henrybay

PickUrPoison said:

bennettvista said:

Ugh.. I’ve been waiting to buy a new MacBookPro and was hoping the new model would have had an improved keyboard. I’ve tried the current model at Apple stores and it’s not pleasant to type on and hurts my fingers as the keys don’t travel. The design team should have consulted with writers before adopting this design.  I’m going to wait until next year now and hope my old MacBook Pro holds up.

If typing on the butterfly keyboard actually hurts your fingers, you’re likely striking the keys much too hard. Some people do “pound on the keyboard”, particularly those of us who learned on a manual typewriter.

Many have found that they did need to adjust their typing technique somewhat, but that when they do they’re actually able to type faster and more accurately with the new keyboard.

Yep, you’re typing wrong. You have to adjust your typing style to suit the particular needs of the butterfly keyboard. This also means lowering your expectations of what a keyboard should feel like - forget decent key travel or niceties like reliability. Those ideas are so yesterday. What matters is that your MacPro is thin. And whatever you do, avoid typing on pre 2015 MacBooks or Lenovo X1s because the contrast in keyboard quality will make you weep. 

TC Young said:

As a 30 year Apple fan and loyal customer, I have to disagree with this article. Both my 2015, 2016, and now 2017 Macbooks have exhibited problems with their keyboards, eventually requiring replacement. This is a first of *any* Apple computers I have used since the mid 1980s. I can't chalk that up to simple coincidence, nor do I consider it "normal" when it comes to wear & tear. I can only hope Apple eventually gets the design right.

Ditto for me. I bought my first Mac in the mid 1980’s and have owned numerous versions since. Never once in all these years did I have trouble with any Mac or MacBook keyboard. They were also great to type on - with excellent tactile feel.

But these latest keyboards feel like moving from a Steinway piano to a cheap Casio electronic version with plastic keys and no travel. Sure the new versions are light and thin - but they are completely soulless, unreliable and make a mockery of everything Apple has stood for. 

Not sure why this article is so long-winded.

The facts are simple. 1. There clearly is a widespread problem with the butterfly keyboards. 2. It occurred because Apple prioritised thinness over functionality. 3. The lack of key travel makes them uncomfortable to type on (with almost zero tactile feel) and it impacts reliability. 4. This problem is not going away until Apple completely redesigns this keyboard. 

Regarding the statistics, be cautious. Because sales of the new MacBooks are bolstered by the fact that users are locked into Apple’s operating system. They don’t have a choice - and so will put up with this terrible keyboard in order to remain with MacOS. 

jdw said:

"ultimately the work we do stands testament to who we are and what we care about..."

So let's examine the work they do...

• Butterfly keyboards
• No MagSafe on MacBooks labeled "Pro"
• No SD Card Slots
• No LED on charging cable
• No extension power cord in the box anymore
• Not a single USB-A port on the MBP regardless of the fact USB-A is still ubiquitous in April 2019 and most of us have USB-A thumb drives galore!

What Apple is and what they care about is out of touch with The Rest of Us.  Seriously, I love Apple, but all this philosophical chit-chat from Ive in no way makes me think better of Apple.  Apple products and they practical features they offer me governs how I think about Apple at any given time.

Agreed. If Mr Ives was serious about ‘social responsibility’ he would stop sacrificing functionality for the utopian pursuit of ‘extreme thinness’. It’s hypocritical to preach social values while ignoring the problems in your own backyard. 

A keyboard that actually works would be a big step towards social responsibility, Mr Ive.