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The New and Improved MacBook Keyboards Have the Same Old Problems (theoutline.com)

Casey Johnston, writing for The Outline: Apple never actually caved to user complaints that its top-of-the-line computers developed sticky or dead keyboards very easily, despite having now been served with several keyboard-related class action lawsuits. In June, the company offered to repair computers with these keyboards for free for four years following the date of purchase (the cost of being without their computer notwithstanding). It claimed only a "small percentage" of users were affected. I was one of them, several times, and there were many, many others. Compared to this time last year, its computer sales are down ten percent, and not a few people have been holding off on purchasing any computer from its line in fear of getting stuck with a keyboard that doesn't work.

In July, Apple slightly redesigned the very low profile butterfly keyboard on its MacBooks and MacBook Pros, not because "a small percentage" of the previous version was rendered useless by a speck of dust, the company said, but to make it quieter; it even invited the tech press to try it out. iFixit teardowns of the hardware revealed that, in fact, Apple had added a silicone membrane under the keys that looks quite a bit like it's meant to keep dust and debris from lodging under the key and locking it up. Was that the idea? No, Apple unequivocally said. [...] But checking around online, it appears the new keyboards have the same old issues. They may be delayed, but they happen nonetheless. The MacRumors forum has a long thread about the the "gen 3 butterfly keyboard" where users have been sharing their experiences since Apple updated the design.

5 of 99 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Cool, journalism for tech support by mycroft16 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    You know, not everyone who uses a mac is a whiny millennial. The problem here is that rather than admit to having a problem with their keyboard design and fixing it, the added band-aid, and lied about why they added it and didn't fix the problem in any way. And this is on a high-end luxury product line no less. It isn't isn't a feeling of entitlement so much as promised value for money spent. "It just works" is the byline of Apple products and clearly, the just don't.

  2. You're typing wrong! by kimgkimg · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Baffles me why people put up with these overpriced Apple issues.

    1. Re:You're typing wrong! by Cmdln+Daco · · Score: 4, Insightful

      And here lies a problem for Apple fans. They think that their fandom is opposed by a fandom for Samsung mobile devices.

      Which is wrong. People don't fanboy Samsung products. They just use them.

  3. Re:Keyboards aren't the only problem by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Insightful

    Rossmann's a boy that's for sure. Unfortunately the value hidden in most of his videos is completely whitewashed by his Apple is just crap period rhetoric. Shame, he's got skills but for a man who's majority income appears to be 3rd party apple repair, he seems to hate on the permanently. I guess that's why chef's don't cook at home much?!

  4. Re:Keyboards aren't the only problem by Cmdln+Daco · · Score: 3, Insightful

    People who clean up dog shit for a living probably aren't dog lovers forever.