Apple admits the brand new MacBook Pros still have faulty keyboards

I just saw this in The Verge’s coverage, just incredible. How long until Apple fixes this flawed keyboard design and ships it? Another year? 18 months? No wonder some are switching to the Surface Book

”…it’s just hard to trust a keyboard after so many reports that it can be rendered inoperable by a grain of sand and that is incredibly difficult and expensive to repair or replace. This new third-generation keyboard wasn’t designed to solve those issues, Apple says. In fact, company representatives strenuously insisted that the keyboard issues have only affected a tiny, tiny fraction of its user base.”

Conversation 16 comments

  • gjsman

    12 July, 2018 - 12:23 pm

    <p>Most people say the 2017 MacBook Pro solved most keyboard problems. Furthermore, according to Apple Repair statistics from 2017, the number of keyboard repairs fell near (but not quite) to pre-2016 models when the 2017 model was released. It thus appears that the most people affected were on the 1st gen keyboards from 2016.</p><p><br></p><p>Also, if you have a 1st gen keyboard and have it replaced under Apple's Keyboard program, it will be replaced with a 2nd gen (2017) keyboard.</p>

    • FalseAgent

      16 July, 2018 - 10:47 am

      <blockquote><a href="#291078"><em>In reply to gjsman:</em></a></blockquote><p>"Most people say the 2017 MacBook Pro solved most keyboard problems"</p><p><br></p><p>citation needed.</p><p><br></p><p><br></p>

  • 2ilent8cho

    12 July, 2018 - 12:45 pm

    <p>erm Apple said its a 3rd Gen Keyboard now? So the issue should be fixed. </p>

    • Bdsrev

      12 July, 2018 - 12:50 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#291084"><em>In reply to 2ilent8cho:</em></a></blockquote><p>But it’s not, read the quote above from The Verge</p>

      • lvthunder

        Premium Member
        12 July, 2018 - 1:53 pm

        <blockquote><a href="#291085"><em>In reply to Bdsrev:</em></a></blockquote><p>How would they know? It's not like Apple gave out review units or anything. Only time will tell.</p>

        • Bdsrev

          12 July, 2018 - 2:08 pm

          <blockquote><a href="#291093"><em>In reply to lvthunder:</em></a></blockquote><p>Because an Apple representative told them! In the quote it says "<span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">This new third-generation keyboard wasn’t designed to solve those issues, Apple says."</span></p>

          • pecosbob04

            12 July, 2018 - 2:27 pm

            <blockquote><a href="#291096"><em>In reply to Bdsrev:</em></a><em> "</em>"This new third-generation keyboard wasn’t designed to solve those issues, Apple says."</blockquote><blockquote><br></blockquote><blockquote>No the second generation did that. Reference gjsman's post earliest in thread.</blockquote><p><br></p>

        • Paul Thurrott

          Premium Member
          12 July, 2018 - 2:11 pm

          <blockquote><a href="#291093"><em>In reply to lvthunder:</em></a></blockquote><p>Reading. It's fundamental. :)</p>

          • pecosbob04

            12 July, 2018 - 2:31 pm

            <blockquote><a href="#291098"><em>In reply to paul-thurrott:</em></a><em> But comprehension requires engaging the intellect. Also kudos on synching the clocks, 7 minutes has been reduced to a few seconds.</em></blockquote><p><br></p>

      • pecosbob04

        12 July, 2018 - 2:55 pm

        <blockquote><a href="#291085"><em>In reply to Bdsrev:</em></a><em> Check the dateline on the Verge article. June 1, 2018. The new MBP and its keyboard were announced today. </em></blockquote><p><br></p>

  • Bob Shutts

    12 July, 2018 - 2:11 pm

    <p>"<span style="color: rgb(66, 66, 66);">In fact, company representatives strenuously insisted that the keyboard issues have only affected a tiny, tiny fraction of its user base. (There’s now a four-year repair program for the keyboard in case it fails.)"</span></p><p><br></p><p><span style="color: rgb(66, 66, 66);">I fail to see how the article supports the subject line of your post.</span></p>

    • Bdsrev

      12 July, 2018 - 2:35 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#291097"><em>In reply to Bob_Shutts:</em></a></blockquote><p>Oh come on, of course Apple is going to say that. They didn't even want to fess up to Antenna-gate. The keyboard problems are wide spread, read about it yourself if you think I'm lying </p>

    • FalseAgent

      16 July, 2018 - 10:44 am

      <blockquote><a href="#291097"><em>In reply to Bob_Shutts:</em></a></blockquote><p>the problem is 1% of Macbooks is still hundreds of thousands of failed keyboards. Apple will always say any problem affects a "tiny" fraction of its user base. Meanwhile Apple's own authorized repair centers are seeing more customers walk in for this issue alone than anything else combined.</p>

  • Bdsrev

    12 July, 2018 - 4:30 pm

    <p>And now from CNET too </p><p>"<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">But if you were waiting for a keyboard fix to tackle the issue some users have of dust or debris causing keys to stick, you're out of luck. Apple says this keyboard update has no new engineering or tweaks to address that issue, currently the subject of both&nbsp;multiple lawsuits and a&nbsp;new Apple repair program</span>" </p>

  • PincasX

    15 July, 2018 - 9:12 am

    <p>This is a textbook case of confirmation bias. </p>

  • curtisspendlove

    16 July, 2018 - 10:15 am

    <p>I think you can pretty much assume Apple’s convinced the second generation keyboard should primarily fix the problem. </p><p><br></p><p>The warranty extension came out shortly before these new MacBooks were released. </p><p><br></p><p>These new MacBooks are *not* part of the extension program. </p><p><br></p><p>www.apple.com/support/keyboard-service-program-for-macbook-and-macbook-pro/</p><p><br></p><p>“This new keyboard wasn’t designed to fix those issues” !== “the new computers have the problem”.</p><p><br></p><p>Edit: I also find it interesting that few people are mentioning that that “gasket” membrane seems to be the exact potential solution in this patent:</p><p><br></p><p>pdfaiw.uspto.gov/.aiw?docid=20180068808</p>

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