I have recently been in the market for a new laptop and I have been following framework for a while. My biggest criteria is touchpad and keyboard quality as I can work around os. I have looked around the forum and I have found comparisons against the awful butterfly keyboard but I’m wondering if anyone has some personal experience regarding the new m2 MacBook Pro 14’s keyboard and touchpad vs the framework as I really like it and wonder how the framework compares.
The keyboard is a bit of a wash and will come down to personal preference. I wasn’t overly impressed by the 14" Macbook Pro keyboard. It’s fine (better than the butterfly mechanism), but it’s nothing super special. The Framework keyboard seems to have SLIGHTLY more travel to the keys. If you like that, you’ll probably prefer the keyboard on the Framework. If you prefer a slightly lower travel key, you may prefer the Macbook. Both are fine, but I actually prefer the keyboard on the Framework.
I’ve yet to find any trackpad that can match the one Apple uses on their Macbooks. I actually think the trackpad click on the latest Macbook pros was a slight step back from previous models I’ve used (a bit more “clacky” and hollow feeling), but it’s still the best trackpad I’ve personally used. The trackpad on the Framework is pretty good. But it’s not as good as the one on the Mac.
However, keep in mind it’s not all about OS beyond that. If any component on that Macbook fails in the next few years, you very well may be chucking the thing in the bin and looking for a new laptop. The Framework is fully upgradable and repairable. The M2 Macbook is just about the farthest from repairable that you can get in a modern laptop.
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I can report all the keys work and I can type just fine on the Framework laptop.
I have the Macbook Pro 14 M1 Max and for a laptop keyboard it is nice. I use to think I really liked it until I got myself an external mechanical keyboard. After years of wondering WTF people liked these noisy keyboards for, I know understand and appreciate it so much that I have grown to feel that typing on the Macbook keyboard to be a sacrafice I accept for times of mobility. I’m sure it’ll be the same for the Framework keyboard when my order is delivered.
I am interested in what you mean by working around the OS? Do you mean you are just as comfortable in Windows/Linux and MacOS? or are you planning to run a specific OS no matter what machine you have? The reason I ask is because I’m running Linux on my Mac Mini but I wouldn’t advise anyone to use it as a daily environment yet or any time probably in the near future. If I remember correctly you cannot boot into Windows on the Apple Silicon.