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Two keys are failing on my MBP 15" (one rocks and sticks; the other is loose on one corner and occasionally falls out). I have AppleCare and my options were to:

Two keys are failing on my MBP 15" (one rocks and sticks; the other is loose on one corner and occasionally falls out). I have AppleCare and my options were to: - Send or deliver the laptop for repair and wait ~1-2 weeks for its return. - Pay ~$35 for two replacement keys and butterfly mechanisms from an online spares shop and attempt the repair myself. I chose to pay the $35 — the keys should be here next week. I'm now concerned this will recur after the fix unless I only use an external keyboard, which seems daft for a laptop. After 15+ years of buying Apple laptops I'm seriously considering making the repair myself then selling the laptop, and buying a Lenovo or Dell. I type 100wpm+ and good keyboards are so important, but I'd really miss several macOS-specific apps (Sketch, iTerm, Airmail).

hellcow 8y ago
I recently went through the same Mac to Windows conversion. For a Sketch replacement, try Lunacy by Icons8 -- it's a Sketch clone for Windows (not quite as good, but pretty damn close, and it opens even complex sketch files perfectly). It's also free. For an iTerm replacement, use ConEmu with WSL. You'll have to fiddle around with the settings to make it look good, but it's hugely customizable, and then you can run Ubuntu or Arch or whatever else you want natively on Windows.
- modernerd 8y ago
  Thanks for the tips — I'm nervous about returning to Windows so had expected to use Linux, but will give it some more thought.
- dzonga 8y ago
  figma runs in the browser. equally powerful as sketch
always_good 8y ago
I think the only rational option is to sell the laptop after a repair. I personally would go back to an older model, like the latest Macbook Air that has regular keyboard (I don't think it has butteryfly keys yet). Otherwise it's a good time to switch. But frankly I was unimpressed with my Thinkpad. Felt like death by a million papercuts whether using Windows or Linux.
- modernerd 8y ago
  Which Thinkpad did you have? What left you unimpressed about it? The X1 Carbon is currently my top choice after the MacBook, so I'm interested in any opinions.
tqkxzugoaupvwqr 8y ago
Someone else in this thread tried a self-repair, it failed, and he/she had to pay $700 in the end to get it fixed. If you want to sell your MBP anyway, get your new laptop / replacement, then send in your MBP for repair.
- modernerd 8y ago
  Good advice, thanks. I'm still on the fence but will consider that instead of the self-repair if I decide it's time for a change.

hellcow 8y ago

I recently went through the same Mac to Windows conversion. For a Sketch replacement, try Lunacy by Icons8 -- it's a Sketch clone for Windows (not quite as good, but pretty damn close, and it opens even complex sketch files perfectly). It's also free. For an iTerm replacement, use ConEmu with WSL. You'll have to fiddle around with the settings to make it look good, but it's hugely customizable, and then you can run Ubuntu or Arch or whatever else you want natively on Windows.

modernerd 8y ago
Thanks for the tips — I'm nervous about returning to Windows so had expected to use Linux, but will give it some more thought.
dzonga 8y ago
figma runs in the browser. equally powerful as sketch

always_good 8y ago

I think the only rational option is to sell the laptop after a repair. I personally would go back to an older model, like the latest Macbook Air that has regular keyboard (I don't think it has butteryfly keys yet). Otherwise it's a good time to switch. But frankly I was unimpressed with my Thinkpad. Felt like death by a million papercuts whether using Windows or Linux.

modernerd 8y ago
Which Thinkpad did you have? What left you unimpressed about it? The X1 Carbon is currently my top choice after the MacBook, so I'm interested in any opinions.

tqkxzugoaupvwqr 8y ago

Someone else in this thread tried a self-repair, it failed, and he/she had to pay $700 in the end to get it fixed. If you want to sell your MBP anyway, get your new laptop / replacement, then send in your MBP for repair.

modernerd 8y ago
Good advice, thanks. I'm still on the fence but will consider that instead of the self-repair if I decide it's time for a change.