Watch: Up close with the 2016 MacBook Pro's 2nd-gen butterfly switch keyboard & huge Force Touch tr

AppleInsider

The 2016 MacBook Pro lineup features two key hardware enhancements that help boost productivity: a second-generation butterfly mechanism keyboard and the largest Force Touch trackpad ever integrated into an Apple laptop. In this latest video installment, AppleInsider takes a closer look at the new components and how they compare to past models.

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We're also interested in your questions! If you want to know anything about the new MacBook Pro or LG UltraFine lineup, chime in on our forums and we'll address it.

volcan

I like the quality of these new AI videos. Good job.

rune66

It's kind of absurd that all the work Apple has put into creating a completely silent laptop is chrushed by this terrible and extremely noisy keyboard. 

linkman

rune66 said:

It's kind of absurd that all the work Apple has put into creating a completely silent laptop is chrushed by this terrible and extremely noisy keyboard. 

Coming on the next revision: active noise cancellation using a speaker under every key.

flaneur

rune66 said:

It's kind of absurd that all the work Apple has put into creating a completely silent laptop is chrushed by this terrible and extremely noisy keyboard. 

First, the sound is not that loud. The video exaggerates it in the recording process itself.

Second, it's there for a reason, as part of a tactile-auditory feedback "mechanism" to improve accuracy and, unconsciously, satisfaction. Go to the store and try it.

christopher126

volcan said:

I like the quality of these new AI videos. Good job.

Agreed. Really well done! Ai is fast becoming my one stop for all Apple "goings on." 

NEWS: Of course, the latest news/rumors. I used to read the print version of MacWorld Magazine and listen to their Podcasts.  Jason Snell and Phil Michaels (Probably the funniest guy in the Apple world), but that's gone bye-bye. I miss it.

PODCASTS: I've cancelled most of my other Apple podcasts and listen to Ai's podcast. Neil, Victor and Dan do an excellent job.

DEALS: I'm looking at there deal offerings for future purposes. (B&H no sales taxes...could save me $100's!)

TIPS: I read all the "Tips." 

REVIEWS: Read all the Ai reviews of new products.

VIDEOS: The most recent videos are really well done.

I just wish there was a "Dumb Ass" button that I could click on so as not to see all the naysayers and complainers (and "Dumb Asses") silly comments on every subject.

Best.

appex

Is LG UltraFine 4K matte? Is LG UltraFine 5K matte?

MaxYuryev

volcan said:

I like the quality of these new AI videos. Good job.

Christopher126 said:

Agreed. Really well done! Ai is fast becoming my one stop for all Apple "goings on."

Thanks guys! We're trying to keep improving the content and quality.

command_f

rune66 said:

It's kind of absurd that all the work Apple has put into creating a completely silent laptop is chrushed by this terrible and extremely noisy keyboard. 

I disagree, it's not actually that noisy. Having used my machine for a few days now, I very much like it: the key response is positive and the click adds to that. I find myself making less mistakes than with the older, longer travel, keys; this one has such a well-defined start-of-travel/click/end-of-travel. The track pad is also excellent, the response is equally good; I think the new keyboard is somehow more consistent with that.

Once you get over the fact that USB-C is still very new, so you're going to have to buy dongles for all your existing peripherals, the machine is good. It looks the business (as it should for its price) and it's usefully lighter. The upside of losing the illuminated Apple logo is that you also lose the plastic insert in favour of a polished metal one - very classy. It's also fast: I have the 2.7GHz i7 and that's no slouch but the real speed is in overall system operation, born, I think, of the very fast SSD. In the real world, apps launch fast, run fast and save fast - the stuff that's hard to understand from benchmarks.

And for Appex, the LG Ultrafine 4K is about the same level of glossy as the MBP's own display. I thought the MBP's display was good until I plugged in the LG: it's a lovely display and I'm already seeing much more quality in my own photos (in Lightroom). I look forward to seeing an objective test of it but I'm subjectively impressed.

flaneur

^^^ Thanks for the real-world report. I suspected they knew what they were doing with the keyboard sound. (Haven't got mine yet.)

rune66

flaneur said:

rune66 said:

It's kind of absurd that all the work Apple has put into creating a completely silent laptop is chrushed by this terrible and extremely noisy keyboard. 

First, the sound is not that loud. The video exaggerates it in the recording process itself.

Second, it's there for a reason, as part of a tactile-auditory feedback "mechanism" to improve accuracy and, unconsciously, satisfaction. Go to the store and try it.

I did indeed try it in a shop. I was very negatively surprised about how loud it was.

shikotsumyaku

rune66 said:

flaneur said:

rune66 said:

It's kind of absurd that all the work Apple has put into creating a completely silent laptop is chrushed by this terrible and extremely noisy keyboard. 

First, the sound is not that loud. The video exaggerates it in the recording process itself.

Second, it's there for a reason, as part of a tactile-auditory feedback "mechanism" to improve accuracy and, unconsciously, satisfaction. Go to the store and try it.

I did indeed try it in a shop. I was very negatively surprised about how loud it was.

Complaining complaining ... 

appex

And for Appex, the LG Ultrafine 4K is about the same level of glossy as the MBP's own display. I thought the MBP's display was good until I plugged in the LG: it's a lovely display and I'm already seeing much more quality in my own photos (in Lightroom). I look forward to seeing an objective test of it but I'm subjectively impressed.

Thanks. Is it the same level of glossy as the iMac (late 2012)? What about the LG UltraFine 5K?

hledgard

I have had the new laptop for a week now.  Like many here, I was not well disposed to the keyboard.

But let me tell you, it is GREAT.  Best keyboard ever.  I am sure my speed and accuracy have improved !

Still wish the sound were a little less, but as someone said above, that may be part of the tactile feedback necessary for true accuracy.  We will see.

The keyboard is a sleeper.