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Comment by Joeri | Hacker News Reader

Key travel isn't back to what it used to be, but it's moving down everywhere so apple at least isn't far behind. I went from a T series thinkpad to an M1 air and the keyboard was a clear downgrade, but in practice I find it to be "good enough".

Apple:

.7 mm - butterfly keyboard

1 mm - current mac scissor keyboard

1.3 mm - old mac scissor keyboard

Thinkpads:

1.8mm - T series thinkpads (aka the ones with the good keyboard)

1.5mm - last year's X1 carbon (the thin and light)

1.3mm - this year's X1 carbon

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For added reference, the beloved 7-row ThinkPad keyboards found in laptops like the T410 and T420 have 2.5mm key travel.

Kailh Choc (low profile) mechanical switches have a total travel of 3mm.

Cherry MX switches (and most clones) have 4mm travel. Some clones are a little more or less.

I miss the 0.7mm travel. Less work for the fingers. Faster typing. Too bad they couldn't make it reliable.

I know it's completely subjective, but I'm currently on a work provided 2018 mac with the 0.7mm travel and I despise it. I have far, far more typing errors on this keyboard than I do on pretty much anything else.

I'm excited to try the new 1mm keyboard.

Same, I use a mechanical keyboard at my desk, and being forced to use the laptop keyboard would drive me insane. I spilt coffee on it and ended up upgrading to a 2020 Pro which (to me) is just barely bearable.

You spilt coffee on purpose for an upgrade? :)

I certainly don't miss the feeling of typing on concrete. I suppose a very light fingered typist might appreciate the reduced travel though.

I actually thought the old butterfly keys were fine back when I was using them, but after getting an M1 2020 mbp, going back is HORRIBLE

Typing on concrete - that's exactly right. I got awful RSI from the butterfly keyboard on my 2018 15-inch MBP. I had used previous MacBooks for nearly a decade with no problems.

Yes! Thought I was the only one. It was slick, good-looking, and typing was a breeze on those.

But it was super-problematic and had mine broken multiple times over the years. If they could make 0.7mm butterfly reliable, that would have been awesome.

I feel like we are either odd ducks or else in a silent majority. I love minimal key travel and find it a far superior typing experience.

I love my 2019’s keyboard. That’s the year they added the extra membrane to prevent dust getting in. It’s been flawless for me for the last two years.

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