Waiting for Skylake MBP thread

[Bryan Bowler]

I was thinking that if the first firmware of magic toolbar is bugged or something related to any software bug so we will have a lot of issues to use our new MBP... Hope the Apple QA is working hard.

Do you really think Apple is going to release a MT that is not going to have a normal mode that works with the normal function key programming? Good grief. I can't believe the things people worry about here.

 

[JMac1996]

Apple, you're getting rid of the wrong key, it's Caps Lock you want not Escape ffs!

For what reason you're against Caps Lock?

 

[Bryan Bowler]

I work in linux terminals all day long, I need my ESC key, where is my ESC key?

As has already been stated, many times over, you can reprogram a number of other physical keys to be your escape key.

 

[KirekkusuPT]

For what reason you're against Caps Lock?

Because you can Shift + Anything to use capps. Or they could make like Android/iOS, double tap shift to "lock caps".

Caps doesnt bring any other shorcuts either, so it's a mostly useless key. I only press it when I do it by mistake.

 

[JMac1996]

Because you can Shift + Anything to use capps. Or they could make like Android/iOS, double tap shift to "lock caps".

Caps doesnt bring any other shorcuts either, so it's a mostly useless key. I only press it when I do it by mistake.

Oh my god i agree.
Just thought about it again. That's really a useless key.
But now i am interested why we have this key on all standard layouts. There has to be a good reason right?

 

[kattskrall]

As has already been stated, many times over, you can reprogram a number of other physical keys to be your escape key.

I doubt most people know how or want to do that

 

[Janichsan]

But does it look like a Butterfly Mechansim keyboard to you guys from the leaks ?

Absolutely.

 

[maflynn]

Apple, you're getting rid of the wrong key, it's Caps Lock you want not Escape ffs!

I use the caps lock enough, that I think I'd be bummed if they got rid of it. FWIW, I use the escape key even more, so go figure

 

[KirekkusuPT]

Oh my god i agree.
Just thought about it again. That's really a useless key.
But now i am interested why we have this key on all standard layouts. There has to be a good reason right?

I think it's only because of legacy.

Old keyboards probably didn't register key presses so well so relying on something like "double pressing shift to lock caps" wouldn't be as reliable.

Also, OS's have to be coded for that. I still remember the times from windows XP where you would press shift 5 times or long press it for 8 seconds and it would start making crazy sounds and locking things up (happened a lot during gaming).

But yeah if the standards changed defo the Caps Lock should be removed.

 

[Janichsan]

Guys from the images leaked yesterday does it look for sure a Butterfly Mechanism Keyboard ? I don't know how will I welcome it or if I will welcome it or not. I have mixed feelings about it.

It's worth repeating: the mechanism is not the problem, the key travel is. It's perfectly possible that Apple builds a butterfly mechanism keyboard with a similar key travel as the current rMBPs. That would be absolutely fine.

If they on the other hand use a keyboard with the same minimal key travel as the rMB, it will suck.

 

[senthor]

Oh my god i agree.
Just thought about it again. That's really a useless key.
But now i am interested why we have this key on all standard layouts. There has to be a good reason right?

Because of:

Also, there's an option to use Caps Lock to change keyboard layouts, which is super handy if you use to type in Roman and non-Roman layouts.

(Use caps lock to change between Korean and German layouts / hold caps lock to write in caps)

 

[maflynn]

Because of:

I remember as a kid using old mechanical (non electric) typewriters and having having those keys

 

[frankgrimes]

It's worth repeating: the mechanism is not the problem, the key travel is. It's perfectly possible that Apple builds a butterfly mechanism keyboard with a similar key travel as the current rMBPs. That would be absolutely fine.

If they on the other hand use a keyboard with the same minimal key travel as the rMB, it will suck.

Exactly, the rMB -key travel- for me sucks, I can't type fast on that thing and it's almost like no feedback at all. As someone who is typing on MX black switches I want and need some feedback in order to type fast and reliable. I know, that's not possible on an ultrabook but still there are some great notebook keyboards andthe MBP is one of them, so why change that?

Apple can use the Butterfly mechanism if they want to but the MBP is supposed to be thicker, more premium built and should be able to have spot some serious nicely done key travel. There is absolutely no excuse for this not to happen, especially given the fact that others are catching up in terms of type comfort.

 

[onVacation]

I really hope the new butterfly keyboard brings some major improvements.

I know quite a few people who own the 12" Macbook and all of them had to get the keyboard exchanged at least once, because multiple keys got stuck.

 

[KirekkusuPT]

It's worth repeating: the mechanism is not the problem, the key travel is. It's perfectly possible that Apple builds a butterfly mechanism keyboard with a similar key travel as the current rMBPs. That would be absolutely fine.

If they on the other hand use a keyboard with the same minimal key travel as the rMB, it will suck.

Yes!

The low key travel on the Macbook is to achieve it's thinness. Since the Pro's will always be thicker because they need active cooling there is no reason to keep the key travel that low.

Because if we have more key travel, the mechanism in itself it's actually way better than what we have currently, because keys are a lot less wobly

 

[frankgrimes]

I really hope the new butterfly keyboard brings some major improvements.

I know quite a few people who own the 12" Macbook and all of them had to get the keyboard exchanged at least once, because multiple keys got stuck.

Sorry for being a bit harsh, but personally I would be furious if that happens. The rMB (given Saturn, Media Markt) here is more expensive than the 13'inch MBP base modell and yet has those kinds of problems? Wow but it makes sense, less key travel = more bottoming out = more "stress" for the keys I guess.

 

[a_coorn]

One positive thing about the Butterfly Mechanism Keyboard is that it may leave more room for a decent cooling of the CPU and dGPU since they are soooo obsessed with thin. I would assume that this is version two of the Butterfly Mechanism Keyboard with a bit more travel since this is a Pro laptop after all.

I remain on a positive note about this.

My hope is for that too, but they may've made the new MBP so thin that they have exactly the same or even slightly less space, I hope not.

 

[maflynn]

My hope is for that too, but they may've made the new MBP so thin that they have exactly the same or even slightly less space, I hope not.

Agreed, I don't see Apple making the new keyboard with increased key travel. They're going to keep it exactly the same. I think it goes with their design philosophy in that it will be consistent across their computer lines.

 

[absofind]

Does anyone know if you can apply the education discount if you buy from Best Buy? Just wondering, because I have a BB gift card sitting around and would like to use it if I could. I'd rather take the education discount if it's going to be one or the other though.

 

[CreativeC]

Agreed, I don't see Apple making the new keyboard with increased key travel. They're going to keep it exactly the same. I think it goes with their design philosophy in that it will be consistent across their computer lines.

Well, if it ends up sucking that much I'll just return it and look for something else to use my money on... although that would be a shame...

 

[Macintosh IIcx]

My hope is for that too, but they may've made the new MBP so thin that they have exactly the same or even slightly less space, I hope not.

Yeah, I have the exact same worry. Sometimes I wish that Jonathan Ive would be obsessed with getting thinner himself instead of trying to get particularly the MacBook Pro more thin!

 

[Hyloba]

Well, if it ends up sucking that much I'll just return it and look for something else to use my money on... although that would be a shame...

I agree with this. The keyboard is fine for the Macbook, you buy that as a tablet replacement or light-use device. The Macbook Pro is different, it is a work house and you will spend more time with it, it needs better and comfortable keys. However I do think they will have a longer travel time, despite it looking the same.

 

[frankgrimes]

Yeah, I have the exact same worry. Sometimes I wish that Jonathan Ive would be obsessed with loosing hes own weight instead of that of the Apple products, particularly the MacBook Pro!

I highly doubt that. What would be the point of the MBP then? This machine is not about being as fancy, thin as possible it's about performance to get stuff done. I'd rather have a thicker MBP with more battery life, and even better KB, more slots than a fancy ultra thin wanna be MBP but that may be just me.

 

[onVacation]

Sorry for being a bit harsh, but personally I would be furious if that happens. The rMB (given Saturn, Media Markt) here is more expensive than the 13'inch MBP base modell and yet has those kinds of problems? Wow but it makes sense, less key travel = more bottoming out = more "stress" for the keys I guess.

Yep, is does make sense. And unfortunately this seems to be a known problem as all their keyboard were exchanged without a problem.

However, I know 6 people who own a rMB. All of them had the keyboard exchanged at least once, 2 people even have the 3rd keyboard and one unlucky guy has the 4th keyboard.

In the end, it's just a matter of time until the keys get stuck after the warranty period and that's the point where it gets not only annoying, but also expensive.

Apple even made a guide on how to clean this keyboard with canned air, but that didn't seem to help for any rMB owners I know.


If they just put the same keyboard in the new rMBP, I'm not buying it, no matter how good the rest of it is.

 

[frankgrimes]

Yep, is does make sense. And unfortunately this seems to be a known problem as all their keyboard were exchanged without a problem.

However, I know 6 people who own a rMB. All of them had the keyboard exchanged at least once, 2 people even have the 3rd keyboard and one unlucky guy has the 4th keyboard.

In the end, it's just a matter of time until the keys get stuck after the warranty period and that's the point where it gets not only annoying, but also expensive.

Apple even made a guide on how to clean this keyboard with canned air, but that didn't seem to help for any rMB owners I know.


If they just put the same keyboard in the new rMBP, I'm not buying it, no matter how good the rest of it is.

Thanks for clarification that's horrible at least they've exchanged it I guess but man that's not a good QA. Jobs himself would have been furious with problems like that and maybe fired the guys responsible for that.

To me a keyboard is an essential part of any device and if it's not well done no matter how good the other stuff is I won't be interested in it if it's well done, especially at a premium pricetag.