Jump to content

2017 MBP Backlight Woes


Recommended Posts

Some of you may recall that about a year and a half ago, my Air started acting up with the t key repeating.  Turned out it had been set down? near some liquid and the fans had sucked it in and sprayed it over the interior.  Which brought me to a 2017 MBP.

Well, I have been scrupulous about keeping liquid away from this fucker (as I always am), and have been pretty scrupulous about cleaning the kb with a damp cloth, duster, and canned air.

About a month ago, the T key became or I noticed a little brighter than the others.  Still works fine.  Today, the 9 key started flickering when the backlight is turnt up.  I reset SCM and closed it to reset all that and it still kept happening.  It has stopped now. 

I made a genius bar appointment and then canceled it because I don't want to know, really.

Anyone have any experience with this?

I like the physical package of Macs, but my experience hasn't been exactly fantastic.  I'm on my third ultrabook now, and none of them have lasted two years.  I'm pretty agnostic about OSes, but dislike what I see of W10.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Actually, this is just the kb backlight, not the screen, although it has done a couple of weird things (a white dot at the bottom of the screen for a while, and it was fuzzed out on the way open not too long ago, but recovered).

I'm just going to ignore this for a while. 

I have never owned any pc that wasn't a laptop.  Ultrabooks, well really SSDs I guess, are quite cool, but I should probably quit buying them because they have sucked for me in terms of longevity. I rarely travel for work anymore, but I do go crosstown quite a bit, so small and light is nice but not a dealbreaker.

I used to get real excited about buying a new laptop, now it's just sunk money.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

34 minutes ago, Lobwedgephil said:

This is a free fix, usually done in a day now as they can repair in store depending on location. You have 4 years, and they will replace with a 2018 model keyboard, which is slightly better, but some stilll have issues, I haven't. 

 

 

As far as I can tell, this free fix applies only if you have sticky or stuck keys, not backlight issues.  I do kind of suspect that blowing my keyboard out fairly often may have something to do with the backlight issues, at least the T key.  The 9 key hasn't been flickering since OP.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 6/14/2019 at 9:31 AM, 52-80 said:

I was on MacOS side for years but W10 is really, really good. 

For 98% of people for 98% of use case the 2 OSes are equally effective.

I just loathe the fact that that have rearranged the settings that every sentient computer user knew where to find, in some effort to be "user-friendly."

So, Friday, the MBP didn't misbehave at all, except for the screen going dark briefly after being opened.  Today the 9 key is flickering and bright.  I just know they're going to say its the logic board or a kb defect not covered by the program(s).  Dumbass bar appointment at 1245 tomorrow.

I have some nice PC choices lined up to terminate my experience with Apple with extreme prejudice.

Edited by TwiceHorn
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Well, props to Lobwedgephil and YChang.  Guy at Genius Bar put it in for a new topcase under the keyboard thing.  He didn't seem to think it was anything but the keyboard.  Ran their diagnostics, nothing else fucked up.  Should have it back Tuesday.

I still fear them finding something else wrong when they get it open.  Genius did say he'd never seen that before.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Welp, bullet dodged.  It's ready for pickup.  Not even 24 hours down and starting on a Sunday.  Whew.  Good on Apple.

It is a little disturbing that they have these fairly major issues going in the post-2016 MBP keyboards and the display connector, but they are mostly doing right by their customers with them.  After class-actions, though.

Apparently, both problems a result of trying to get fairly heavy duty machines into an Air form-factor.  Which I guess is nice, but seems unnecessary.  Not sure I would have replaced the Air with a Pro if it wasn't relatively thin and light, so there's that.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

People can trash apple all they want.  I had a toddler jab a pen into my new apple laptop screen, i took it to the apple store, they gave me a courtesy screen replacement and shipped it back in 2 business days.  That sorta stuff builds lots of brand goodwill

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Didn't realize that a topcase replacement included a new battery.  That's nice.

Either they replaced the keyboard with something improved, or my keys had gotten pretty crunchy despite my effort because it types more quietly than before, the keys feel a little "damped."  I have read that newer keyboards include a membrane of some sort for either quieter operation or spill and crud proofing.

Also, the only reason you could tell it wasn't brand new was the left side of the palmrest was slightly lighter (space grey), now that's gone.

Apple is pretty much off my shitlist.  I do think they got overzealous in trying to turn the MBP into an ultrabook.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

y'all are going to say this is "inconvenient" but it's really not; it's just an extra step and more of a habit now. 

But, why not use a wireless keyboard & mouse while using the laptop at home and/or at the office? Besides the obvious, it keeps me from hovering over the keyboard and spilling stuff on it.  I do it mainly because I cant stand typing on attached keyboards. I also put something like an old clear document protector over the laptop keyboard to keep dust and stuff out of it.  

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have definitely done that before, but just haven't lately.  I might look into a little keyboard.  Depending how I set it up, my aging eyes might not appreciate the extra distance from the screen.

The OS and all my files were intact, but some of my settings were changed.  The security was turned back on, which rendered a few of my programs useless and the size of my email font was reduced, the list not the emails itself.  Probably be finding little things like that for another week or so.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

It's just another in a series of problems for the more recent generations of MBP.

It seems that by trying to make the MBP into another ultrabook, a possibly dubious decision unto itself (I don't see tons of differentiation between MacBook Air, MacBook, and MacBook Pro), Apple may have crossed a bridge too far.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 year later...

Bump because it’s 2017 mb pro related.  Has anyone did the free keyboard update?  I had a couple keys that periodically wouldn’t register clicks so I sent mine into Apple.  I’m curious as to how long it’ll take and is the update any good?   

  • Hook 'Em 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

6 minutes ago, SDG said:

Bump again.  Already got my laptop back and the keys all work like new again plus they even installed a new battery.  not bad for free.    

I got mine back in 24 hours I think.  I was amazed.  And yeah, they replace the whole top case, which includes the battery.  If you don't get it warranted, its' about 750 bucks.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.



×
×
  • Create New...