We need to talk about failing keyboards on these new Macbooks.
Why Hacker News recommends it
Cited in MacBook keyboard and repairability threads for its clear teardown of what a replacement involves.
What it is
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.
Recommended by 2 HN commenters across 2 different months, 2018 to 2019.
What Hacker News said
Recommends ballenf · 2018-04 · on “Don’t buy the MacBook Pros even on sale, in my opinion”
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.)
Recommends ru999gol · 2018-10 · on “Apple’s repair kill switch hasn’t been activated yet”
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).
Cites verisimilitude · 2018-04 · on “Apple Sued an iPhone Repair Shop Owner in Norway and Lost”
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 $500 repair. That seems to be a direct consequence of ignoring repairability (the maintainability ship sailed long ago).
Cites shabble · 2018-04 · on “Don’t buy the MacBook Pros even on sale, in my opinion”
If it's just a keycap (and maybe even the butterfly mechanism) that shouldn't be too bad. [this video] (from about 5:20) talks a bit about what's involved in an actual keyboard replacement, if you ignore some of the histrionics. I think from what I've heard that for actual replacements, Apple will swap out the whole 'top case' subassembly, which could be a 4-500$ part if it's not covered under warranty.
Cites shawn · 2018-10 · on “Apple’s repair kill switch hasn’t been activated yet”
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.
Cites onepremise · 2019-03 · on “Appl Still Hasn’t Fixd Its MacBook Kyboad Problm”
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]