Keyboard input skips letters when typing quickly

Question

Level 1

8 points

Keyboard input skips letters when typing quickly

I type very fast and noticed that if I type a word with a double letter (like two t's in 'letter), the second repeated character is often missing. If I type a bit slower, the problem is resolved.

Technically, this should not be a keyboard repeat issue, since it relates to two separate keystrokes, not holding down the key for repeat. Nonetheless, I set the repeat rate to max, the delay to minimum -- yet the problem persists.

It is very distinctly an issue with speed. My friends who type at a more moderate pace have no problem. In other words, it doesn't appear to be a defect particular to my machine. Rather, it is seems like a parameter that is just not capable of recognizing keystrokes in such rapid succession.

Note: I cannot reproduce the problem on a PC laptop, which seems to have a faster keyboard response.

Is this an OS issue that can be fixed with a hack? Or is this a limitation on the hardware?

MacBook 13" black, Mac OS X (10.4.7)

Posted on Sep 28, 2006 2:15 PM

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Answer 1

Sep 28, 2006 2:53 PM in response to mentalfl0s

I more into limitation on the hardware, not really limitation but apple engineer probably design the new keyboard style and tested with average to fast typer, but not a very fast typer like yourself.

Could also be your second stroke is not as strong as your first one since your habit with your previous keyboard that is more sensitive than the macbook keyboard.

To know if that is a software or hardware limitation for your kind of type rate speed, borrow a usb keyboard (white apple keyboard recomended), and type there as fast as you can, and check any letter missing from there.

If nothing missing, maybe the macbook keyboard is not that sensitive for your speed and you have to "adjust" your habit to put more muscle on your second stroke as well.

Good Luck.

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Answer 2

dwb

Level 7

33,256 points

Sep 28, 2006 3:30 PM in response to mentalfl0s

It may well be software related as opposed to OS. At various iterations of Word, Pages, and AppleWorks I could easily out type the program.

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Answer 3

jomiku

Level 4

1,126 points

Sep 28, 2006 5:16 PM in response to dwb

I agree with the post above that it's probably the software. What program?

I type 120 wpm or more and some programs can be a problem. It is on occasion my fault for missing the letter slightly but with Pages and a few others it is the program that drags.

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Answer 4

JE13

Level 4

3,938 points

Sep 28, 2006 6:28 PM in response to mentalfl0s

Have you gone under Preference>Keyboard & Mouse?

You can speed up the key repeat and key delay rate.

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Answer 5

mmike70

Level 2

324 points

Sep 28, 2006 6:41 PM in response to mentalfl0s

My third defective macbook did the same thing after coming back from RSD repairs which included a keyboard replacement. If you didn't hit each key with a very deliberate stoke, it had a good chance of not being recognized. My fourth macbook has other issues but it does have a perfectly functioning keyboard now. My first defective macbook had sticking keys due to excess glue under the keys.

Amazing with something as simple as a keyboard, apple still can't get it right. This is the first device in almost 30 years of using and buying computers I've ever had to worry about a stupid keyboard working.

I'd suggest you visit a store which sells macbooks and see if the behaviour occurs there as well.

apple: the new lemon Mac OS X (10.4.7)

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Answer 6

mentalfl0s Author

Level 1

8 points

Feb 3, 2008 6:37 PM in response to mentalfl0s

Whatever the problem, it seems to have gone away. Possible that i simply adapted to it, possible that there was a software fix. I can't say for sure.

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