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Jacoblee23

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Nov 10, 2011
1,491
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I dig it. I can type insanely fast on it and the 2019 version especially feels great to me.
 
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For speed of typing and feel, I'm inclined to agree, but the jamming, mis-typing keys make me hate it.
 
Hated everything about the first version in the MBP, ended up growing to like the typing feel of the latest couple revisions. But the unreliability was an absolute deal breaker, had to replace 3 of them since the design was introduced.

So no, I appreciated the attempts to improve it but in the end the design was unredeemable, and Apple ended up admitting it.
 
I liked it from the start and each revision made it better to use IMO. Its quite a shock now to go back to a 12" MacBook though and feel just how little travel & feel there was in the start though.

We also only had one failure with those over 30+ laptops with butterfly keyboards, many of which were used outside with no protection.
 
I kind of like it and can type pretty fast on it. I've been using on a MacBook Air for 1.5 years and have had no issues.
 
I was able to type fast on it, once you get used to using it I found it ok. But I had two faulty keyboards, the r key on the 1st and then the space bar on the 2nd. When I went back to using something like the Microsoft Surface Keyboard I realised that was so more comfortable and satisfying to type on.
 
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I absolutely loved it - the scissor action keys are no where near as enjoyable to type on in comparrison - it's a shame they couldn't get the reliability right - though having said that I had 3 (perhaps 4?) Butterfly keyboard laptops and only the first one had issues. But obviously the fail rate was too high.

But from the moment I press that first key I was like "Yes, that is so satisfying"

Even a year now on the scissor key 16" and I type thing I think it's too lose and spongey but it's probably the best they can do with this mechanism.
 
My wife and I didn't have any problems on our 2017 MBPs. It took me FOREVER to get used to typing on it though. I couldn't use my mechanical keyboards while I had this MBP because the difference between the two were just too much. That said, once I learned to type without force, I could REALLY fly on the butterfly keyboard. My wife still has her 2017 MBP and uses hers daily for school (PhD) and has for years now with no issues.

My sister got a 2019 MBA and instantly started having duplicated keypresses and sticky keys. Apple offered to replace her keyboard if she wanted (she hasn't yet).

I got a 2020 MBP in October of last year and much prefer the new keyboard mostly because of sound. The butterfly keyboard is obnoxiously loud especially once it breaks in.
 
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Doesn't matter whether one likes it or not (and most folks didn't).
It was a disaster for Apple and now it's gone away.

I have no proof, but I sense the butterfly keyboard brouhaha is one of the main reasons Mr. Ive no longer is employed at Apple...
 
Further to my comment earlier, I do love the steady feel of the butterfly keys when they work, but I think it’s the size of the 12” MB that helps most. The 13” keyboard is so much harder to type fast on!
 
I like my butterfly keyboard on my 2017 MacBook Pro, but I'm getting it replaced this year because the space bar started making a sticking noise when the machine heats above 60 degrees celsius. Though, it's more so an excuse to get the battery and top case replaced as well for free, as the battery needs to be serviced. May as well get the battery replaced for free!
 
The keyboard is not just about typing long texts fast. It is also about shortcuts etc. Regardless of the reliability issues, I find both the butterfly keyboard and the touch bar of my MacBook Pro terrible in feel. And to think that Apple went to these from an industry-best scissor-switch mechanism - makes me mad even today. Glad they finally ditched the butterfly but the touch bar remains.
 
I like the butterfly keyboard and the Touch Bar on my 2018 MacBook Pro. Touch Bar is great for Logic Pro and start and stop and punch in when recording. Like it also for FCPX.
 
I think it’s ok, I have a 2017 MBP 15”. The noise is bothersome, mainly for others. I haven’t had a single mechanical issue though.
 
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i have a 2017 MBP.

the kb has already been replaced once. Lots of mechanical issues.
this is the last macOS product for me
 
I think it’s ok, I have a 2017 MBP 15”. The noise is bothersome, mainly for others. I haven’t had a single mechanical issue though.
Yeah I used mine for 29 months. My wife is using hers daily for her PhD - we both have had no issues. That said, we don't eat around it, or do things that maybe some others would do? I don't know. My sister got a 2019 Air and instantly started having problems. I don't think the heat helped the keyboard at all.

Yeah the noise was easily the biggest complaint especially for those of us who can type fast.
 
i have a 2017 MBP.

the kb has already been replaced once. Lots of mechanical issues.
this is the last macOS product for me
What brand/laptop are you looking at going to when this one kicks the bucket? Over the last year I looked at a dozen laptops and really didn't like what I saw, especially issues with overheating and amazingly the keyboards didn't feel all that great either. I ended up going with a 2020 MBP 13' and really like the new keyboard but I'm pretty engrained in the Apple eco-system as it is so leaving would be difficult.

I think the best laptop that caught my eye was the X1 Carbon - or anything in that lineup. Some of the more expensive Dell Precisions were nice but way beyond my price range.
 
I like the feel, and haven't had mechanical issues yet on my 2018 MacBook Air. It's a bit louder (or at least different) than the scissor switch keyboards, but it's also a lot less wobbly than those.
 
I don't and from what i READ about it, I am glad my 2015 MBP doesn't have this garbage keyboard and yes, its garbage.
 
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