Waiting for the 2018 MBP

[Poki]

Aren't Intel partnering with AMD to make Core chips with ATi graphics onboard?

According to the announcement, only for H-series chips, which are 45W TDP. The Intel - AMD - announcement opens some interesting possibilities for the next gen 15" MBP by either delivering better GPU performance, longer battery life or a cheaper entry level model with still nice GPU performance. However, it doesn't seem to be an option for the 13" MBP yet.

 

[pmau]

If Apple does not change the keyboard, no chips will help them ...

 

[turbineseaplane]

If Apple does not change the keyboard, no chips will help them ...

No kidding - I know many vehemently disagree with me about this, but when I'm at Best Buy and I bang around on a few of the newer keyboards....and then pop over to the MacBook Air's..

Man, call them squishy or mushy or whatever you want, but the old keyboards FEEL amazing to me.

Instantly relaxes my hand and the right amount of feel and feedback is there.
It's just a vastly better keyboard interaction to me (not to mention bulletproof reliable).

They really need to add in a bit more travel to the Butterfly while figuring out the reliability thing.

 

[gadgetfreaky]

For the keyboard people- there is def a percent of users that hate it- but the next evolution is likely that digital ink keyboard. they probably are not going back to 2014 or 2015.

 

[Naimfan]

For the keyboard people- there is def a percent of users that hate it- but the next evolution is likely that digital ink keyboard. they probably are not going back to 2014 or 2015.

Might well be true.

If it is, I'll most likely be done with Apple and have to switch to something with a physical keyboard.

 

[TheralSadurns]

Well, I don't have a new MBP... and I only TRIED the 2016/2017 models in the store. I could get used to them. Reliability is another topic though.

BUT... And I just wanna see whether we can find agreement here... what about the newer EXTERNAL keyboards? Like the one the iMac has etc. These seem to be the best of both worlds in a way... or would you disagree with this notion?

 

[ugru]

These seem to be the best of both worlds in a way... or would you disagree with this notion?

I would...Apple seems to be unwilling to do a wired and backlit keyboard and, for the life of me, I can’t understand why.

 

[Tensakun]

These seem to be the best of both worlds in a way... or would you disagree with this notion?

Not sure what you mean by "this notion," but if you mean using an external KB, I strongly disagree: I expect a quality laptop to have a reliable and comfortable KB for extensive typing. Aside from doing a huge portion of my work outside home/office, I don't want more junk cluttering my desks.

As for the first part of your post, I'm in complete agreement: reliability is priority #1; from several minutes typing in stores, I'm also confident I could easily get used to the 'feel' of the new KB, probably after a few days of heavy typing.

 

[TheralSadurns]

Not sure what you mean by "this notion," but if you mean using an external KB, I strongly disagree: I expect a quality laptop to have a reliable and comfortable KB for extensive typing. Aside from doing a huge portion of my work outside home/office, I don't want more junk cluttering my desks.

As for the first part of your post, I'm in complete agreement: reliability is priority #1; from several minutes typing in stores, I'm also confident I could easily get used to the 'feel' of the new KB, probably after a few days of heavy typing.

I do strongly NOT mean to use an external keyboard... I even LAUGH at all my coworkers who literally HAVE TO use external mice with their notebooks all the time because the trackpads are so crappy.

What I mean is:
Old MBP had good keyboard with a lot of travel, but were a bit... unstable.
New MB and MBP have unreliable keyboards with a new mechanism and almost no travel.
The current external keyboards have something of both. A little less travel than the old MBP, but more than the new one. They are reliable. And they are more stable. So why not use a keyboard LIKE this IN the new MBP.

 

[argentum47]

The current external keyboards have something of both. A little less travel than the old MBP, but more than the new one. They are reliable. And they are more stable. So why not use a keyboard LIKE this IN the new MBP.

Apple bylaw states that a newer product of the same line may be thinner but never thicker. /s

Seriously though, if they’re going through this much trouble with the reliability of MBP keyboards, that seems like the only explanation for not using what they already have.

 

[MBX]

If Apple does not change the keyboard, no chips will help them ...

What is it with people bitching about the new keyboards? Other than being too loud they're much better feeling and looking than old clunky ones. Some people are stuck in typewriter times of past decades. Move on finally. Soon the keyboard area will become touchscreen too.

 

[Hater]

What is it with people bitching about the new keyboards? Other than being too loud they're much better feeling and looking than old clunky ones. Some people are stuck in typewriter times of past decades. Move on finally. Soon the keyboard area will become touchscreen too.

The rise in popularity of the mechanical keyboard vehemently disagrees with you.

 

[cool11]

Please Apple, stop making it thinner....
It is very slim already, and we do not need any other related problems and loss in functionality....

 

[MBX]

The rise in popularity of the mechanical keyboard vehemently disagrees with you.

Yeah they are external keyboards mostly for gamers. Do you really want to see those clunky fat ugly keyboards on laptops? Geez. It would be like carrying around a typewriter from the 70's.

 

[Hater]

Yeah they are external keyboards mostly for gamers. Do you really want to see those clunky fat ugly keyboards on laptops? Geez. It would be like carrying around a typewriter from the 70's.

Have you ever used one, or have you ever had to type... anything, ever?

They're not mostly for gamers at all.

There are a few laptops with mechanical keyboards already and more to come.

 

[MBX]

Have you ever used one, or have you ever had to type... anything, ever?

They're not mostly for gamers at all.

There are a few laptops with mechanical keyboards already and more to come.

Mechanical keyboards, yikes. WTF. Move on to the present and future. Or stop using MBP's.

 

[Hater]

Mechanical keyboards, yikes. WTF. Move on to the present and future. Or stop using MBP's.

We've all stopped using MBP's, as soon as MacOS was able to be run reliably on ThinkPads and ZBooks. You know, laptops with actual keyboards which are used for doing actual work, not professional Facebook.

 

[c0ppo]

Yeah they are external keyboards mostly for gamers. Do you really want to see those clunky fat ugly keyboards on laptops? Geez. It would be like carrying around a typewriter from the 70's.

LOL

 

[simonmet]

Excuse my ignorance but isn’t any keyboard with moving parts mechanical, including Apple’s butterfly mechanism?

Is there some special meaning of “mechanical” in this context of which I’m not aware? If so, can’t they come up with a better name for it?

 

[TheralSadurns]

We've all stopped using MBP's, as soon as MacOS was able to be run reliably on ThinkPads and ZBooks. You know, laptops with actual keyboards which are used for doing actual work, not professional Facebook.

Even if they ran macOS... I'm pretty sure that I'd STILL not buy them... but YMMV.

 

[Hater]

Even if they ran macOS... I'm pretty sure that I'd STILL not buy them... but YMMV.

This is an Apple forum, unless you have a specific need for a business class computer, of course not. The newer ThinkPad keyboards suck too, but thankfully there still are options of the classic 'board if you want.

 

[Naimfan]

What is it with people bitching about the new keyboards? Other than being too loud they're much better feeling and looking than old clunky ones. Some people are stuck in typewriter times of past decades. Move on finally. Soon the keyboard area will become touchscreen too.

Much better feeling? Not.

They also often don't work. If that counts as "progress" for you, rock on.

 

[Mathias Denichi]

Excuse my ignorance but isn’t any keyboard with moving parts mechanical, including Apple’s butterfly mechanism?

Is there some special meaning of “mechanical” in this context of which I’m not aware? If so, can’t they come up with a better name for it?

Semantically yes, in branding, no. Mechanical keyboard, the better ones, often use mx cherry switches, and can changed out based on feedback preference. Red for gaming, Brown for typing, blue for in the middle etc.

While Apple keyboard is a mechanism, it’s a very uniform one size fits all compact keyboard. It is very un-ergonomic compared to a mechanical keyboard.
[doublepost=1510154596][/doublepost]

Mechanical keyboards, yikes. WTF. Move on to the present and future. Or stop using MBP's.

They are the future, and the most ergonomically and customizable keyboards on the market.

 

[spacebro]

Semantically yes, in branding, no. Mechanical keyboard, the better ones, often use mx cherry switches, and can changed out based on feedback preference. Red for gaming, Brown for typing, blue for in the middle etc.

While Apple keyboard is a mechanism, it’s a very uniform one size fits all compact keyboard. It is very un-ergonomic compared to a mechanical keyboard.
[doublepost=1510154596][/doublepost]
They are the future, and the most ergonomically and customizable keyboards on the market.

What is ergonomic about 1980s style dice size keys? 3 choices of keys isn't very many choices. Especially since 1 or 2 of them click so loud they are unusable. There just are not better keyboards than the apple keyboard. No other keyboard has 0.032" key pressing distance. If there are I would like to know.

 

[Ener Ji]

What is it with people bitching about the new keyboards? Other than being too loud they're much better feeling and looking than old clunky ones. Some people are stuck in typewriter times of past decades. Move on finally. Soon the keyboard area will become touchscreen too.

The main issue with the new keyboards is their long-term reliability. A tiny speck of dust is enough to affect the performance of a key, and the design of the keyboard makes it very difficult to clean.

The keyboard can't even be replaced individually, so a single speck of dirt that can't be dislodged by shaking the laptop or compressed air requires the entire top case to be replaced. It's a hassle while under warranty, and outside of warranty this would be hideously expensive.