The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    Is there any keyboard flex on the 2011 model MBPs?

    Discussion in 'Apple and Mac OS X' started by Helpmyfriend, Apr 2, 2011.

  1. Helpmyfriend

    Helpmyfriend Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    224
    Messages:
    328
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    I know the older gen MBPs have some flex to them. Do I need to check the new MBP for flex or do they all come with 100% rock solid keyboards with no flex at all on any key?
     
  2. doh123

    doh123 Without ME its just AWESO

    Reputations:
    996
    Messages:
    3,727
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    106
    Theres no flex... the keyboard is not an add on keyboard unlike old models... the unibodies have a very solid keyboard that is just keys, that stick up and through the main unibody that has holes made in it for the keys to go through... its very very solid.
     
  3. kornchild2002

    kornchild2002 Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    1,007
    Messages:
    1,925
    Likes Received:
    32
    Trophy Points:
    66
    I am not sure which older ones had flex as, based on the reviews of the unibody models, none of them experienced any type of keyboard flex whatsoever. My 13" MBP (2011) doesn't have any keyboard flex either. There is some flex when you push in on the back of the display but it really takes a large amount of force to make it slightly move. It is the best notebook I have come across in this area as even a friend's new Dell XPS 17 (which is also aluminum) experiences much more flex on the back of the display (though it still requires a large amount of pressure).
     
  4. electrosoft

    electrosoft Perpetualist Matrixist

    Reputations:
    2,766
    Messages:
    4,116
    Likes Received:
    3,968
    Trophy Points:
    331
    The old (OLD) Titaniums had flex, but as has been noted, the new Aluminum uni's with the individualized keys that protrude individually is very solid with a light but excellent solid travel with great spacing between the keys.

    The keyboard and trackpad on Macbooks are huge strengths imho.
     
  5. Helpmyfriend

    Helpmyfriend Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    224
    Messages:
    328
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Oh so the 2011 MBP, the keyboard is actually attached to the unibody as one piece?
     
  6. CanadianDude

    CanadianDude Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    507
    Messages:
    1,476
    Likes Received:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    56
    The keyboard is the chiclet style, where each key is an individual button so there is no flex whatsoever.
     
  7. Helpmyfriend

    Helpmyfriend Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    224
    Messages:
    328
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Oh ok thanks. But do you know what sits under the keys? On PC laptops its usually a thin piece of aluminum.
     
  8. Ollollo

    Ollollo Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    12
    Messages:
    139
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    When I press for instance the L-key on my 2010 MBP 13, the surrounding keys move slightly downwards, so the keys can't be completely independent. I would not call it flex though. Personally I can't see the big deal about keyboard flex, other than perhaps as a measurement of solidity. Flexy keyboards work great for typing. But thats just me :).
     
  9. kornchild2002

    kornchild2002 Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    1,007
    Messages:
    1,925
    Likes Received:
    32
    Trophy Points:
    66
    Maybe you should take a look at your own MBP to see exactly what we are talking about. Or, if you just put that in your signature because you want it, head on down to your local electronics store (whether it is Best Buy or an Apple Store) to see just what the MBPs look like.