The Macbook's keyboard is superb

[mortenandersen]

Noise like a type writer in a fanless (silent) machine?!

The noise it makes is actually one of my favorite features. It sounds really satisfying hearing the "click click click". It reminds me of a type writer.

It's very difficult to follow Apple's way of putting this machine together:

One the one hand: They make it fanless so it can be silent (without the noise of a fan).

On the other hand, if your report is right: "It sounds really satisfying hearing the "click click click". It reminds me of a type writer."

That would be both an annoying and disturbing noise for many users in many different situations.


SSD-GUY's question in post 49 is therefore very to the point, and let me please repeat it, as nobody yet has answered it or commented on it:

"Would the noise/click be too loud for say, a lecture hall? As in whilst a lecture is going on, does the rMB make more noise than say a rMBP or MBA keyboard?"

 

[Dayv]

Would the noise/click be too loud for say, a lecture hall? As in whilst a lecture is going on, does the rMB make more noise than say a rMBP or MBA keyboard?

Both make noise, IMO (I've been called a loud or even "angry" typist), but the new MB has a bit more of a sharp click to it with my heavy hands. Not necessarily louder, but distinctly different.

 

[powersteer]

tested it at the store, not sure whether its the standing position but the typing experience was a lot more tiring than on my MBA. found myself using too much force and the spacing of the keys are not natural anymore ... noticed i was subconsciously looking down at the keyboard as i typed

 

[legioxi]

The new keyboard has ruined all others for me. My logitech keyboard and rMBP keyboard both feel cheap now.

 

[ProwlingTiger]

I love the new keyboard. Trying to use the wired Apple keyboard on my desktop is atrocious now.

 

[theSeb]

I have finally managed to try this thing out for myself. The key travel is clearly lacking, but it is not the end of the world and I can get used to it. My weird issue is actually the key placing. I touch type and have done so for a very long time. I can touch type on the MB, but it takes a bit more effort and I really struggle to "find" the backspace and return key for some strange reason. I keep hitting = instead of backspace and ] instead of return.

 

[nelsonammo]

I tried the keyboard out for a few min at best buy and thought it was surprisingly good. I love the size and feel and spacing of the keys. Accuracy and speed seemed to be the same as a regular keyboard. The only thing I'm not sure about was the key travel. It was very shallow but I did get used to it pretty quickly. I'd have to try it a bit more to see how it would go long term though.

 

[The Phazer]

It's the worst input device Apple has ever made, by a significant margin.

Apple has always had people who will defend terrible input devices - Macrumors had years of people trying to defend the puck mouse - but it's indefensible.

 

[kpeex]

If anything, the only niggle is the arrow keys, but the line in-between the up/down keys provides enough guidance to discern left/right.

The full-sized right and left arrow keys are my only complaint about the keyboard, also. I just can't seem to get a feeling for them.

 

[alphaod]

Personally love the keyboard. It actually feels like typing on my buckling spring keyboard which says something. They're both very loud and offer great tactile feedback.

I agree the arrow keys change is weird for me; not sure why they found it necessary to made the left/right keys match the size of the other keys instead of the up/down keys.

Also love the new trackpad. Grown accustomed to the all-around click-ability, on my older MacBook Pro I miss the feeling.


Anyways looks like we always have people who insist that people who have different opinions about a product are mindless fanboys or something.

Be careful with that....it's how I ended up married...

So you bought a wife while wasted huh?

 

[saifrc]

Apple has always had people who will defend terrible input devices - Macrumors had years of people trying to defend the puck mouse - but it's indefensible.

I really liked the puck mouse! I didn't need any indent to let me know where "up" was--I used it just fine

On the other hand, if your report is right: "It sounds really satisfying hearing the "click click click". It reminds me of a type writer."

That would be both an annoying and disturbing noise for many users in many different situations.


SSD-GUY's question in post 49 is therefore very to the point, and let me please repeat it, as nobody yet has answered it or commented on it:

"Would the noise/click be too loud for say, a lecture hall? As in whilst a lecture is going on, does the rMB make more noise than say a rMBP or MBA keyboard?"

Here's what I'll say about the sound of the keyboard: if you type on it as though you were typing on a regular laptop keyboard, or even a desktop keyboard, it'll be loud. Your fingers will make a sound like they're slapping a hard, flat surface that resonates. But as you learn to alter your force curve for depressing the keys, a few different things happen: it becomes marvelously comfortable to type on, and it becomes an order of magnitude quieter. Your fingertips learn to press just hard enough to "hear" (really "feel") the snappy response of the keys, while not really generating that much audible noise.

One additional detail: when typing on my lap, the keyboard is louder than when typing on a desk or table. I think a table dampens the sound, and provides more solid resistance, which also leads to more comfortable typing. I'm typing this in bed right now, and it's louder than when I was demonstrating the keyboard to my coworkers earlier today. Part of it is the environment, but part of it is definitely the fact that there's room around the device for sound to travel.

I'd say that there are no situations where the MacBook's keyboard, when used by a familiar user, would be any noisier than any other keyboard (important for lecture halls and conference rooms).

And it really is comfortable and fun to type on, unlike an unresponsive touch-sensitive keyboard (e.g., on-screen tablet keyboard). The sensation is like attempting to pop really weak bubble wrap with your finger tips, or like gently kneading air bubbles out of silly putty. I have yet to write a long report on the MacBook, but I'm honestly looking forward to it!

 

[Onofire]

I find the spacebar to be significantly louder than the rest of the keys. I can type fairly silently but there is a definite clunk for the space bar. I was in a meeting the other day, however, and afterwards I asked the person next to me if it was disruptive and he said he didn't notice.

My left command key is slightly more depressed than all the rest of the keys. I have an appointment with the Genius Bar on Thursday.

 

[ProwlingTiger]

I find the spacebar to be significantly louder than the rest of the keys. I can type fairly silently but there is a definite clunk for the space bar. I was in a meeting the other day, however, and afterwards I asked the person next to me if it was disruptive and he said he didn't notice.

My left command key is slightly more depressed than all the rest of the keys. I have an appointment with the Genius Bar on Thursday.

Strange, the spacebar on mine is noticeably quieter than the rest, not that they're loud though. Maybe I'm just pressing it different.

 

[Dayv]

The full-sized right and left arrow keys are my only complaint about the keyboard, also. I just can't seem to get a feeling for them.

Agreed. I think this change was unnecessary.