Apple Fails To Stop Class Action Lawsuit Over MacBook Butterfly Keyboards

Mark Wilson quotes BetaNews: Apple has failed in an attempt to block a class action lawsuit being brought against it by a customer who claimed the company concealed the problematic nature of the butterfly keyboard design used in MacBooks.

The proposed lawsuit not only alleges that Apple concealed the fact that MacBook, MacBook Pro and MacBook Air keyboards were prone to failure, but also that design defects left customers out of pocket because of Apple's failure to provide an effective fix.
Engadget argues that Apple "might face an uphill battle in court.

"While the company has never said the butterfly keyboard design was inherently flawed, it instituted repair programs for that keyboard design and even added the latest 13-inch MacBook Pro to the program the moment it became available. Also, the 16-inch MacBook Pro conspicuously reverted to scissor switches in what many see as a tacit acknowledgment that the earlier technology was too fragile."

We'll see how the case unfolds

[Antique Geekmeister]

Please, excuse me, I couldn't resist the line with no other posts made yet.

Re:

[rlwinm]

I don't think it will unfold without a pentalobe screwdriver.

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[PolygamousRanchKid]

. . . beware that unfolding a MacBook voids its warranty.

sucky keyboard

[fluffernutter]

My keyboard was replaced once under Applecare but now it is starting to fail a second time despite my efforts to blow it out every time I use it. The only thing that I feel would be 'fair' in this case is to replace the entire keyboard, or the entire laptop if that is physically impossible.

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[Forty Two Tenfold]

Your typing on it wrong.

No, YOU're.

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[Rockoon]

or the entire laptop if that is physically impossible.

Apple will gladly sell you a $2400+ keyboard replacement. Its already on the market for you to enjoy.

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[DNS-and-BIND]

But...you have to understand...the designer was bored of the old kind of keyboard. He had to design new things! That's what a designer is! Why do you want to oppress such an open mind, such a free spirit? Leave these petty problems and try to appreciate people who live life on a higher plane than yourself.

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[DontBeAMoran]

I don't even know where to begin with your assumption. This is so stupid that nobody in their right mind would agree with you. I mean, "the designer was bored of the old keyboard"? Really?

Everyone knows the designer wanted to make the laptop 1mm thinner, and to hell with the consequences.

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[Freischutz]

My keyboard was replaced once under Applecare but now it is starting to fail a second time despite my efforts to blow it out every time I use it. The only thing that I feel would be 'fair' in this case is to replace the entire keyboard, or the entire laptop if that is physically impossible.

I just go over it with a domestic vacuum cleaner or chunky industrial dust-buster that I have whenever a key starts to stick. It's worked for me so far.

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[fluffernutter]

The keys still sound like they're filled with the stuff on the floor of a movie theater rather than having a click.

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[tysonedwards]

Sounds like survivorship bias.

Re: sucky keyboard

[Cmdln Daco]

Stockholm syndrome. Many Apple customers suffer from it.

Hate to blame the user, but...

[Solandri]

You knew this was a new, untested keyboard design when you bought the product. You decided to buy it anyway instead of getting the older model or waiting to see how the new design fared under use. Or worse, you knew lots of users were complaining that the design was flaky, but you bought it anyway.

The only obligation Apple has is to replace parts which break under warranty. The use experience not living up to your expectations does not constitute a failure the company is obligated to correct. Apple h

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[fluffernutter]

Actually the real story is that I knew I needed a mac so I bought a mac. I expected it to be as durable as every other laptop I have ever purchased that cost half the price.

And I didn't find out about the scissor design until the 'speck of dust' article on slashdot which came out much later. The vehicle I just bought has new radio tuning knobs, am I supposed to wait three years and buy one used so I can ensure the knobs won't break off? People buy Apple because they're supposed to know how to make a ba

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[AmiMoJo]

The best part is that some models only have USB C ports (which you also need for charging) so you can't even plug in a USB keyboard without a dongle.

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[fluffernutter]

Also the USB-C ports wear out quickly. If you look on the Apple forum it is full of people who can't get USB drives to work consistently and then found out that the USB-C port loosened so much in the first couple years that the contact isn't staying at the slightest movement and breaks the connection to the drive.

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[AmiMoJo]

USB C ports have to be higher quality to survive due to the smaller pin pitch. Some Macs probably have additional wear due to only having one port and needing dongles for everything.

Re: sucky keyboard

[Cmdln Daco]

You should sell it immediately. Apple laptops from those years will soon have nearly zero resale value.

This is a major failure on Apple's part

[Waffle Iron]

Apple screwed up seriously here: They apparently failed to put an effective binding arbitration clause in their EULA.

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[JaredOfEuropa]

an effective binding arbitration clause in their EULA.

Why those things are even legal is beyond me...

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[drinkypoo]

Why those things are even legal is beyond me...

Corporations write legislation, and pay congressdroids to pass it.

Woot

[jdossey]

I can't wait to get my app store credit for $1.49 when Apple loses this case!

Oh lordy! A class-action lawsuit

[TimHunter]

Apple will lose and have to pay $100,000,000, or about .01% of their value. The lawyers will get $90,000,000 and the class members will divide up the rest. So if you're a member of the class look for a check for about $8.72.

2 solutions to this problem

[cormandy]

Although In the past I had purchased MacBooks for family members, I purchased a MacBook Pro to replace my own Thinkpad at the end of 2016. Experienced more than just keyboard problems: speaker failure and wake-from-sleep issues as well. Had the top case replaced. Sadly the 2nd keyboard had started to fail, H key no longer works. The first solution was to buy an Apple Magic Keyboard which I fitted with some felt pads to rest it on the Macbook Pro and elevate it above the built-in keyboard. I can once a

Hurry up, Apple

[RazorSharp]

They need to get the scissor keyboards back on the 13" models so I can buy a new laptop. The 16" is just too big for my needs. Hopefully in early 2020 they get rid of that wretched butterfly keyboard. I considered compromising and getting one but after testing it out in an Apple store I just couldn't. I type too much to deal with a zero-travel keyboard.