[poll] MBP 2021 So how does your keyboard feel ? Which manufacturer made yours ?

[ahurst]

Not sure what the manufacturer is for mine, but my 14” MBP‘s keyboard is pretty good. There’s no key wiggle (like some earlier chiclet MacBook keyboards) but it has more travel and feedback than the earlier butterfly switches. My main issue with it is that the keys are firm enough that it’s tiring for me to type on for long periods, but other than that it’s nice!

I don’t think it’s my favorite laptop keyboard of all time (that’s either the 12” PowerBook G4 or the ThinkPad X220, both of which have wonderful pre-chiclet scissor switch designs), but as far I know you can’t get a keyboard like that on a laptop anymore. Given the form factor and competition, I’m pretty happy with it.

 

[smirking]

My main issue with it is that the keys are firm enough that it’s tiring for me to type on for long periods, but other than that it’s nice!

I found that to be true with the 13" M1 MBP that I briefly had. My hands hurt the first week I used it.

The keys on my 16" M1 Pro aren't as stiff. For now they're just about perfect. I just hope they don't get looser over time.

I don’t think it’s my favorite laptop keyboard of all time (that’s either the 12” PowerBook G4 or the ThinkPad X220, both of which have wonderful pre-chiclet scissor switch designs)

Does the ThinkPad X220 have the benefit of PBT keycaps?

 

[TheSynchronizer]

I’ve used/tested at least 6 different macbook air/pro keyboards since 2020, as well as the ipad pro magic keyboard, and honestly they all felt slightly different with their own specific characteristic. I think keyboards, being entirely moving parts and all, will virtually all be different somehow.

So as long as everything works and you don’t hate the way it feels, then i’d say your keyboard is fine and one should just move on.

 

[Alexander_im]

I’ve had 4 different MPB’s over the last six years: 2015, 2017 (second-gen butterfly), 2020 (Magic Keyboard) and now 14”. The latter is by far the best one I ever used. I agree with some of the posters above though: 12.9 Magic Keyboard feels amazing, but I’m all over in the new one tbh

 

[transpo1]

I disagree the Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro and the new 2021 MacBook Pro are neck and neck in my opinion.

+1 here. Love my 2021 16” MBP keyboard

 

[cal1]

Daheck is home and end ?

Lol. Look in this keyboard: https://www.apple.com/sg/shop/product/MQ052ZA/A/magic-keyboard-with-numeric-keypad-us-english

They're the handiest keys on it.

 

[scifiman]

16" M1 Pro feels so much better than my 2019 MBP 13" keyboard.

 

[ahurst]

I found that to be true with the 13" M1 MBP that I briefly had. My hands hurt the first week I used it.

The keys on my 16" M1 Pro aren't as stiff. For now they're just about perfect. I just hope they don't get looser over time.

[...]

Does the ThinkPad X220 have the benefit of PBT keycaps?

I've never actually owned a butterfly-keyboard MacBook (I just have experience from friends/family's machines) so it probably is less stiff than before, just stiffer that what I'm used to! I'm sure my motor memory will adapt over the next month or so to make it more comfortable.

As for the X220, I don't think it has PBT caps. The main things it has going for it are that a) the key presses are light-but-tactile, with the press requiring little effort but the rebound having a satistfying spring, and b) the keycaps are close together (i.e. non-chiclet) and have lightly-curved tops like a desktop keyboard, meaning your fingers just settle into the keys.

By contrast, the 14" MBP keys take more effort to press, have less spring-back (likely on account of lower travel), and are much more flat than the ThinkPad keys so your fingers don't just effortlessly find their place (I have both in front of me right now and did a side-by-side comparison). Again, I think the 14" MBP's keyboard is pretty good (definitely a step up over the butterfly boards and most chiclets I've tried, including newer ThinkPad keyboards), the X220's keyboard is just something special from a bygone era.

 

[Love-hate 🍏 relationship]

Lol. Look in this keyboard: https://www.apple.com/sg/shop/product/MQ052ZA/A/magic-keyboard-with-numeric-keypad-us-english

They're the handiest keys on it.

Thanks !

Don't they put your cursor at the end/beginning of the line ? I mean it's just like command+arrow (CMD+left/right ) isn't it ?

 

[cal1]

Thanks !

Don't they put your cursor at the end/beginning of the line ? I mean it's just like command+arrow (CMD+left/right ) isn't it ?

Yes. It's very handy in programming though.