Apple Won't Replace Faulty MacBook Pro Keyboards With Third-Gen Components (macrumors.com)

After determining that a "small percentage" of 2015-2017 MacBook and MacBook Pro keyboards may experience sticky keys, Apple initiated a Keyboard Service Program. The company has been servicing affected keyboards for free, but the fix doesn't guarantee the problem won't emerge again. The new 2018 MacBook Pros feature third-generation keyboards that are intended to prevent the keys from getting stuck. "For this reason, some customers have been hoping that Apple will start swapping out second-generation keyboards with third-generation keyboards, as part of its service program, but MacRumors has learned that isn't the plan." From the report: When asked if Apple Stores and Apple Authorized Service Providers will be permitted to replace second-generation keyboards on 2016 and 2017 MacBook Pro models with the new third-generation keyboards, if necessary, Apple said, no, the third-generation keyboards are exclusive to the 2018 MacBook Pro. Hopefully, in that case, it means that Apple has quietly tweaked the second-generation keyboard to be more reliable. It wouldn't really make sense for Apple to replace keyboards with ones that are just as prone to break again, especially if the third-generation keyboards offer a fix.

One possibility is that the third-generation keyboards aren't backwards compatible with 2016 and 2017 MacBook Pro models to begin with. The keyboard is actually one part of a larger component called the "top case," which also has a glued-in battery, and the internal design could be tweaked in 2018 models.

Comments

Score one...

[b0s0z0ku]

Score one for crappy, non-modular design -- engineering by artistes, not engineers. I'll stick with my 12" Thinkpad, where swapping a keyboard is one connector and a few screws. Swollen battery? Press two latches, pull out the old battery. Click! Clack! New battery! So easy. More RAM? You get the idea. It can even run MacOS/OS X... The only downside is that it's a few mm thicker, but at least it won't bend like cardboard at the slightest provocation.

Re:Score one...

[Rockoon]

I dont understand the desire for the "apple experience." Seems like a whole lot of downside for very little upside.

Re:Score one...

[Anonymous Coward]

I dont understand the desire for the "apple experience." Seems like a whole lot of downside for very little upside.

I joined the Apple experience after they switched to Intel. OSX is a great OS, based on unix, you can compile and build software just like you would on other BSD or linux, there's precompiled GNU stuff you can load up, you can run their attractive OS shell, you can go to shell and be a cli monkey. Then you also have access to a lot of nice professional art/video/music applications that you wouldn't get on Linux or BSD. Then since they're on Intel you can also dual/triple boot to Windows/Linux and/or OSX. On top of that they used to select pretty good PC parts and make some well regarded systems.

Since that time Form won over function. I think the line in the sand for me was the new USB-C MacBook Pros. There's a host of issues now not just the keyboards. The overall sense of neglect and snubbing of actual professions. Maybe people don't want to leave Apple but are forced because Apple doesn't offer a system they need for sale. Then I think about YT guys like Snazzy Labs and Linux Tech Tips, who both had very negative experiences with Apple over the iMac Pro. To me $5000 is a hella lot of money to put into a PC and that right there says buyer beware. Louis Rossmann on YT also has some great insights into some technical aspects and policy aspects of Apple.

All of this is enough for me to build a PC and try to make the switch away from OSX. It's frustrating but I think it's on a slow decline and the cracks are becoming more apparent. Some on the outside might say "what took you so long to notice?" but if you replace the machine every three years you'll always be under warranty and when OSX works it has a lot of nice things and smooth ecosystem integration. There's always been reasons to be wary of Apple and at least all my data is in more universal formats for the most part. Easier for me to get out than some others I suppose.

Also for people who might transition but are struggling, check out tonymacx86 for info about setting up a hackintosh. There's also guides and files available to get OSX running in a Virtual Machine on the PC if you google it. Don't try running an OSX VM for anything that needs real time performance or is intensive, but if you have some desktop apps and email you can't toss away today one of these options could potentially help make it less jolting to leave.

AAST

[Anonymous Coward]

Apple Authorized Service Technician here.

1.) Yes, I can confirm, the keyboard is integrated with the top case, trackpad, battery, power button, and touch bar on 2017/2017 model MBPs.
2.) Would the top case from the 2018 work with a 2017 logic board? No. Why? Changed connectors and changed firmware on the battery and touch bar. You can't plug it in, and if you could, your logic board would query the hardware [What are you?], it would respond with [unexpected value], and your logic board and OSX would both go [wtf is this Mickey Mouse horse shit?].
3.) Give it up. You're not getting a replacement that won't break. The entire intent behind not putting the rubberized seal around the keys was specifically so it would break just outside of warranty and you'd have to get a new one. When you start looking at prices of the parts + repair, most people will think, "You know, it's almost worth it just to get a new one rather than repair this one..." Which is the intent. Apple is trying to get out of the replacement parts business and break into the 'disposable computer' business, except they still want that whole "Apple = expensive, expensive = good + status symbol, thus apple = good + status symbol" meme to keep going.