Apple Users

TexasProgresive

(12,335 posts) Tue Mar 26, 2019, 06:37 AM Mar 2019

MacBook glitch when typing

I have owned 2 MacBooks. They both do this annoying thing on occasion when typing that I am unable to duplicate. The cursor will suddenly go to the beginning of the text I have already typed. This causes me to have to delete what got typed in the wrong place and to move the cursor back to where I was typing. This tends to break my chain of thought. Anybody else have this problem?

6 replies

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MacBook glitch when typing (Original Post) TexasProgresive Mar 2019 OP

no experience with macbooks, but for other laptops (windows), unblock Mar 2019 #1

My HP probook does that, too. And sometimes the curser disappears while typing text ... marble falls Mar 2019 #2

sticky keyboard .. or.. your word processor ? Tetrachloride Mar 2019 #3

control-a? CloudWatcher Mar 2019 #4

I think that must be it. TexasProgresive Mar 2019 #5

news Tetrachloride Mar 2019 #6

unblock

(54,242 posts)

1. no experience with macbooks, but for other laptops (windows),

Reply to TexasProgresive (Original post)

Tue Mar 26, 2019, 06:51 AM

Mar 2019

i have had this problem many times. it means one of two things:

1) there is a static charge on the touchpad/keyboard, in which case grounding the laptop and rebooting will usually fix the problem or

2) the touchpad/keyboard is fried and needs replacing. it's actually cheap and not hard to do this.

marble falls

(62,527 posts)

2. My HP probook does that, too. And sometimes the curser disappears while typing text ...

Reply to TexasProgresive (Original post)

Tue Mar 26, 2019, 10:01 AM

Mar 2019

the weird part is it only happens on DU!

Tetrachloride

(8,486 posts)

3. sticky keyboard .. or.. your word processor ?

Reply to TexasProgresive (Original post)

Tue Mar 26, 2019, 10:05 AM

Mar 2019

Can you list your word processor ? I tend to think this is your culprit --- in part.

If there is a modifier, such as CTRL or something which is sticking, this can help activate hidden shortcuts.

Less likely, something in System Preferences / Keyboard / Shortcuts

CloudWatcher

(1,933 posts)

4. control-a?

Reply to TexasProgresive (Original post)

Wed Mar 27, 2019, 11:04 AM

Mar 2019

Just a tidbit ... almost all Mac editors have some historical "emacs" key bindings. What? In particular ...

control-a go to the beginning of the line
control-e go to the end of the line
control-n go down a line (next)
control-p up up a line (prev)
control-f go forward a character
control-b go backward a character
control-d sucks up the next character
control-k kill (delete into kill buffer) from the current position to the end of the line
control-y undelete (yank) the kill buffer into the current cursor position.
control-l scroll window to center the current line

Why am I spewing all of this?

Well, first of all I use them all the time. It's much faster than having to use the mouse/trackpad for simple edits while typing.

But also ... is there a chance you were hitting control-a instead of (for example) shift-a when the cursor jumps to the beginning of the line?

I've seen my cursor jump around unexpectedly, but it's usually my fat-fingering the keyboard (well, when it's not my cat).

HTH.

TexasProgresive

(12,335 posts)

5. I think that must be it.

Reply to CloudWatcher (Reply #4)

Wed Mar 27, 2019, 12:01 PM

Mar 2019

I touch type but I learned on a manual typewriter. Am I showing my age? Anyway I have a bad habit of using the shift key with my left little finger even though the letter I am wanting is a left hand letter. Since "control" is below shift that makes it possible.
Thanks, I saved your list for future reference.

Tetrachloride

(8,486 posts)

6. news

Reply to TexasProgresive (Original post)

Wed Mar 27, 2019, 06:19 PM

Mar 2019

https://www.theverge.com/2019/3/27/18284042/apple-macbook-keyboard-apology-issues-bad-design

With its MacBook keyboards in the spotlight again thanks to a bruising column from Joanna Stern at The Wall Street Journal, Apple today acknowledged that a “small number” of its customers are still experiencing reliability issues and failing keys when using the company’s third-generation butterfly keyboard.

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