“Last week, Apple announced an updated MacBook Pro, packing in fresh processors that were announced just three months ago, and tweaking the keyboard,” Alex Cranz writes for Gizmodo. “I’ve spent the last day with that new keyboard—after nearly two years with the old one—and I noticed the difference immediately. But I’m not sure if I would say it’s an improvement. Nor would I say it’s worse. For now, it’s just, well, different.”
“Which could be a good thing, because up until now the keyboard on the MacBook Pro has been a major source of ire. The keys themselves have very short ‘travel,'” Cranz writes. “Most laptop keys have around 1.5 to 2mm of travel. The MacBook Pro has under 1mm. That means it’s more prone to obstruction by things like crumbs from a bag of chips. When a crumb gets stuck under the key it can’t be fully depressed. It becomes quite firm, and annoying to use, if it’s usable at all.”
“In a teardown last week, the gadget surgeons at iFixit discovered that the key switches—the actual key mechanism—on the new MacBook Pro are now covered by a silicon membrane,” Cranz writes. “That membrane should, theoretically, keep crumbs and other detritus out, thus, potentially ameliorating one of the biggest problems arising from the keyboard’s shallow travel distance.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Again, the prevailing theory is that the sticky key issue is fixed or, at least, improved, but Apple can’t come out and say it due to legal reasons, so only time will tell.
SEE ALSO:
How Apple is fixing faulty keyboards in their new MacBook Pro models – July 16, 2018
Two things seem obvious about Apple’s MacBook Pro keyboard – July 13, 2018
Apple’s revised MacBook Pro butterfly keyboard: Quieter may not be enough – July 13, 2018
Apple says new MacBook Pro keyboard won’t fix sticky key issue – July 12, 2018
The 5 biggest changes in Apple’s new MacBook Pro – July 12, 2018
With Apple’s leap to 8th-generation Intel processors, the MacBook Pro just got a whole lot faster – July 12, 2018
Apple begins exclusively selling ‘Blackmagic eGPU’ for $699 alongside new MacBook Pros – July 12, 2018
Apple’s new 2018 MacBook Pro models now available with revised butterfly keyboards, much faster performance possible – July 12, 2018
MacBook Pro (2018): First look, listen, and feel! – July 12, 2018
What power users say about Apple’s new 2018 MacBook Pros – July 12, 2018
Apple unveils new MacBook Pro models with faster performance and new features for pros – July 12, 2018
I’m an adherent to the theory MDN mentions. Until lawsuits are resolved, Apple’s attorneys, I am sure, have forbidden anyone to address the problem of sticking keys. Phil Shiller would probably love to be able to say “We’ve solved the problem,” and why not, it would likely get people like me to get off the fence. I had a person ask me about what laptop to buy, and I couldn’t in good conscience recommend a new MacBook. Know what I know now, I feel confident new buyers won’t have the same keyboard woes. (they still have to be okay with the short throw of the keys.)
Silicone! Not silicon! I get so tired of seeing that error.
Hey Queenie, the language has evolved past your ability to keep up. Just accept it, like morons saying “off-ten” instead of the correct “off-en” for often.
Just be glad the morons aren’t saying “kuh-nye-fee” for knife, “izz-land” for island and “ski-zorz” for scissors…
Yet.
I’m one of those people that feel the 1.5 mm travel distance is optimum. The current travel distance on the MacBook Pro is too shallow for my typing and I am more prone to typing errors as a result.
Step 1: don’t eat over your new MacBook you clod.
Step 2: wash your filthy hands once in a while.
Step 3: get a dang keyboard protector.
Step 4. Make a stink online so a company like apple that has obscene amounts of money might actually spend some and deliver a proper working keyboard design for their Pro models.
Friggin keyboard protectors friggin suck and slow you down terribly. Hate those fugging things
I love the new keyboard and am glad Apple has made keyboards great again. #MKBK!