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Macbook Air 15 inch - Trackpad texture

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helloapple1

macrumors 6502
Jan 20, 2020
474
308
CloudsNeverDie said:
I looked around at skins and screen protectors to cut down to size - it seems like a good idea but hard to know whether the surface is actually better without buying... I tried a piece of paper and it was worse, but the trackpad still worked.
Click to expand...

I’m thinking of buying a drand skin and a trackpad skin while I’m at it. Curious to see if a smooth skin would help.
 
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CloudsNeverDie

macrumors regular
Apr 11, 2015
215
281
helloapple1 said:
I made a video showcasing a normal keyboard vs loose keyboard on two 15" M2 Macbook Airs...... see how bad the quality control is with these things. Make sure to turn the sound on.
Click to expand...
Oh wow... a clear difference, another thing to look out for! Mine seems to be loose. If I press the keys on opposite diagonal corners I can see them tilt too...

I wonder if they are using more than one supplier or production line for the keyboards and trackpads - it might explain some of the inconsistencies.

Checked out some trackpads in MicroCenter today. They were all rough on the 2022-2023 models, including an MBP 16" and 14" in space grey, a 13" MBA in midnight, and a 15" MBA in starlight. The only smooth one was an MBA 13" 2020 model in silver - smooth like glass and night and day from all the others.
 
H

helloapple1

macrumors 6502
Jan 20, 2020
474
308
CloudsNeverDie said:
Oh wow... a clear difference, another thing to look out for! Mine seems to be loose. If I press the keys on opposite diagonal corners I can see them tilt too...

I wonder if they are using more than one supplier or production line for the keyboards and trackpads - it might explain some of the inconsistencies.

Checked out some trackpads in MicroCenter today. They were all rough on the 2022-2023 models, including an MBP 16" and 14" in space grey, a 13" MBA in midnight, and a 15" MBA in starlight. The only smooth one was an MBA 13" 2020 model in silver - smooth like glass and night and day from all the others.
Click to expand...
Interesting, I just tried pressing the keys on opposite diagnal corners on the Midnight one and they tilt too. You mentioned you prefer the loose keys... I find I type much faster on the tight keys (the Silver one in that video in this case). It's strange that I can type faster on it. lol.

Thanks for sharing that data from MicroCenter. It must be a 2022-2023 supplier issue cause of that smooth 2020 model. My own M1 MBA has a very smooth trackpad too.
 
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CloudsNeverDie

macrumors regular
Apr 11, 2015
215
281
helloapple1 said:
Interesting, I just tried pressing the keys on opposite diagnal corners on the Midnight one and they tilt too. You mentioned you prefer the loose keys... I find I type much faster on the tight keys (the Silver one in that video in this case). It's strange that I can type faster on it. lol.
Click to expand...
My definition of tight and loose was maybe different to yours - I guess I meant more whether the keys are stiff or light feeling. This one in front of me has "loose" keys by your definition, because they wobble, but the actuation force is really high, so they feel stiff, which slows me down when typing. The one I had before had a much lower actuation force and I found it easier to type on it, but I don't know whether the keys were tight or loose by your method.
 
C

CloudsNeverDie

macrumors regular
Apr 11, 2015
215
281
helloapple1 said:
Thanks for sharing that data from MicroCenter. It must be a 2022-2023 supplier issue cause of that smooth 2020 model. My own M1 MBA has a very smooth trackpad too.
Click to expand...
Yes.... given we've seen at least one 15" with a smooth trackpad, let's hope it's something they've already addressed and the coarse trackpads disappear gradually as they run out of them.
 
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thadoggfather

thadoggfather

macrumors P6
Oct 1, 2007
16,108
17,030
CloudsNeverDie said:
Oh wow... a clear difference, another thing to look out for! Mine seems to be loose. If I press the keys on opposite diagonal corners I can see them tilt too...

I wonder if they are using more than one supplier or production line for the keyboards and trackpads - it might explain some of the inconsistencies.

Checked out some trackpads in MicroCenter today. They were all rough on the 2022-2023 models, including an MBP 16" and 14" in space grey, a 13" MBA in midnight, and a 15" MBA in starlight. The only smooth one was an MBA 13" 2020 model in silver - smooth like glass and night and day from all the others.
Click to expand...

Thats awful :( the micro center findings
 
H

helloapple1

macrumors 6502
Jan 20, 2020
474
308
CloudsNeverDie said:
Congrats! Unicorns do exist then :) All the more reason for me to return my latest (May date) and try another.
Click to expand...
I'm shocked myself. if you do bring it back let us know about your new one. Of all the ones I purchased this is the only one that showed September which is very interesting. Makes me wonder if they fixed things in the September batch.
 
C

CloudsNeverDie

macrumors regular
Apr 11, 2015
215
281
helloapple1 said:
I'm shocked myself. if you do bring it back let us know about your new one. Of all the ones I purchased this is the only one that showed September which is very interesting. Makes me wonder if they fixed things in the September batch.
Click to expand...
Will do. I have a Framework 13 AMD on order but not sure whether it will arrive in good time since they are insanely popular and there's a long wait.

Yes quite possible, they will have had time to receive and adapt to feedback since launch.
 
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