Now that you mentioned it, I think that's part of the difference I mentioned earlier on my 2009 MBP versus the Apple external keyboard I have. My MBP does feel like the keys travel more or that it sinks deeper into the keyboard than my external keyboard. Between the two chiclet keyboards I definitely prefer my MBP more. It also has a softer cushy feel which I like also.
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Which is the best keyboard?
- Thread starter skaertus
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I´ve been using a 17" MBP for some years. The keyboard was and is great. However, I think the rMBP keyboard is even better. It is firmer and has a smoother touch at the same time It´s the best keyboard I´ve ever used. Lighting is better too, with less leakage and smoother scaling.
Do you really think so? I was under the impression that Apple wasn't paying too much attention to the quality of the keyboards as it did in the past...
Just got back from JR's in NYC..tried ALL keyboards!!
Went to JR's today in NYC to try out a few machines I have considered over the past month. Below are my impressions with a quick question for rMBP owners..
Also, as a former student that wrote a 200 page Masters dissertation on a 2008 pre-unibody 15" MBP, and then wrote a 400 page PhD dissertation on a 2011 13" MBP, my vote is for the pre-unibody 15" MBP keyboard, my WPM went down significantly on the newer MBP.
Dell Ultrabooks 13 and 14 XPS - So widely spaced with such little travel they are useless. I keep hoping they improve but am constantly disappointed....threw out a possible switch to either of these models from my 13" MBP in 2 seconds based solely on the keys themselves (look like dinner saucers) with terrible key press. Avoid at all costs....
Sony Z models - Wow....terrible keyboard!! Couldn't believe it esp. with the price.....has a built-in fingerprint reader built into the trackpad so don't expect a smooth scrolling experience. The keys on the keyboard were the closest to being completely "flush" with the machine itself...the worst of all i looked at.
Other Sony models with chiclet keyboards......still weird spacing between the keys, difficult for apple users to adjust to as keys are spaced more between one another.. just never got used to it trying to type a 1 page article.
ASUS Zen Primebooks - I was interested in the UX32VD-DB71 with the dedicated graphics and a full HD screen. Read about the keyboard flex before going into store, everything was confirmed with my first touch. Keys have very little travel and I consistently missed keys while typing for 10 mins or so. Disappointed at this was to be my MBA killer once upgraded (RAM and SSD).
Thinkpads - Went in to look at the T430 and T430s models and was actually surprised. I remember using the red button mouse in 2000 when i started college and they still rock... but i'm not a fan of those secondary trackpad mouse buttons that are BELOW the trackpad (don't mind those just above it). Was impressed with both the EDGE and T430 models with the chiklet keys. Nice travel and when typing a one page test article didn't miss a single stroke. I would highly recommend these keyboards, but as always, trying them out in the store before ordering where possible is your best bet.
2012 APPLE MBPs and rMBP - So i walk up to the apple section in JR's to play with the new rMBP, hoping to buy soon upon approval, but i was a bit disappointed with the travel on the keys...very little..... simply put, it was enough of a difference that i wish to pose the following question here......those of you blessed with the new rMBP...is it your impression the keys are less raised than those on the MBPs? I got that impression and it has left me wondering if i'll be looking only at regular MBPs from now on....loved the new slim body but would gladly trade the thinness for the regular MBP keyboard. Now i'm not sure how excited to be about the upcoming 13" rMBP as well if it means keyboard sacrifice...
So bottom line...among other reasons...I'm still buying apple laptops for the keyboards!
So what are your opinions on the new keys on the rMBP....do you notice a difference after using it for say a week or is that a quick adjustment for MBP users....and those keys do have a bit less travel, no?
Went to JR's today in NYC to try out a few machines I have considered over the past month. Below are my impressions with a quick question for rMBP owners..
Also, as a former student that wrote a 200 page Masters dissertation on a 2008 pre-unibody 15" MBP, and then wrote a 400 page PhD dissertation on a 2011 13" MBP, my vote is for the pre-unibody 15" MBP keyboard, my WPM went down significantly on the newer MBP.
Dell Ultrabooks 13 and 14 XPS - So widely spaced with such little travel they are useless. I keep hoping they improve but am constantly disappointed....threw out a possible switch to either of these models from my 13" MBP in 2 seconds based solely on the keys themselves (look like dinner saucers) with terrible key press. Avoid at all costs....
Sony Z models - Wow....terrible keyboard!! Couldn't believe it esp. with the price.....has a built-in fingerprint reader built into the trackpad so don't expect a smooth scrolling experience. The keys on the keyboard were the closest to being completely "flush" with the machine itself...the worst of all i looked at.
Other Sony models with chiclet keyboards......still weird spacing between the keys, difficult for apple users to adjust to as keys are spaced more between one another.. just never got used to it trying to type a 1 page article.
ASUS Zen Primebooks - I was interested in the UX32VD-DB71 with the dedicated graphics and a full HD screen. Read about the keyboard flex before going into store, everything was confirmed with my first touch. Keys have very little travel and I consistently missed keys while typing for 10 mins or so. Disappointed at this was to be my MBA killer once upgraded (RAM and SSD).
Thinkpads - Went in to look at the T430 and T430s models and was actually surprised. I remember using the red button mouse in 2000 when i started college and they still rock... but i'm not a fan of those secondary trackpad mouse buttons that are BELOW the trackpad (don't mind those just above it). Was impressed with both the EDGE and T430 models with the chiklet keys. Nice travel and when typing a one page test article didn't miss a single stroke. I would highly recommend these keyboards, but as always, trying them out in the store before ordering where possible is your best bet.
2012 APPLE MBPs and rMBP - So i walk up to the apple section in JR's to play with the new rMBP, hoping to buy soon upon approval, but i was a bit disappointed with the travel on the keys...very little..... simply put, it was enough of a difference that i wish to pose the following question here......those of you blessed with the new rMBP...is it your impression the keys are less raised than those on the MBPs? I got that impression and it has left me wondering if i'll be looking only at regular MBPs from now on....loved the new slim body but would gladly trade the thinness for the regular MBP keyboard. Now i'm not sure how excited to be about the upcoming 13" rMBP as well if it means keyboard sacrifice...
So bottom line...among other reasons...I'm still buying apple laptops for the keyboards!
So what are your opinions on the new keys on the rMBP....do you notice a difference after using it for say a week or is that a quick adjustment for MBP users....and those keys do have a bit less travel, no?
Great analysis you have done here.
Actually, I am struggling to finish my PhD thesis, and that's why I am so interested in keyboards. That makes a huge difference.
I also found Dell ultrabooks to have little key travel. Definitely less than Dell's traditional models. However, I also think that Dell ultrabooks have a better key travel than most ultrabooks out there - they all have too little key travel.
I also found the keyboard in the Sony Vaio Z disappointing. Too little key travel. I would definitely expect something better for the price.
They are not the same. The keyboard in Sony Vaio S is much better than the one in Sony Vaio Z. However, although much better, it is not perfect. Actually, I found the keyboard in the buget Sony Vaio E to be the best of all Vaio models. This is a heavier laptop, and Sony didn't try to reduce the size of the keys. As a result, the budget model has better keyboard than the higher-end ones, at least in my opinion. Go figure out.
I have not yet tested the Zenbook Prime. They are not yet for sale here in Brazil. However, I've tested the keyboard in the first generation Zenbook and it is useless. Perhaps the worst keyboard in all ultrabooks. It's a real pity, because it also has the best screen. I thought the keyboards in the Zenbook Prime were much better.
There's a long time I don't test a ThinkPad. Not easy to find one for sale around here. They are highly regarded as having the best keyboards of all laptops.
I've tested the IdeaPad, though. They are definitely much better than most laptops. The same key format of the ThinkPads seems to be applied to the IdeaPads. But I've read reviews saying that the keyboards in ThinkPads were even better than the ones found in IdeaPads. Have you tested it? Is that so?
In fact, I have the same feeling. I went to a store nearby, and I tested both the 15-inch MacBook Pro and the 15-inch MacBook Pro with a retina display. The 15-inch MacBook Pro with a retina display indeed is less raised and has less key travel than the standard MacBook Pro. That was disappointing. I feel Apple is not paying enough attention to the quality of its keyboards.
Or not buying them...
Well, as I said, there is definitely a difference. I don't own a retina MacBook Pro, but the keyboard is noticeable different. I guess that you may even get used to it, but if you ever go back to a previous model, you will feel the huge difference between them.
To me the chiclet keyboards are not good. I have two laptops with them, and I am just not a big fan of them - probably the least favorite on the keyboards I have.
I would say the classic ThinkPad (before they went chiclet) is the best one on a notebook, with the original MacBook Pro (pre-unibody) being a close second. On desktops, the Model M is the best (I have three of them).
I would say the classic ThinkPad (before they went chiclet) is the best one on a notebook, with the original MacBook Pro (pre-unibody) being a close second. On desktops, the Model M is the best (I have three of them).
MBP. I'm not sure what it is, but the keyboard on my 15" MacBook Pro is phenominal! It types like butter (teehee!) 
I can type faster on my 15" MBP than I could on my 2007 13" MacBook.
I can type faster on my 15" MBP than I could on my 2007 13" MacBook.Then you should be in trouble, because I don't think there are too many non-chicklet keyboards left...
I have read some good reviews on the Filco Majestouch Ninja 2, however I'm currently using a Razer Blackwidow Ultimate and it feels nice to type on, but it's just a little loud... I have 30 days to return and think I might and try something different..
there are times i really dig the tactical feel and sound of the blue switch. but everytime i bring it out to the public library and type with it, people start to turn their head and look with sympathy and disbelief. its like having that ugly child that you love so much.
maybe i'll get the red switch to try out. if i like it better, i'll sell the blue. but i'm sure going to miss the tactical feel.
The Pro with Retina is the one that I prefer. Its got a more room for my hands unlike the 13" Pro.
But the keyboard is not larger, is it? And what about the 15" Pro (non retina)?
I think the 13" keyboard is the same size. The 13" overall size is smaller so there is less room to rest a person's arm and hand on the surrounding areas. I think that's what iFanboy2015 meant.
Keyboards are of HUGE importance to me. I have literally never felt comfortable typing on a laptop keyboard before, and it's the main reason I was a desktop fanatic. After snaggin my first Macbook Pro tho I haven't even looked at desktop computers since...it's so amazingly comfortable to type on. I used to mistype all the time on laptops, but haven't since the MBP
Keyboards are of HUGE importance to me. I have literally never felt comfortable typing on a laptop keyboard before, and it's the main reason I was a desktop fanatic. After snaggin my first Macbook Pro tho I haven't even looked at desktop computers since...it's so amazingly comfortable to type on. I used to mistype all the time on laptops, but haven't since the MBP
What about the ThinkPads? Have you tried them?
The classic Pro one for me...
The early white MacBook's keyboard is too rattly for me, the air/retina pro's too shallow. There is a difference.
I prefer my external white keyboard by the way but it's almost the same as the classic Pro's.
Edit: And indeed I used to have a PowerBook G4 and its keyboard was brilliant. But I never owned a chicklet style keyboard until way after I sold the G4 so I never got to compare them within a reasonable timeframe. I think I'd still bet on the classic Pro, otherwise it's too hypothetical for me anyway.
By the way, I also work with a Thinkpad often and its keys are useless, I always manage to snag my skin on the sharp sides of them. Good feel though. My work laptop is an HP chicklet style and it's actually nearly as good as the pro's.
The early white MacBook's keyboard is too rattly for me, the air/retina pro's too shallow. There is a difference.
I prefer my external white keyboard by the way but it's almost the same as the classic Pro's.
Edit: And indeed I used to have a PowerBook G4 and its keyboard was brilliant. But I never owned a chicklet style keyboard until way after I sold the G4 so I never got to compare them within a reasonable timeframe. I think I'd still bet on the classic Pro, otherwise it's too hypothetical for me anyway.
By the way, I also work with a Thinkpad often and its keys are useless, I always manage to snag my skin on the sharp sides of them. Good feel though. My work laptop is an HP chicklet style and it's actually nearly as good as the pro's.
I still have my PowerBook G4 and think it's better whenever I use. If only the G4 was fast enough and if developers were still making more PowerPC apps then I could still use it as my main computer. I'm curious to know why Apple decided to go with chicklet keyboards. I don't hate them, but I've noticed that I can type faster on the G4. It's also a more comfortable keyboard in my opinion.