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We need to talk about failing keyboards on these new Macbooks.

We need to talk about failing keyboards on these new Macbooks. on HackerTube: recommended by 2 Hacker News commenters across 2 separate months, 2018–2019.

Louis Rossmann discusses failing keyboards on newer MacBooks, comparing a Dell keyboard repair with an Apple keyboard repair and explaining why Apple's design is costly and hard to fix.

Why Hacker News recommends it

Cited in MacBook keyboard and repairability threads for its clear teardown of what a replacement involves.

people recommended it
2
separate months
2
strong recommendations
0
discussed on HN
2018–2019
“Its eye opening seeing a keyboard replacement being performed”
— ru999gol, Oct 2018, in “Apple’s repair kill switch hasn’t been activated yet”

What HN commenters said

6 Hacker News comments link this video. Each one links back to its thread.

ru999golOct 2018Recommends

Apple intentionally builds their keyboards in such a way that it is incredible difficult to replace, the amount of skilled labor required doesn't make it profitable to just replace the keyboard. Its eye opening seeing a keyboard replacement being performed: ▶ this video Who is to blame for letting it get so far? I think its not just Apples fault, its governments fault not regulating them and consumers fault for still buying and even defending their practices (which you can very well observe in this thread).

in “Apple’s repair kill switch hasn’t been activated yet” · View on HN

ballenfApr 2018Recommends

Louis Rossmann has examined these issues in detail on his electronics repair YouTube channel: ▶ this video (I disagree with the level of his vitriol against Apple, but I appreciate his deep teardowns and clear explanations. He just doesn't seem to understand how valuable the Apple software is vs. Windows to those who need or appreciate osx.)

in “Don’t buy the MacBook Pros even on sale, in my opinion” · View on HN

onepremiseMar 2019Cites it

louis Rossman did an episode on the macbook keyboard problems: ▶ this video It's insane what a mac user must go through even to attempt to repair this themselves. Another reason it's important to support right to repair, [link] . There's also a lawsuit for the keyboard defects: [link]

in “Appl Still Hasn’t Fixd Its MacBook Kyboad Problm” · View on HN

shawnOct 2018Cites it

Keyboards, on the other hand, are now impossible to repair. ▶ this video Interesting. I can edit my comment after it was vouched. Hmm. I could exploit this loophole. But I won't – yet – because I care about HN.

in “Apple’s repair kill switch hasn’t been activated yet” · View on HN

verisimilitudeApr 2018Cites it

His comments about the keyboard in the current MacBook Pros are particularly apt: ▶ this video So, even a person holding 1 (2, 3!) genuine Apple keyboard(s) in their hands likely still couldn't do the repair -- they'd have to get a new top case. Out of warranty, I've heard it is a $500 repair. That seems to be a direct consequence of ignoring repairability (the maintainability ship sailed long ago).

in “Apple Sued an iPhone Repair Shop Owner in Norway and Lost” · View on HN

shabbleApr 2018Cites it

If it's just a keycap (and maybe even the butterfly mechanism) that shouldn't be too bad. ▶ this video (from about 5:20) talks a bit about what's involved in an actual keyboard replacement, if you ignore some of the histrionics. I think from what I've heard that for actual replacements, Apple will swap out the whole 'top case' subassembly, which could be a 4-500$ part if it's not covered under warranty.

in “Don’t buy the MacBook Pros even on sale, in my opinion” · View on HN

Topics & tags

Repair, teardowns & right to repairConsumer devices & gadgetslouis rossmannmacbookbutterfly keyboardright to repairteardown