Macbook for typing ?

86JR

86JR

86JR

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Finally reached my third year, which means dissertation 10k word year. My friends in year above rewrote theirs atleast twice, so im looking at 50k words.

I also want to write a novel, had an idea a year ago and have been planning it one and off recently.

Ive wrote the above two sentances and already my hands hurt, using a saitek eclipse keyboard.

Im thinking of buying a Macbook Air as its light, quiet, i can sit in a chair somewhere in the house and type away, work in bed etc.

Im wondering if this is a good choice or if a Macbook Pro or normal Macbook would be a better idea ?

Thanks
 
I have a white MB, not the unibody one, the model previous and I have to say I love it, except for the keyboard.

The keys don't depress very far and often unless I press the key hard right in the middle of key, the letter won't register. Just to play devils advocate, perhaps it's the way I type but it doesn't happen on my G15 and didn't happen on my old MBP.
 
hmmm.... the keys aren"t too bad on my MBP...

Currently writing a literature review and having no problems at all!!! I might be a bit biased as I cant find any thing wrong with the damn thing... Too good to be true, well worth the money...
 
Go to the mac store and give it a go id say

Iv got a macbook pro from last year which i wrote my final year dissertation on (10k as well) and it was a lot better to type on than my uni's dell keyboards in the library. I think its all down to personal preference though...
 
pingwing said:
Go to the mac store and give it a go id say

Iv got a macbook pro from last year which i wrote my final year dissertation on (10k as well) and it was a lot better to type on than my uni's dell keyboards in the library. I think its all down to personal preference though...
Click to expand...

One thing I will say about this is that in the Apple store you will never truly get a good representation of typing as if you have the MB/MBP/MBA on your lap, the angle of your arm/hand will be different than if it was on a desk (as it would be in a store)... Still worth a trip i think... as said above, miles better than the crappy dell keyboards :p
 
After years of PC style (and old mac style) keyboards I'm finding my mbp keyboard to still be a bit tricky to type on, better than i was though.

Don't forget that you can always plug in an external keyboard of any type into a macbook if you fancy something different etc.

There could be new mac book air coming out soon which may have a smaller screen 11", so that could be another option.
 
The MacBook Air is all about weight (or lack of it) and portability.

I don't thionk anyone would recommend that you type for extended periods of time on a notebook keyboard anytway, so whichever notebook version you buy, you should invest in an external keyboard anyway.
 
twoblacklines said:
Ive wrote the above two sentances and already my hands hurt, using a saitek eclipse keyboard.

Im thinking of buying a Macbook Air as its light, quiet, i can sit in a chair somewhere in the house and type away, work in bed etc.
Click to expand...

Surely if you're writing that much, and you're concerned about hand/wrist/general comfort, you'd do better sitting at a good desk, with a good posture, and speccing yourself a nice chair instead? If you like the Mac keyboard, pick yourself up a USB alu one for 20 notes. I wouldn't recommend using a laptop for any length of time on your lap or in bed.
 
My MBP keyboard always misses the first 2-3 key strikes regardless of what they are if I haven't typed on it for 5 minutes or so.
 
I have always found my MBP to be perfectly fine to type on, like any other laptop mind. So it is not as comfortable as a large curved keyboard.

I also use the apple wireless keyboard which I would not use for more than ~1000 words as it is not that comfortable. The keys are all slightly too far spaced apart, so it looks nice but you will get strained fingers after too long.
 
Buy the USB keyboard and give that an extended try.
Worst case you can sell it on for 60%+ of it's value. It will also be handy with the laptop when you put it on a stand and work with a screen, or the laptop screen for extended sessions where I cannot advocate hunching over a laptop.

I personally love the apple keyboard and have them on my pcs as well as macs.
The reduced key travel required to determine a keypress is fantastic.
 
The MBP keyboard is excellent IMO, much better than my work machine (Leonovo/ IBM T60). I do agree with others that if you are going to write that much you would be better off with an external keyboard though...
 
I quite like the MBP keyboard. I mistype now and then but I think that is down to the spacing being a little different - my Toshiba notebook is a full size keyboard, more or less, so my hand position is a little used to that!

I like typing on notebook keyboards, so if I was comfortably sat at a desk or similar I could see myself doing a lot of typing without issue. :)
 
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