by then they get rid of the butterfly keyboard for good.
The day the butterfly key's are fixed/changed and the TouchBar is radically changed/optionally removed, will be the day Apple will dominate the Laptop market once more as the premium choice.
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At the end I found a really good black friday deal on Dell.com and I ordered a Dell XPS 13 9370 i7-8550U, 16GB RAM and 512 SSD PCIe for 1074eur + tax. I hope I haven't made a mistake but I thought it was a very good deal.
So I will wait for next MBA.
The Dell's are having good offers indeed. Right now you can pick up a XPS 9570 (i7/4K/32GB RAM/1TB SSD) with 4 years premium warranty/accidental in UK for £2,083 direct from Dell - they do in home repairs so no need to make trips to stores with the premium support.
The equivalent Apple would cost ~£4,000 with 3 years AppleCare (I would go for the Vega ugprade to match the GTX 1050 TI of the XPS 9570).
They have also knocked off ~£200 off the Razer Blade 15 and Aero 15X for Black Friday on Amazon. Tempting...
I'll see what Apple have in store as offers for their shopping event tomorrow.
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To be honest a few weeks ago I was totally decided to get my first macbook but after all I've read here and there and tested myself the new keyboards it put me off a lot. I just can't cope with the butterfly keyboard and no one can really tell how reliable they will be in 3-4 years, also I can't cope with the touchbar. I was using a macbook pro 2018 for a few days and I just can't get the point of the TB, even for basic stuff it seems you have to tap more than once but above all I LOVE esc key
Also I think they need to redesign the whole case as it seems too thin for nowadays chips and the heat they produce.
To be honest a few weeks ago I was totally decided to get my first macbook but after all I've read here and there and tested myself the new keyboards it put me off a lot. I just can't cope with the butterfly keyboard and no one can really tell how reliable they will be in 3-4 years, also I can't cope with the touchbar. I was using a macbook pro 2018 for a few days and I just can't get the point of the TB, even for basic stuff it seems you have to tap more than once but above all I LOVE esc key
If iOS/macOS/tvOS development wasn't gated behind macOS/XCode (without having to resort to hackintosh/buying like a separate mac mini), I know a lot of people who would have just bought another Window's/Linux laptop instead in the past couple of years.
To be honest I'm not into apple eco-system but I was very curious about mac OS itself. I have windows 10- Manjaro dual boot laptop which I use for my daily job but I wanted to try mojave.
I just don't wanna try it at any cost. For me, and I think for 95% of the people reliability is a key point, and this new generation of macbooks don't seem to offer that, at least from my point of view. I know all laptops have some flaws (windows, macs, etc) and I can cope with that but not in some key areas like KEYBOARD!
Reliability is a major factor indeed, especially keyboard related ones. After 3 years, it seems the MacBook's will become a ticking $800 time bomb - and who in 2021+ will pay $800 to repair these machines? So will they just become throwaway consumables, despite costing so much?
At least some other machines, they are a bit more repairable - you can change the battery, RAM, SSD individually (at least for 15" models).
The worst part is, yes other machines have issues, but the MBP 15" has the same amount or more issues for ~£1,000-£1,500+ premium in some cases. The premium, as well as the fact that Apple control both the software and hardware of MacBook's, should have meant that reliability was head and shoulders above the Window's alternatives.
It seems we are heading towards hardware as a service at least from apple point of view LOL
In my opinion Apple is currently trading usability for looks.
soldered SSD probably will not do 7 years, this is a very weak link of this laptop
yes, MBA models until 2017 have replaceable SSD, so if something will go wrong you can replace SSD or even upgrade if you need more space in future
Mine is 100% fine! I'm coming from the MBP 2016 - MBA keyboard is ten times better - love it!