Your honest typing experience on MacBook Pro 2016+

[chassarri]

Maybe it's the larger form factor of the computer as a whole machine, but I feel like the 2018 keyboard has a bit more travel than my previous 2016 12" MacBook. I haven't typed anything super intensive yet, but just for general posts and random emails so far over the last 2 days it feels a lot better. I definitely feel like the 2018 keyboard is more accurate for me, and I can also type a little bit faster.

 

[MBAir2010]

i just typed "war and peace" by leo tolstoy in 17 minutes on the 2016 macbook pro featuring the butterfly keyboard.
“Man cannot possess anything as long as he fears death. But to him who does not fear it, everything belongs. If there was no suffering, man would not know his limits, would not know himself. ”
― Leo Tolstoy, War and Peace

 

[baypharm]

I have. An 85,000-word novel in fact. Entirely on my pre-order 2016 MBP.

My feeling about the keyboard went like this: When I first got it: "Oh, I don't know if I like this, but I guess I'll get to used to it." After a few days: "I can live with this". After about probably two weeks or so (and it did take that long): "Wow, I actually like this keyboard!"

What I found was it had a much steeper "learning curve" than any other keyboard, but once I learned the right amount of pressure to apply, I found my typing to be much faster and my fingers felt less stressed. When I go back to older keyboards that have traditional travel, I find some of my keystrokes not registering because my touch has gotten so much lighter... and they feel noticeably slower.

I do recommend it for writing. The large trackpad is nice for editing as well. My only compliant is the small up/down arrow keys. I've been lucky, too, I had none of the keyboard failure issues.

What do you mean by preorder 2016 model? Are you speaking in the past about this two years ago or is the 2016 the current generation model? So confusing all these models...

 

[macintoshmac]

I like typing on mine a lot more now that it has a warranty on the keyboard till December of 2020

One single failure and you are gonna get a new battery as well. Till 2020. That is a lot of coverage for no down payment. Buying a 2018 means I am on my own after a year unless I take AppleCare which would take the coverage to 2021.

 

[BigMcGuire]

2017 MacBook Pro 13’ TB user here. I’m a really fast typist and a huge fan of mechanical keyboards (I own 3+ including the original IBM gifted to me by a friend).

I like the keyboard, it requires very little effort to type fast and type a lot... but I had to spend a bit of time getting used to typing on it. Just using it for a few hours was not enough, I had to actually put effort into learning to hit the keyboard softer. Once I got used to it, I found typing on it to be very pleasant. Sadly, I program on a Windows computer by day so I have to “get used” to my keyboard when I go home.

Yes, the keyboard is fairly loud, but I found out, at a conference this week, that if you type really softly, it actually isn’t that bad (just have to type a lot slower than I normally would).

Granted, I haven’t typed a lot on it, but I like the keyboard. My wife and I both got 2017 MBP laptops - wife uses hers for hours and hours everyday and loves her keyboard too. She actually uses it for her PhD (biology) and writes on it for hours and hours. She’s loving it and has had no problems.
[doublepost=1534051228][/doublepost]

Currently going through editing, and I'm also negotiating with a publisher, trying to decide whether to go with them or self-publish... not an easy call these days. I'll let you know, thanks for asking!

Add me to your fan club! I’d love to buy a copy when you publish!

 

[macintoshmac]

2018 MacBook Pro 13’ TB user here. I’m a really fast typist and a huge fan of mechanical keyboards (I own 3+ including the original IBM gifted to me by a friend).

I like the keyboard, it requires very little effort to type fast and type a lot... but I had to spend a bit of time getting used to typing on it. Just using it for a few hours was not enough, I had to actually put effort into learning to hit the keyboard softer. Once I got used to it, I found typing on it to be very pleasant. Sadly, I program on a Windows computer by day so I have to “get used” to my keyboard when I go home.

Yes, the keyboard is fairly loud, but I found out, at a conference this week, that if you type really softly, it actually isn’t that bad (just have to type a lot slower than I normally would).

Granted, I haven’t typed a lot on it, but I like the keyboard. My wife and I both got 2018 MBP laptops - wife uses hers for hours and hours everyday and loves her keyboard too. She actually uses it for her PhD (biology) and writes on it for hours and hours. She’s loving it and has had no problems.
[doublepost=1534051228][/doublepost]

Add me to your fan club! I’d love to buy a copy when you publish!

Hold your horses! When and how did you make the shift from 2017 notebooks to the venerable 2018s?!! Specific to the changes between 2017 and 18, what do you feel different in the new ones? Lastly, why the shift?

 

[jeyf]

do NOT buy a late 2016 - 2018 macBook.

-a MB is a premium product in a well developed market. If all you do is surfing, text, emails... buy an inexpensive, disposable portable.
-not only is the MB keyboard suspect but the spell check & Siri are weak. No way to accurately enter data.
-hold off on your macBook purchase plans and wait for MB reviews after the product release hype dissipates.

 

[BigMcGuire]

Hold your horses! When and how did you make the shift from 2017 notebooks to the venerable 2018s?!! Specific to the changes between 2017 and 18, what do you feel different in the new ones? Lastly, why the shift?

Dang it, I have a bad habit of calling my MBP 2018 because I bought it in 2018. I have a 2017. Thanks for the catch. What I get for doing Macrumors before having my morning coffee.

I corrected original post, thanks!

 

[jerryk]

Still trying to adjust to the 2018 KB from my 2015 kb after 2 weeks. Still not super happy. May take me awhile since I spend all day on a mechanical keyboard (Cherry MX Brown switches) and only use the MBP in the evenings.

 

[coolX]

I'm not enjoying it, but I'll survive. Its not my most favorite keyboard, but as long as it stays defect free, I'll be happy. I guess part of the problem is that I don't type on it 24x7. I have the laptop hooked up to an external keyboard on my desk when I don't need to take it with me. so I'm using a more normal keyboard, then when I do need it with me, I have to adjust. I'm sure I'll get used to it, but it will take me longer.

is the external keyboard mechanical?

 

[WristyManchego]

The 2018 MacBook Pro has been my first upgrade since the early 2008 non-unibody.

It's no surprise to know that they are both very different keyboards and it was evident from the get-go. I prefer a more tactile feel and actually loved the early 2008 keyboard, I could type like a champ.

After a couple of months of heavy use of the new 2018 keyboard, I've obviously grown used to its feel, response and noise but the one thing that stands out is my spelling mistakes are through the roof. The keys are slightly further spaced apart so perhaps there's some more muscle memory to rework before it's as smooth as butter but I do find a large portion of mistakes are made by hitting a key on the way through to another. Something that a more mechanical keyboard takes in its stride but with the increased sensitivity of the butterfly mechanism, it's a regular occurrence.

Hands down, the biggest pain in the ass with the 2018 keyboard (and probably years before), is the way it drinks up your finger oils. After a days use it looks like a grubby kid has been all over it and it really ruins the detail and length Apple goes to, to maintain a beautiful looking product. I would say this is one of the biggest design flaws. Sure my old keyboard would get a little grubby after a few months and would develop a shine and worn-down letters, but this was over 10 years of almost every-day use. I now pack a microfibre cloth in my case to wipe it down every morning.

If this Mac and keyboard last me another 10 years as I intend it to (not hopeful), then I'd be a very happy camper regardless of these issues, the new mechanism, the noise etc. The material used needs to be re-assessed though. Along with the finish of the touch-bar.

 

[BigMcGuire]

Yeah, I too dislike how grease shows like crazy on this keyboard and I have really clean hands - people call me a germaphobe. I know it doesn't bother a lot of people but it drives me nuts.

 

[Painter2002]

Yeah, I too dislike how grease shows like crazy on this keyboard and I have really clean hands - people call me a germaphobe. I know it doesn't bother a lot of people but it drives me nuts.

It bugs me a quite bit on my 2017 MBP too, as I like to try and keep my beautiful baby as spic and span as I can. Lol. Oh well.

Its like getting road rash on my car in Texas (the dusty wind basically sand-blasts everything here) and my OCD irritation kicks in, but in the end I remind myself its just a tool that one day will get replaced. I have to remind myself of this on my MacBook Pro too.

 

[maflynn]

is the external keyboard mechanical?

I have an old apple keyboard that I'm using.

 

[ascender]

Is there a way to clean the oily residue off these keyboards? As others have said, this has always happened with the laptops, but I swear it used to take months/years of use to develop.

 

[jeyf]

if i have some text entry i use my old windows desktop.

the any apple 2016+ kb and the spell checker are totally weak disabled and you will make mistaxes

 

[MBAir2010]

Yeah, I too dislike how grease shows like crazy on this keyboard and I have really clean hands - people call me a germaphobe. I know it doesn't bother a lot of people but it drives me nuts.

Sooooo that is why Fonzie, Richie ChahChie Putzie and "Yo- Mrs C" never used the macbook pro.

i know, i know i should "sit on it".....

 

[jeyf]

i know, i know i should "sit on it".....

?

 

[BigMcGuire]

Sooooo that is why Fonzie, Richie ChahChie Putzie and "Yo- Mrs C" never used the macbook pro.

i know, i know i should "sit on it".....

?

LOL, I had to google this myself. I have not watched this TV series before, but it is on my To Do list.

https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080118142539AALXM4s

"On Happy Days when Richie tells the Fonz to "Sit on It" what does that mean.?" Answer: "at that time it was a way of putting somebody in their place, kinda like telling them to shut up or back off"

I don't get the grease reference yet, but I hope that is coming.

 

[MBAir2010]

eeeeehhhh! they were all greasers back then, well maybe just fonzarello
i think Joanie said the "sit on it" phrase more than any another character.
we watched this, "travern and shiely", then "C Barkley's Angels", "Everybody Loves Kojak" every tuesday nite.

 

[psingh01]

I have a 15" 2017. I do a lot of typing but its for programming, email and chat. Not diaries or word documents. So it's not always a long continuous flow. The keyboard is fine. It's tolerable. The keyboard on my 2013 Air is MUCH more comfortable. There is a noticeable difference when I switch to it. It actually feels good in comparison. Which is funny because when it was my main computer it just felt like a keyboard. I didn't think much about it. On the newer keyboard it feels like I'm hitting the keys much harder. Like typing on dominos on a hard table. I could imagine the ends of my fingers getting sore if I had to type a novel on this thing....

Its not really a deal breaker for my use but it certainly not a selling point either...

 

[impulse462]

I find the 13" much, much more tolerable than the 15" for some reason. Maybe because it doesn't feel as flat/wide?

really? i felt the opposite. the 15" keys feel slightly deeper than the 13" to me.

 

[DeepIn2U]

i just typed "war and peace" by leo tolstoy in 17 minutes on the 2016 macbook pro featuring the butterfly keyboard.
“Man cannot possess anything as long as he fears death. But to him who does not fear it, everything belongs. If there was no suffering, man would not know his limits, would not know himself. ”
― Leo Tolstoy, War and Peace

Man this sounds like an incredible book that I’ll be purchasing, downloading and reading in my iPhone 8. Thank you!

Sooooo that is why Fonzie, Richie ChahChie Putzie and "Yo- Mrs C" never used the macbook pro.

i know, i know i should "sit on it".....

LMAO man this is very witty!!


2018 MBP and I absolutely love the keyboard. Tried the 2017 in store very briefly, not a fan. The 2018 has more of a rebound and works very well.

 

[btt8]

Owner of a 15'' 2018 here. Came from a 2013 MBA. At first, the keyboard difference was definitely noticeable. But I got used to it real quick. Have no qualms with it at all.