News, info, and opinion by Mac users, for Mac users.

May 17, 2006

hardware

A paean to the MacBook keyboard…

Posted May. 17, ’06, 7:55 AM PT by Dan Moren
Category | Hardware

MacBook keysOf the features we’ve seen of the new MacBook, the one that strikes many people the most is the new keyboard design. And while we’ve mentioned the odd “isolated key” design, and the tactile feel of the new keys, there’s one subtle thing that has escaped a lot of attention, that I think roundly deserves a bit of praise.

As you can see from the pictures floating around the web, the MacBook’s keyboard is sunk into the case. If you view a MacBook from the side, you can tell that, unlike the iBooks and PowerBooks of yore, the keys don’t top the sides of the case.

Great, yeah. What’s the big deal?

For years, one of the things that bugged me about both my old PowerBook G3 and my current iBook is that the keys from the keyboard can touch the screen when the computer is closed. Oils from your fingers get transferred to the keys, and then in turn to the screen, and if you repeat this process enough, you can permanently mar your LCD. So, for the last six years, I’ve kept a piece of paper inside my laptop, to prevent this from happening, along the way earning curious looks from every new person I meet.

And so, for my part, I’m thrilled to finally see a laptop from Apple that addresses this problem in a simple, elegant fashion: the kind of solution I expect from this company.


9 Comments

Derik Author Profile Page said:

It's definitely a big improvement. Despite reassurances from everyone that my Powerbook G4's keys wouldn't touch the screen, I still felt compelled to buy a protective cloth.

May 17, 2006 8:44 AM
Dan Author Profile Page said:

I could never quite justify spending the money when a piece of paper worked fine. Then again, I am el cheapo. :)

May 17, 2006 8:56 AM
Dan said:

Geesh... maybe people at the macuser blog just need to wash their hands more! :) I never noticed any problems with the keyboard damaging the screen on either my ibook or my powerbook. Do the keys physically touch the screen in those models?

May 17, 2006 10:13 AM
Dan said:

Do they touch teh screen on teh Pros?

May 17, 2006 1:44 PM
JohnK said:

Even if the keys don't touch the screen in normal usage this might happen if the laptop is squeezed in a tight bag or between books or when stowed in the overhead storage on a plane. It is good insurance to always use some sort of cloth between the keyboard and the display.

May 17, 2006 2:47 PM
Gerald said:

Frankly, I don't like the feel of the MacBook keyboard at all. The keys look and feel farther apart than on Powerbooks, and you can't glide over them while typing as you can with the PB. I felt as if I had to labor more typing on the MacBook. For me, the keyboard feel is among the top concerns in a laptop, and despite for excitement for the MacBook, unless I can get used to the keyboard this might be a dealbreaker.

May 17, 2006 11:08 PM
Kennedy said:

My Black MacBook just arrived and it is flawless! The keyboard is amazing to use and gets rid of the problem of dirt, grime and crumbs getting under the keyboard.
BUY ONE!

May 19, 2006 6:00 AM
Andrew said:

I'm a big fan of the older PowerBook, now MacBook Pro keyboards (I have two), and my first impression of the MacBook keyboard was one of dissappointment.

After typing on one at the Pasadena Apple Store, however, I found that my typing speed did not suffer and that there was no increase in the number of typos. So, while it looks strange and feels different, I give the new keyboard a strong thumbs up.

May 19, 2006 1:12 PM
kyle said:

I spend over an hour at the apple store today playing with th MB and MBP. I can say at first the MB typing experience was mixed. I can say that the keys have a good feel to them, though maybe a little to flat. THe MBP keys are softer to the fingertips, and concave so they are more comfortable after typing for a long time. I also noticed that the MB keys, while the same distance apart, felt odd to the touch at first and i didnt reach far enough and missed keys. Within 10 minutes i was adjusted, and loving the keyboard. Im sure the flat keys could get irritating for people who type a LOT, but they should get a real keyboard add on anyway. Thumbs up to the macbook.

June 5, 2006 7:46 PM

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