Now if only they could also get rid of the TouchBar. Most frustrating "feature" ever as I keep accidentally pressing some parts of it while resting my hands or typing. Not to mention that I don't look down at the keyboard area as I type.<p>Keep the TouchID button, get rid of the rest, just like the current Airs.
> Negative public opinion, multiple lawsuits, and ongoing issues with all keyboards in Mac notebooks released since 2015 have led Apple to launch a keyboard repair program that applies to all Macs with a butterfly keyboard, including 2019 models.<p>Kind of glossing over the rather important detail that Apple's keyboard repair program entitles you to an exact replacement of the same broken-ass keyboard design that caused your issue in the first place. If I remember correctly, they won't even upgrade you to their later-generation butterfly mechanism; if you go in with a membrane-less 1st-generation keyboard, that's what you get as a replacement.
I actually got used to the 2018 MBA butterfly despite my initial dislike and hesitation. That being said, I'm grateful for all the lobbying to improve butterfly keyboards because I got a much improved version with a replacement program in case one of these horrific ghost finger bugs or malfunctions occur. I definitely would not have bought this MBA if it had the same butterfly keyboard as a MacBook or pre 2017 MacBook Pro.<p>I just hope that the next incarnation of scissors keyboards or whatever mechanism they adopt doesn't go through another multi-year cycle of defective hardware, denials and silent upgrades.<p>I wonder if this move will trigger people who prefer butterfly keyboards or only know butterfly keyboards if and when it gets released.
They’re most likely getting rid of it (if they do) because of the high failure rates, rather than for any other reason. The keyboard works fine when it’s working—it just constantly fails due to dust.
The butterfly mechanism is fine, as a class of mechanism, it's Apple's implementation which pushes the limits of sound engineering. It's perfectly possible for that kind of keyswitch to have large travel and a good actuation threshold.
Reminds me of the VAG TSI problems - people avoid VW, Audi, Skoda and Seat gasoline cars with those engines from around 2007 to 2013 (don't remember the exact years).
Could not Apple place the touchbar between touchpad and keyboard and leave the function keys alone? That might please both camps and rid of controversy.
I use Karabiner Elements to allow me to press and hold space while hitting 1234567890-= to get F1 through F12. I find this to be an acceptable workaround.