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.

Comments

Apple used to have really good keyboards.

[msauve]

The original Apple ][ used Alps keyswitches, which were even better than Cherry's at the time. And they were individually replaceable. Unfortunately, they're taller than most of today's laptops. Heck, just the movement on a good keyboard is a significant part of a laptop's thickness.

Form over function rules these days, it seems.

Might be overblown as an isuse, but ...

[King_TJ]

It's still a valid complaint.

I work for an employer who bought dozens of these new Macbook Pro 13" models to deploy to our creative professionals. So far? I've only had one person complain about keyboard issues, and he was one of our I.T. guys. (To be honest, he's kind of rough on his gear anyway. His Windows laptops he's had in the past are always scratched and dented up and covered with stickers, etc.)

I have one of these new Macbook Pros too, and although I don't use it as my primary machine, I do take it with me on the go fairly regularly. So far, no keyboard issues on mine either.

So based on our experiences, I can't say the new keyboards are an absolute failure or disaster, by any stretch. But clearly, they're not the most durable things around either. And just as bad, in my estimation, is the difficulty typing on one of them due to the tiny amount of key travel.

As a general rule, Apple makes a lot of products that are about style as much as substance. But with that seems to come an expectation that the user is really protective about the styling/appearance too. You have everything from touch-screens that need constant wipe-downs with micro-fiber cloths to avoid fingerprints all over the place, to iPhones made with glass and easily scuff-able metals that practically require being put in a case to preserve their beauty. I think now, we're getting to the point where the laptops have the same expectations about their daily use. EG. Don't ever eat anything around them and wash your hands before typing on them, so you don't get crumbs in them.

As much as they cost, I tend to be at least somewhat respectful of them and handle them with kid gloves. But they really need to be able to withstand a bit more abuse, or else they're not going to be what many people choose when they spend this much money.