After years of controversy and deserved criticism, Apple earlier this week introduced a refreshed MacBook Pro with a slightly tweaked design that, we can only hope, will address longstanding complaints about the butterfly-switch keyboard originally introduced in 2016.
Apr 14, 2011 Step 6 Here's the obverse of the board. There is a black two prong connector that plugs into the board from the power switch. The wires run under a small plastic retaining tab and can be moved downward and out. Apple has designed keyboards around its line of computers since the inception of the Apple line through the reign of the Macintosh. Although the first Apple computer was sold as a bare PCB without the inclusion of a keyboard, the 1977 Apple II included a keyboard built into the case of the computer, while the Apple III saw the addition of a numerical pad. IFixit’s X-rays show off the inside of Apple’s new $350 Magic Keyboard accessory for the iPad Pro, showing off the hinges, magnets, trackpad components, and more. Most importantly, it confirms.
At this point, it’s been well-documented that the MacBook Pro keyboard is prone to failure if even the slightest piece of dust wedges itself underneath the keys. As recently as last month, Apple acknowledged that some users were still experiencing problems with their “third-generation butterfly keyboard.” And while not a widespread issue by any means, it’s simply unacceptable for this type of issue to arise on a notebook as pricey as a MacBook Pro.
With the latest iteration of the MacBook Pro, Apple can hopefully put all keyboard-related criticisms in the rearview mirror. As Apple explained to a handful of publications this week, the new MacBook Pro keyboard employs “new materials” designed to lower the incidence of keys not performing or registering twice after a single press.
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In light of that, iFixitrecently did what it does best: it tore apart a brand new MacBook Pro to better understand the steps Apple is taking to improve overall keyboard performance and reliability. The iFixit folks did uncover a new transparent material on the keyboard switch made out of nylon, though they weren’t entirely sure what “problem Apple’s engineers tried to solve using this updated material.”
The full teardown — which touches on a number of other slight design changes — can be viewed over here and is well worth checking out for anyone with an interest in how Apple’s notebooks are put together and how everything looks when torn apart.
Keyboard tweaks aside, Apple’s new MacBook Pro refresh features 13 and 15-inch models and boast 8th and 9th-gen Intel Core processors.
“MacBook Pro now delivers two times faster performance than a quad-core MacBook Pro and 40 percent more performance than a 6-core MacBook Pro, making it the fastest Mac notebook ever,” Apple’s press release reads in part.
As is to be expected, the new MacBook Pro models don’t come cheap, with the entry-level models starting at $1,799 and $2,399, respectively.
When Apple announced its new MacBook Pros with upgraded internals, many wondered if Apple fixed the keyboard issues that had been dogging the laptops. To everyone’s surprise, Apple said it didnot and instead just made the keyboard quieter, but that may have not been entirely true.
In tearing down the new MacBook Pro keyboards, iFixIt discovered that the only noticeable change Apple made to the butterfly switches was adding a new silicone barrier. The barrier is designed to prevent dust, crumbs and other particles from falling into the switches and causing issues like the previous generation was susceptible to.
It seems odd that Apple did not highlight the feature during its announcement, but it’s probably just trying to downplay the issue by shifting the focus to the loudness of the keys. Ever since the issues started with the keyboards, Apple has been coy about owning up to the issue. Failing to highlight the feature in its newest keyboards just continues Apple’s mindset about its keyboards.
Interestingly, the new enclosure matches the patent technique Apple filed back in 2016. It’s meant to keep out dirt and other debris by sealing the caps.
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Through Apple is not marketing the feature, potential customers can rest easy knowing the new MacBook Pro keyboards will be much more durable than previous versions. Apple mac windows download.
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Article source: https://www.technobuffalo.com/2018/07/17/teardown-of-new-macbook-keyboards-reveals-apple-fixed-its-reliability-issues/