What are they doing about MBP Keyboard?? I’m 1 month out of warranty

[lpolarityl]

I've had my 2017 MBP 15" since December 2017. I don't eat at my computer area so I've never had issues with food getting lodged in keys or anything like that. After reading all these keyboard issues I always make sure to clean up the keyboard at least once a week. I use a foam based Alcohol free glass cleaner. I lightly spray it on a microfiber towel, then I wipe the keyboard down. I do the same with the screen if it needs cleaned. No issues so far, I use the MBP daily. I do the same with our old 2012 13" MacBook Pro which our kids use a few times a week (That thing is a tank though, I never worry about it).

 

[Closingracer]

The butterfly mechanism keyboard failures on the rMB and MBP are pretty much legendary at this point. It’s been going on since the 2015 rMB was released, so Apple has had almost 3 years to fix it. If Apple is committed to this design for future laptops, I might be done buying MacBooks.

I can get by with a Mac Mini (if they ever update it) for my home office and an iPad for mobile, but for a lot of folks, that won’t work...which is unfortunate.

Legendary how? No mainstream tech website is reporting it in mass and its only on places like here is where you're hearing about it. My 9 month old MacBook Pro 2017 15 inch model still works like brand new.

 

[glhiii]

Ok great info. I’ll let you know what happens.

Technically out of warranty, yes. However, they are selling faulty products and they may find its on them. A letter to the local large newspaper would rectify the issue. I’m sure.

At least if they worked with me, I mean $478 isn’t absolutely terrible, but it’s a lot. Imagine a 1 year old $40,000 car, that needed a $10,000 repair, not covered by warranty.

Sell the new MBP and get a 2015 machine on eBay. I bought a maxed out 13" 2015 MBP for about $1k and am very happy with it. Beyond the keyboard and the ports, the 2015 machine has the advantage of allowing you to easily upgrade the ssd. Fantastic machine, with several years of development and fixing problems before the 2015 version.

 

[JohnnyWmac]

Use chat support and have it escalated if they don't cover it. Be nice and explain your problem and how this is a defect. It sucks how Apple's product quality has decreased even though its price has increased so much. It is becoming the new FCA brand, and Apple will probably not own up to this mistake. I wish you the best of luck and be persistent if you keep visiting the apple store and using chat and phone support they might hopefully cave in and replace your machine. Reading the threads on this forum make me glad I didn't trade in my 2015 15" for such an unreliable and expensive laptop.

Ecxecellent Response. I’ll filllow that to the T. Even though my T key hardly works!!
[doublepost=1520617282][/doublepost]

Sell the new MBP and get a 2015 machine on eBay. I bought a maxed out 13" 2015 MBP for about $1k and am very happy with it. Beyond the keyboard and the ports, the 2015 machine has the advantage of allowing you to easily upgrade the ssd. Fantastic machine, with several years of development and fixing problems before the 2015 version.

I was thinking of selling it ‘as is’ on EBay and buying something else that I could put AppleCare on. I’ll have to check completed auctions to see how much I can get for it. I can by a Apple Refurbished on refurbme at a good price and put AppleCare on that.

The other thing I forgot was that buying AppleCare 3rd Party or from reputable eBay seller can save a ton of money.

Great response thanks.

 

[Natzoo]

the 2015 machine has the advantage of allowing you to easily upgrade the ssd

I have a 512 SSD on my 2015 15", how can I upgrade this on my own? I want to add a windows partition so I want to do 500 on each partition. I would upgrade to the 2017 model but that's clearly a downgrade.

 

[Beachguy]

First, a painful chastisement- I agree with Apple and not repairing it under a warranty that was expired. You had all that time to buy AppleCare, but did not. There's not much of a defense you have to make it seem unfair. We've all gotten caught in those situation of "but it only expired a week ago." The key word- "expired"...

Second, a suggestion which may or may not be practical. Actually, two suggestions. First is to buy a dead machine online and have the guts of your Mac moved into the dead one's case. Or, second, buy an external Mac keyboard. Those may not be as pleasant as getting it fixed free, but you are likely stuck with those two options.

I did find a couple of "as-is" ones on eBay with a quick search. Decide which works best for you, or pay to let Apple repair it. By the way, in spite of my opening comments, I DO sympathize. I've been there myself.

 

[Closingracer]

I have a 512 SSD on my 2015 15", how can I upgrade this on my own? I want to add a windows partition so I want to do 500 on each partition. I would upgrade to the 2017 model but that's clearly a downgrade.

You'll need to find a SSD from another Mac to do it no? Thought that was how

 

[raqball]

You'll need to find a SSD from another Mac to do it no? Thought that was how

You can buy them but they are crazy expensive...

https://eshop.macsales.com/shop/ssd/owc/macbook-pro-retina-display/2013-2014-2015

 

[Wags]

You're right, several folks have recently reported different figures. I wonder if Apple decided to lower the price. I wish I could provide some evidence myself, but I got my top case swapped for free in Japan, and the statement they gave me there doesn't report any amount. It still doesn't come cheap, though.

Cheaper for ntb13 vs all others ?

 

[JohnnyWmac]

In responses to keeping the keys clean or blowing air in there, the spots under the keys are spotless. I pried up several with a credit card. Glowingly perfect. There’s no dust crumbs or anything else.

This computer has the use on it of a 2 month old machine. I use an iPad and my 8 Plus to do all my daily tasks. Besides watching movies, I didn’t have a chance to get back into my photography and video work again with the new Pro.

I put 7 years on my 2007 15” Pro and never cleaned the keyboard once. I put it through grueling workloads that had running hot for 14 hours at a time. I smoked (since quit), dropped it on cement floors, spilled small amounts of liquids on it. It wouldn’t quit. I sold it for $250 six months ago.

I went to a 2014 15” but hated to carry it around, so I jumped to the new one.

 

[turbineseaplane]

So is the Apple we're dealing with now? If so I'm really disappointed.

That's without question the biggest disappointment.

They've seemingly abandoned the amazing customer support and demeanor that endeared them to so many of us and made us fiercely loyal.

I now feel like I'm dealing with a mostly the same as everyone else mega corp.

 

[gobikerider]

That's without question the biggest disappointment.

They've seemingly abandoned the amazing customer support and demeanor that endeared them to so many of us and made us fiercely loyal.

I now feel like I'm dealing with a mostly the same as everyone else mega corp.

*me even hearing all the issues I may have just bought a 13” Pro with TB...its my guilty pleasure but the keyboard issues among others have me marking the return period on a calendar. Especially with 2018 models essentially around the corner.

 

[jerryk]

You'll need to find a SSD from another Mac to do it no? Thought that was how

There are other options.

This thread goes in details on 3rd party adapters and SSDs that work with each specific model.

https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...ssd-to-m-2-nvme.2034976/page-41#post-25879246

 

[tkermit]

First, a painful chastisement- I agree with Apple and not repairing it under a warranty that was expired. You had all that time to buy AppleCare, but did not. There's not much of a defense you have to make it seem unfair.

It's Apple's responsibility to fix it regardless of warranty status, considering it's a manufacturing defect / design flaw with the machine. What a ridiculous situation this is. I'm doing my best to dissuade people from buying Apple laptops until Apple resolves this issue or is forced to instate a quality program as they did for the screen coating issue.

 

[senttoschool]

I bought the 13" 2016 nTB as soon as it came out. The space bar key got stuck and was hard to type on by the 3rd day. I returned the machine and bought a new 2015 13". Very happy with the decision.

Apple f'd up.

 

[Beachguy]

It's Apple's responsibility to fix it regardless of warranty status, considering it's a manufacturing defect / design flaw with the machine. What a ridiculous situation this is. I'm doing my best to dissuade people from buying Apple laptops until Apple resolves this issue or is forced to instate a quality program as they did for the screen coating issue.

Good luck with that. Show where Apple has been judged to have such a flaw. I don't know where you are, but in the USA, they don't have a responsibility to fix it when it has passed out of warranty. And I've seen nothing to indicate it is a design flaw/defect. I don't like the keyboard, and don't much like Apple the company, but what you're saying is off target by far.

 

[senttoschool]

Good luck with that. Show where Apple has been judged to have such a flaw. I don't know where you are, but in the USA, they don't have a responsibility to fix it when it has passed out of warranty. And I've seen nothing to indicate it is a design flaw/defect. I don't like the keyboard, and don't much like Apple the company, but what you're saying is off target by far.

It's not off target. Apple has fixed technical flaws for out of period products for free such as the iPhone 6/6S battery (not same as recent battery scandal).

 

[Beachguy]

It's not off target. Apple has fixed technical flaws for out of period products for free such as the iPhone 6/6S battery (not same as recent battery scandal).

Yes, they have. But they are not under any obligation.

 

[senttoschool]

Yes, they have. But they are not under any obligation.

We know that which is why people are talking about getting the media involved.

 

[groove-agent]

Someone needs to start a class action lawsuit on this issue ... seriously. Then and only THEN, will Apple do something about it.

I'm hoping Apple is simply trying to come up with a solution. However to ask people to pay $700 for a repair while they're working on it doesn't seem very fair. I hate to say it but I suspect that they're just going to engineer a new design on a new MBP and just wait for everyone's 2017/2018 warranty to run out.

Designing a faulty, failure-prone keyboard that potentially can't handle dust, debris, or heat as a result of an unwarranted desire for thinness is Apple's fault - plain and simple.

The only onus on the consumer is buying this MBP without researching first (caveat emptor). I can't really blame them however, as they're trapped in the Apple ecosystem and if you need a contemporary laptop, you really either have to take your chances, or switch back to windows.

 

[Sterkenburg]

Cheaper for ntb13 vs all others ?

Might be, the TB is also attached to the top case and I wouldn't be surprised if Apple is charging an additional $200+ to replace it, that would explain the difference.

 

[Beachguy]

We know that which is why people are talking about getting the media involved.

This is a better idea. As I had said, don't mistake my views about this from a practical standpoint with my not sympathizing with the OP. I wouldn't touch a Mac with the butterfly keyboard. I am simply a pragmatist and look at things through that filter.

Personally, I wish Cook would fold his tent and go away. What in the world was Jobs thinking to designate him as his successor?

 

[JohnnyWmac]

Someone needs to start a class action lawsuit

Designing a faulty, failure-prone keyboard that potentially can't handle dust, debris, or heat as a result of an unwarranted desire for thinness is Apple's fault - plain and simple.

The only onus on the consumer is buying this MBP without researching first (caveat emptor). I can't really blame them however, as they're trapped in the Apple ecosystem and if you need a contemporary laptop, you really either have to take your chances, or switch back to windows.

Exactly.

And the person on here who says this is my fault and contacting the media would do nothing and blah blah, just go somewhere else. You aren’t helpful and that’s what these forums are for.
[doublepost=1520960945][/doublepost]SITUATION RESOLUTION AS IT STANDS:

I went to Apple and met with a nice young lady. I am exhausted with whatever nasty cold is going around so I didn’t feel like putting up a big fight.

She noticed immediately and admitted the ongoing issue.

$475 total. New Upper Case with keyboard, trackpad, new battery, cleaning, wipe/ Turnaround 3-5 days (which always turns out to be 3).

She said after that to be careful and that I could come in as frequently as I want and they’ll make sure nothing builds up. I was too sick and beat to say, ‘yeah, but why am I paying for this at all?’ The Keyboard is still useable so that would not have flown too well. I was expecting $750. Admittedly I was watching movies and eating all the time!!

She cleaned it out and it was better. She said to give that a go, but the T is always going to be tough. I said, listen, ‘I just never want to think about this again. It’s ticking me off.’ She said, ‘do you want to do the replacement? It’s your choice.’ I said ‘Do it!!’

She noted the computer is in excellent shape. And that the keys we’re sticking and some not working. That gives me some evidence in case I want to call anyone about this.

This will not prevent me from taking it to higher levels at AppleCare. Maybe they’ll throw me a bone. And don’t say ‘No they won’t!’ Because you don’t know me or how to manipulate the system if that’s you’re go-to.

It’s off my mind. It’s worth it to have that computer for a long time now. Also for all intents, I can sell it on eBay and upgrade to an Apple Refurbished for a few bucks.

 

[Hand_Model]

Does your credit card offer extended warranty protection? My chase card offers 2 year protection on computer repairs up to $500. I'm attempting to get my keyboard replacement approved.

 

[Wags]

Exactly.

And the person on here who says this is my fault and contacting the media would do nothing and blah blah, just go somewhere else. You aren’t helpful and that’s what these forums are for.
[doublepost=1520960945][/doublepost]SITUATION RESOLUTION AS IT STANDS:

I went to Apple and met with a nice young lady. I am exhausted with whatever nasty cold is going around so I didn’t feel like putting up a big fight.

She noticed immediately and admitted the ongoing issue.

$475 total. New Upper Case with keyboard, trackpad, new battery, cleaning, wipe/ Turnaround 3-5 days (which always turns out to be 3).

She said after that to be careful and that I could come in as frequently as I want and they’ll make sure nothing builds up. I was too sick and beat to say, ‘yeah, but why am I paying for this at all?’ The Keyboard is still useable so that would not have flown too well. I was expecting $750. Admittedly I was watching movies and eating all the time!!

She cleaned it out and it was better. She said to give that a go, but the T is always going to be tough. I said, listen, ‘I just never want to think about this again. It’s ticking me off.’ She said, ‘do you want to do the replacement? It’s your choice.’ I said ‘Do it!!’

She noted the computer is in excellent shape. And that the keys we’re sticking and some not working. That gives me some evidence in case I want to call anyone about this.

This will not prevent me from taking it to higher levels at AppleCare. Maybe they’ll throw me a bone. And don’t say ‘No they won’t!’ Because you don’t know me or how to manipulate the system if that’s you’re go-to.

It’s off my mind. It’s worth it to have that computer for a long time now. Also for all intents, I can sell it on eBay and upgrade to an Apple Refurbished for a few bucks.

At least admitted there is a problem. People have babied their laptops and still had problems.