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Typing on Mac Laptops...

GfPQqmcRKUvP

GfPQqmcRKUvP

macrumors 68040
Original poster
Sep 29, 2005
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Hey everyone. I am a senior in high school and I had a few questions. I have a laptop that suits me fine right now, but I think I will be buying a MacBook in september if something new comes out, and if it is 12-14 inch screen. But I was wondering one thing. It seems that typing can be pretty loud on other machines (the dell i am using now, yes, heresy, even though its really good) and I was wondering if mac's keys on their laptops are quieter. I know a lot depends on how hard you hit, but some laptops really aren't as loud as others.

Also, on a fun note, how fast do you type?

I type 115, can't seem to break it :)
 
The keyboards on PowerBooks (and, presumably, MacBooks) are pretty quiet and easy to type on.

Myself, I can peak out at about 60 wpm, depending on what it is I'm typing.
 
I should clarify my typing. 115 peak, about 95 regular.

That's good that the keys on the mac laptops are pretty quiet, that should facilitate taking notes in class...
 
best keyboard I've ever used: the clamshell iBook in my sig. I've used all the recent powerbooks, apple keyboards, etc. and I love the old clamshell's keyboard. I do all my academic writing on it, even though I have a G5 with a bluetooth keyboard. It's just a joy to use
 
If you still find the keyboard loud... Buy a keyboard protector from iskin.com and it'll quite down a bit. But you'll have to get used to the feel of the plastic.

Its great.. i type in glass and its almost wisper quite
 
I keep an iSkin in my PowerBook's case-sleeve-thing just in case I'm in a quiet class and I don't want anyone to hear even my slight typing (though I'm 60-80wpm usually). Most other notebooks are louder, with the exception of the spacebar which I find to be a little bit loud. But with an iSkin, it's stealth typing... plus I don't have to worry about liquids/gunk/dirt/debris/hair getting in there. If only I could use it religiously... my PB's keyboard is too beautiful and comfortable to use it all of the time. :) But I get compliments on it (the pink one).

Still, this would be a very weird and picky reason not to choose a MacBook, especially considering their keyboards aren't loud compared to most Dells and ThinkPads I've used.
 
I love my iBook G4 keyboard, it is definitely noisy though...it has that clicky sound to it. Easily solved with an iSkin when you need to be quiet though!
 
Lucky enough for me I dont have to be quite for anyone... I was just making sure that you didn't have to put all your weight behind each finger as you type each key :) Or anything else that would be really bad, aside from sound.
 
TsuaSai said:
Whats bad about the iBook keyboard??? Since I just bought one....
Click to expand...
Limited key travel, keybed is not really solid. False clicks and interference on trackpad as you try to type.

I'm just not a trackpad/laptop kind of guy. I want full sized keys wtih a decent amount of travel to them. And give me a 2 button scroll mouse instead of a #&$*#^ trackpad the clicks and unclicks when I don't want it to.

If someone is doing 90+ WPM and has a need for real typing, investing $40 - $60 for a real keyboard to use while sitting down at a desk is a no-brainer.
 
I have really used a full size keyboard in quite sometime, I think I have been on a laptop for the last 5 years or so. However this will be my first one with no right click.. Not sure how well thats going to go. I have been using my husband PB for a few days now since mine wont be here till Tuesday. But I might still just be in the new phase of thinking its all great.

Thanks for the info though.
 
CanadaRAM said:
If someone is doing 90+ WPM and has a need for real typing, investing $40 - $60 for a real keyboard to use while sitting down at a desk is a no-brainer.
Click to expand...
I type 95-115 wpm and not on a desktop keyboard. All on laptops. That's not hard is it? Because that is what I am used to. I doubt that I could go much faster on a real keyboard..
 
I type around 45-60wpm easily on a pismo keyboard, and I find the newer powerbook keyboards even easier to type on. They are fine :)
 
I really like the PB keyboard, it's nice and very quiet. I type about 60-70 WPM, and I find it that I can type faster on the PB that in my iMac. Maybe because the keys require less pressure?
 
TsuaSai said:
Whats bad about the iBook keyboard??? Since I just bought one....
Click to expand...
It's cheap felling and makes a cheesy feeling and is no where near as nice as my bro's powerbook. I must say however the iBook's keyboard is a lot better than most PC manufactures' keyboards. One of my friend's has a keyboard where the keys have sharp edges and your finger tips kind of get hooked on the keys.
 
I'm always borrowing my friend's PowerBook, and it's really quiet. Or I should say it's quiet enough for my puposes.

I think I posted this somewhere else, I used to type at about 180ish, peak or course, 140 continuous.

Subliving
 
Find my iBook keyboard easy to type on, I do have an iSkin which probably muffles the sound a bit, but I find it fairly quiet compared to a normal keyboard which I'm typing on at the moment.

::20ROGERSC::
 
Subliving said:
I'm always borrowing my friend's PowerBook, and it's really quiet. Or I should say it's quiet enough for my puposes.

I think I posted this somewhere else, I used to type at about 180ish, peak or course, 140 continuous.

Subliving
Click to expand...

Wow. I raced my friend the other day (yes, I raced him in a typing test). I got 114 and he had 147. He is insane, I don't think I can think that fast.
 
i'm in the same boat. i'm probably going to get a MacBook; i currently have an iBook g3. the keyboard's a bit loud, but i'm used to how it feels (five years will do that for you!). the illuminated keyboard on the MBP should be nice...
 
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