Mark Ruttle

Q: Dead spot on space bar

I am wondering if any one else has noticed a dead spot on the bottom right corner of the space bar on the macbook air. I can fully depress the space bar repeatedly where my thumb likes to hover over it, and the cursor does not move. Admittedly it is a very small dead spot, but since I write all day long, it is becoming increasingly annoying. Is this just something I am going to have to live with?

Macbook Air, Mac OS X (10.6.6)

Posted on Mar 11, 2011 9:05 AM

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Q: Dead spot on space bar

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  • by jbroady,

    jbroady jbroady Mar 12, 2011 3:03 PM in response to Mark Ruttle
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 12, 2011 3:03 PM in response to Mark Ruttle
    Yes, I have the exact same problem, only on the right side and only intermittently. I'd say it happens every five or seven times I use the space bar. But it is very disconcerting.
  • by slyguy_28,

    slyguy_28 slyguy_28 Mar 12, 2011 3:28 PM in response to Mark Ruttle
    Level 2 (170 points)
    Mar 12, 2011 3:28 PM in response to Mark Ruttle
    Thankfully, I haven't noticed that. Even as I write this...
    Sly
  • by 15shades,

    15shades 15shades Mar 14, 2011 11:52 AM in response to Mark Ruttle
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 14, 2011 11:52 AM in response to Mark Ruttle
    really hope there is a software fix that they can push but it seems like hardware design flaw.
  • by cactux,

    cactux cactux Mar 19, 2011 6:53 AM in response to Mark Ruttle
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 19, 2011 6:53 AM in response to Mark Ruttle
    Same here I have the same experience, it is quite frustrating.
    It doesn't register when hitting the lower left or lower right.

    I am trying to reeducate myself to strike on the upper part every time, not easy
  • by timjoyce,

    timjoyce timjoyce Mar 21, 2011 2:09 PM in response to Mark Ruttle
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    Mar 21, 2011 2:09 PM in response to Mark Ruttle
    I too have this problem. it is easily reproducible - just hold down the far right of the spacebar. My macbook air 13" is brand new - should i return it or does every affect every unit?
  • by davidd31415,

    davidd31415 davidd31415 Apr 2, 2011 10:32 PM in response to timjoyce
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 2, 2011 10:32 PM in response to timjoyce
    I guess I should havelookedharderbeforewritingmy postaboutthissameissue. Exceptformeitseemsmorelikethe entirespacebar isadeadspot.

    Just the other day Itried outtheMotorolaAtrixkeyboardand said afterwards"thisis one ofthe cheapestfeeling keybaordsI haveeverused." While theletterson the Airkeyboardfeelnice thespacebarputsitinthe samecategory astheAtrix. Wow.Iwouldrathercarry aroundtwo heavy laptopsthatthinsridiculousexcuse for acomputer.
  • by canuckm3,

    canuckm3 canuckm3 Apr 5, 2011 10:00 AM in response to davidd31415
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 5, 2011 10:00 AM in response to davidd31415
    same problem, spacebar only works 50% of the time.
    very fustrating for a brand new computer.
    apple care says it is not a "known problem". actually they deny ever hearing about it.
  • by gilbyrocks,

    gilbyrocks gilbyrocks Apr 23, 2011 6:35 AM in response to Mark Ruttle
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 23, 2011 6:35 AM in response to Mark Ruttle

    Experiencing the same thing on here.  Frustrating enough to make me search for others with this issue. Looks likes there's also a dead spot on the bottom left corner as well (though i never use that spot).  Definite design flaw with this keyboard.  Guess it's something we'll have to dealwith...

  • by slyguy_28,

    slyguy_28 slyguy_28 Apr 23, 2011 8:56 AM in response to Mark Ruttle
    Level 2 (170 points)
    Apr 23, 2011 8:56 AM in response to Mark Ruttle

    Sorry to hear that the keyboard is acting like that for you. I find it to be the best feeling and most responsive laptop keyboard I've used and haven't had any problems yet. As fast and smooth as this computer is, having a faulty keyboard would be like trying to race a sports car with tires that sometimes go flat.

     

    I hope Apple can resolve it for you quickly...

    Sly

  • by mattwbr,

    mattwbr mattwbr Apr 29, 2011 9:56 AM in response to Mark Ruttle
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Apr 29, 2011 9:56 AM in response to Mark Ruttle

    I also had this problem on my new Macbook Air. The spacebar would not register if I pushed on the right or left sides (about a half inch in on either side). I eventually got so frustrated that I popped the spacebar off with my fingernails and a screwdriver. It seems that there are sensors on either side as well as the one in the middle, but they do not have a rubber thing over them. Im not really sure how it happened but if you take the spacebar and bend it -slightly- so that the edges curve up and the middle is the lowest point it should work. The curvature is barely noticable but it means that the spacebar registers along the whole length.

    So to fix this,

    take the spacebar off and bend it carefully so that the ends curve up slightly

    put it back on, pushing down in the middle first and then pushing the sides on (make sure everything clicks in)

    enjoy.

    (the very ends still dont work but it is not noticable when typing)

  • by jedediah_whatever,

    jedediah_whatever jedediah_whatever Jun 2, 2011 3:30 AM in response to Mark Ruttle
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    Jun 2, 2011 3:30 AM in response to Mark Ruttle

    It's true, the sensors on the sides of the spacebar appear to be missing the rubber nipple things. They do work, meaning I can press them directly to enter a space, but the spacebar isn't hitting them ever, only the middle sensor. Compare with the key on the right.

     

    spacebar.jpg

     

    This is no doubt the reason the spacebar is a little dodgy. I suspect the rubber things were removed late in the design process to solve some other problem. Perhaps I will try to substitute something back in.

  • by jaychiu,

    jaychiu jaychiu Aug 5, 2011 4:06 PM in response to Mark Ruttle
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    Aug 5, 2011 4:06 PM in response to Mark Ruttle

    I'm experiencing the same issue on my new generation (Lion) Macbook Air 1.8GHz i7.  I haven't removed the spacebar since the machine is only a week old, but I'm thinking it's a safe bet that Apple has used the same construction.  A big boo since my thumbs naturally sit on those corners when typing

  • by klebba,

    klebba klebba Aug 8, 2011 11:34 PM in response to Mark Ruttle
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    Aug 8, 2011 11:34 PM in response to Mark Ruttle

    Same problem here -- brand new 13" MBA + Lion. Apple needs to fix this

  • by Sky Surfer,

    Sky Surfer Sky Surfer Aug 14, 2011 3:46 PM in response to klebba
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 14, 2011 3:46 PM in response to klebba

    Same here as well - it's easy to reproduce if you type in a specific spot - lower, 1" to the right or left.

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