Comments on: MacBook keyboad really sucks

By: Mark

Mark — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 16:32:33 +0000

This keyboard sucks! I cannot get the keys right and I keep missing letters even though I KNOW that i hit the key. This is awful, I regret switching to Apple. I hope this takes care of itself soon.

By: Konstandinos

Konstandinos — Fri, 28 Dec 2007 08:57:42 +0000

Cool!

By: msmaddymax

msmaddymax — Mon, 20 Nov 2006 12:44:05 +0000

i’ll tell you what sucks - the macbook is much slower than the ibook. this freaking intel duo whatever is hyped up crap.

had my ibook stole and was forced to buy this newer (but worse!) model.

By: Andrew

Andrew — Wed, 05 Jul 2006 04:42:15 +0000

I resisted the MacBook for two months. I drooled over it at the Apple Store, but the glossy screen and integrated graphcis scared me away.

Well, I finally bit the bullet and brought home a black MacBook. The first few days it was pleasant enough. The screen glare really isn’t too bad in most lighting and the color and “pop” are amazing for movies and games. The keyboard while shallow, is very fast and actually feels pretty good. The integrated graphics were the biggest surprise, with a game that bogged down on my 12″ PowerBook G4 1.5Ghz (Knights of the Old Republic) actually flying along at movie speed (in Windows XP) on the MacBook. I’ve since installed other higher end games and found that the integrated graphics are up to anything except latest generation first-person shooters. Rome:Total War is a tad bit slower than my desktop, but entirely playable. Max Payne 1 and 2 simply rock and that is the normal experience. By the way, unlike the 64MB that Mac OS X gives to the intergrated GMA950 graphics, Windows XP gives it 128 MB. This isn’t a problem as I have the full 2GB of RAM installed, along with a 120GB 5400 RPM hard drive.

After a week, I’ve found that I like the MacBook so well that I just put my 15″ PowerBook up for sale and will actually be replacing both 12″ and 15″ units with the 13.3″ MacBook. Its really that good, including the keyboard.

By: D

Thu, 25 May 2006 21:20:50 +0000

I looked at the MacBook in the Apple store too. It’s true that glossy screen is annoying - really annoying. The constant reflections gave a lack of stillness that would drive me nuts and give me headaches - matte for me anyday please! They need to make this a build-to-order option.
The keyboard, while actually not that bad, is certainly a downgrade on my aged iBook. The lack of travel int he keys, the hardness, just doesn’t feel right. The mousepad doesn’t click anymore, giving a sense of cheapness.
I thought this might make a great work machine for me as the specs looked very generous. Sadly, Apple seem to have made more of a toy out of the MacBook - perhaps to tempt people to the MacBook Pro.
I’ll keep iBooking for another year, I think.

By: N

Thu, 25 May 2006 10:17:03 +0000

Agree on the keyboard. While it’s very fast, the keys feel too far apart. I think it’s b/c they’re flat. If they had some feature (e.g., concave or convex), it’d be easier for the fingers to know where they were on the keyboard. I spent time in the store practising and couldn’t get the hang of it. Maybe if you type enough on it, the centers of the keys get greasier and it’s easier for the fingers to orient themselves. I’ve read the MBP’s have thermal grease to spare: good place to get it. BTW, don’t know if it’s a sign, but one of the Apple Store’s MB’s was running warm and buggy.

By: frosty

frosty — Sun, 21 May 2006 23:08:46 +0000

d’oh!

s/ATA (IBM)/AT $1/

By: frosty

frosty — Sun, 21 May 2006 23:05:56 +0000

I tried one out at the store, and was extremely edgy about the keyboard since I touch-type very fast (it’s what I do for a living).

And I have to say, I didn’t notice any of the negatives Ben noticed. I found I could type quite fast on it — though maybe not quite as fast as on my Powerbook, and certainly not as fast as on a “real” keyboard (read: giant old ATA IBM).

But I did notice something else troublesome. There’s so little resistance to the keys, I found myself sort of bashing my fingers against the motherboard. However, I’m betting that has a lot to do with my rough typing habits (coding at a desktop and whatnot) and that I’ll adjust. If someone got one of these sight unseen, however, it might give them a very bad first impression.

The “$200 for paint” issue is a bit off too, as you’re really only paying $150 extra and it’s not just paint. I prefer the white aesthetically, and if the tables were turned I’d gladly pay an extra $150 for it. I’m actually a little surprised to see so many real Mac fans getting upset about this issue, because part of what makes Apple products so great is that they’re not just a jumble of components with a ten percent markup (*cough* dell *cough*).

Finally, as for the Windows issue, at this point — with BaseCamp for the gamers and Parallels for the web developers — anyone who runs Windows when they could run OS X fully deserves the user experience they get. And if they actually prefer that, then great. Well, maybe not great, but certainly within the realm of allowable personal choice in a liberal democracy.

I’m getting a MacBook and will use it for personal things while I use a Powerbook for work, and if after a year or so I really prefer the PB then I’ll get a MacBook Pro. For my money, given the other things I like about the little white MacBook, it’s worth giving it some real time to see what happens.

(whew, long-ass comment. hey ben, where’s the preview button?)

By: Ben

Ben — Fri, 19 May 2006 09:15:22 +0000

BTW: I love the name Hardee Har Har. Props for that!

By: Ben

Ben — Fri, 19 May 2006 09:14:33 +0000

Comms:

You’re “known” for your love of black? Like, when the topic of black comes up people remark, “Oh that Ben Metcalfe, he really loves his black”?

Yeah.

I don’t wear anything but black (I’m not a goth, not that there’s anything wrong with goths). Sometimes my reputation proceedes me on that front.