4 ms·

Add to that, that the keycaps break. They have teeny-tiny clips on the top edge, which just break after a while, and they just lift off, sticking to your finger

Add to that, that the keycaps break. They have teeny-tiny clips on the top edge, which just break after a while, and they just lift off, sticking to your finger, or just shift slightly, enough not to 'click' when you press them. I'm not a particularly heavy typist (though it sounds like it on the butterfly keyboard, compared to my previous 2013 macbbok pro), but I've now had about 8 keycaps replaced in the lasst year. edit: OK I was going to edit out the multiple-letters, but not this time, as this is actually quite typical of typing on this 2016 mbp, so illustrates the problem.

dsego 7y ago
This happens to me as well. In time those keycaps become loose and start falling out. And it's way to easy to snap them off when replacing.
dillondoyle 7y ago
My A S and C keys letters are totally warn out and white and the light shines through a good part. I get a new laptop each year (pass old down through business) and this degradation happens pretty quick. must be oil from fingers. though I like to think I'm pretty clean and my laptop is too..
unicornfinder 7y ago
Yup I had this. At first I was able to fix it by bending the clips back but eventually they just kept popping off. Took it to Apple and they replaced the top case but it took about a week and considering it's the machine I use to do work, it was frustrating. I remember them saying to me something along the lines of, "is now an okay time to leave it with us?" and just sort of saying "well it's not like a better time is going to pop up" heh.
hombre_fatal 7y ago
If I turn my macbook upside-down, 8 key caps will fall onto the floor. It’s comically bad. Had the whole keyboard replaced a year ago for the same problem.
cletus 7y ago
Serious question: how much force do you type with? The reason I ask is that I see many, many people stab laptop keyboards with a ridiculous amount of force. It actually bothers me like someone is banging on my skull, particularly for the bad keyboards you have (which includes the latest MBP). I learned to touch type in high school. At first, believe it or not, it was with manual typewriters. These actually require a lot of force, so much so that once you go to a computer keyboard (or even an electronic typewriter) there's really no going back. Low-profile keyboards (including laptops) need the lightest amount of touch to register a tap. Low profile also needs very little travel. At my best I could probably type at 70+ wpm. I haven't measured in awhile but it's probably worse (with sufficient accuracy). Coding uses a lot of symbols that a QWERTY keyboard just isn't optimized for (and typing speed doesn't tend to be the limiting factor anyway). In years and years of coding and typing on computer keyboards I've had almost zero problems with RSI or carpal tunnel or any of that. When I was typing much more (vs coding) with standard keyboards, I actually did get a little sensitivity/soreness along my ulna and the outer edge of my hand (going up to my pinky finger). It had the feeling of being inflamed (in that something cold on it relieved it). But after decades of typing that's it. And I haven't had that in years. That's pretty good. Anyway, bringing this back around... I wonder how many keyboard reliability and RSI issues can be attributed to essentially "bad" typing habits like too much force.
- nvrspyx 7y ago
  Even without a lot of force, the new MacBook keyboards just sound like they're being abused and typed on with a ton of force. I make a conscious effort to type softly. My typing speed suffers a bit, but I don't get the anxiety that sometimes is triggered from typing hard and my body assuming I'm in some crunch mode. I have a 2015 MacBook Pro and while there's noise when I type, you can barely hear it. I've used my SO's 2018 MacBook Pro with the new keyboard and it sounds (and feels) like I'm putting a ton of force on the keys when I'm not. It's simply a flaw with the new keyboards. They're loud and fragile. It seems both of these criticisms are met with equal hatred amongst the community. I'd like to add that the old MacBook keyboards can take quite the beating. I've seen people using 2011 and 2012 MacBooks while practically pounding on the keyboard and they have never had issues. I occasionally type hard on mine as well, but I've never had a fear of breaking the keyboard. I'm too hesitant to blame the way someone types when A) the keyboard is clearly a regression in feel, sound, and durability as well as B) the way people have typed hasn't been much of an issue with MacBooks in the past.

dsego 7y ago

This happens to me as well. In time those keycaps become loose and start falling out. And it's way to easy to snap them off when replacing.

dillondoyle 7y ago

My A S and C keys letters are totally warn out and white and the light shines through a good part. I get a new laptop each year (pass old down through business) and this degradation happens pretty quick. must be oil from fingers. though I like to think I'm pretty clean and my laptop is too..

unicornfinder 7y ago

Yup I had this. At first I was able to fix it by bending the clips back but eventually they just kept popping off. Took it to Apple and they replaced the top case but it took about a week and considering it's the machine I use to do work, it was frustrating. I remember them saying to me something along the lines of, "is now an okay time to leave it with us?" and just sort of saying "well it's not like a better time is going to pop up" heh.

hombre_fatal 7y ago

If I turn my macbook upside-down, 8 key caps will fall onto the floor. It’s comically bad. Had the whole keyboard replaced a year ago for the same problem.

cletus 7y ago

Serious question: how much force do you type with? The reason I ask is that I see many, many people stab laptop keyboards with a ridiculous amount of force. It actually bothers me like someone is banging on my skull, particularly for the bad keyboards you have (which includes the latest MBP). I learned to touch type in high school. At first, believe it or not, it was with manual typewriters. These actually require a lot of force, so much so that once you go to a computer keyboard (or even an electronic typewriter) there's really no going back. Low-profile keyboards (including laptops) need the lightest amount of touch to register a tap. Low profile also needs very little travel. At my best I could probably type at 70+ wpm. I haven't measured in awhile but it's probably worse (with sufficient accuracy). Coding uses a lot of symbols that a QWERTY keyboard just isn't optimized for (and typing speed doesn't tend to be the limiting factor anyway). In years and years of coding and typing on computer keyboards I've had almost zero problems with RSI or carpal tunnel or any of that. When I was typing much more (vs coding) with standard keyboards, I actually did get a little sensitivity/soreness along my ulna and the outer edge of my hand (going up to my pinky finger). It had the feeling of being inflamed (in that something cold on it relieved it). But after decades of typing that's it. And I haven't had that in years. That's pretty good. Anyway, bringing this back around... I wonder how many keyboard reliability and RSI issues can be attributed to essentially "bad" typing habits like too much force.

nvrspyx 7y ago
Even without a lot of force, the new MacBook keyboards just sound like they're being abused and typed on with a ton of force. I make a conscious effort to type softly. My typing speed suffers a bit, but I don't get the anxiety that sometimes is triggered from typing hard and my body assuming I'm in some crunch mode. I have a 2015 MacBook Pro and while there's noise when I type, you can barely hear it. I've used my SO's 2018 MacBook Pro with the new keyboard and it sounds (and feels) like I'm putting a ton of force on the keys when I'm not. It's simply a flaw with the new keyboards. They're loud and fragile. It seems both of these criticisms are met with equal hatred amongst the community. I'd like to add that the old MacBook keyboards can take quite the beating. I've seen people using 2011 and 2012 MacBooks while practically pounding on the keyboard and they have never had issues. I occasionally type hard on mine as well, but I've never had a fear of breaking the keyboard. I'm too hesitant to blame the way someone types when A) the keyboard is clearly a regression in feel, sound, and durability as well as B) the way people have typed hasn't been much of an issue with MacBooks in the past.