Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Backlit keyboard on (new) entry-level MacBook?
- Thread starter Aztec
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Quick, somebody start another thread on this topic. We need at least three.
I agree, if Apple had not planned on including the backlit keyboard on the $1,299 model they'd better give people who ordered one before they fix it on the web site a free upgrade or there's going to be hell to pay.
I agree, if Apple had not planned on including the backlit keyboard on the $1,299 model they'd better give people who ordered one before they fix it on the web site a free upgrade or there's going to be hell to pay.
I too just spoke with an Apple rep and they confirmed that the 2.0GHz model does not have the backlit keyboard.
Loose money or loose a little bit profit from selling the top end MacBook at the price of the low-end?
There's no proof of anything -- just a whole lot of conflicting evidence. It's a pretty big screw-up, no matter how you look at it.
Yep, I ordered the 2.0 new Macbook today and on my confirmation slip it has the keyboard as being backlit. I am aware that many of the specs on the tech side of the page and the keynote say that it isn't backlit, but for whatever reason mine still says backlit. Hmmm...I wonder how Apple is going to deal with this. My order is currently "prepared for shipment" so we shall see...
Official reply to backlit keyboards on 1299 from Sales team.
Hi, my name is Justin R.. Welcome to Apple!
You: hello
Justin R.: How are you doing?
You: good
Justin R.: Great!
Justin R.: How can I assist you today?
You: quick question: there is alot of confusion on the internet today due to the presentation that mr.jobs gave saying that the high end macbook will have a backlit keyboard, does the 1299 along with the 1499 macbook have a backlit keyboard?
You: the website currently says 1499 macbook only in one place, and in the BTO and cart it shows the 1299 laptop has a backlit keyboard also
Justin R.: The $1499 2.4GHz model is the only MacBook with the backlit keyboard.
Justin R.: I apologize for the confusion.
You: ok, but i currently have a 1299 macbook in my cart and it says it has a backlit keyboard. why is that?
You: MacBook, 13-inch, Aluminum Part Number: MB466LL/A SuperDrive 8x (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW) 2GB 1066MHz DDR3 SDRAM - 2x1GB 160GB Serial ATA Drive @ 5400 rpm Backlit Keyboard (English) / User's Guide Accessory kit 2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo 1 $1,299.00 $1,299.00 Ships: 1 - 3 business days
Justin R.: Yes, this information is not correct and we are working to have it fixed.
You: what is your recourse for all the people who have already purchased it under the impression they are receiving a backlit keyboard? my significant other has already purchased one and will be very very upset to hear this
Justin R.: Just another minute...
Justin R.: I totally understand your concern. You can call our Customer Service Department and set up a return if you would like.
Justin R.: The number for Customer Service and Sales Support is 800-676-2775.
You: is that really the direction that CS decided to go on this?
Justin R.: This would be your best option, is to contact Customer Service to see what they will be able offer.
This is really crappy in my opinion.
Hi, my name is Justin R.. Welcome to Apple!
You: hello
Justin R.: How are you doing?
You: good
Justin R.: Great!
Justin R.: How can I assist you today?
You: quick question: there is alot of confusion on the internet today due to the presentation that mr.jobs gave saying that the high end macbook will have a backlit keyboard, does the 1299 along with the 1499 macbook have a backlit keyboard?
You: the website currently says 1499 macbook only in one place, and in the BTO and cart it shows the 1299 laptop has a backlit keyboard also
Justin R.: The $1499 2.4GHz model is the only MacBook with the backlit keyboard.
Justin R.: I apologize for the confusion.
You: ok, but i currently have a 1299 macbook in my cart and it says it has a backlit keyboard. why is that?
You: MacBook, 13-inch, Aluminum Part Number: MB466LL/A SuperDrive 8x (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW) 2GB 1066MHz DDR3 SDRAM - 2x1GB 160GB Serial ATA Drive @ 5400 rpm Backlit Keyboard (English) / User's Guide Accessory kit 2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo 1 $1,299.00 $1,299.00 Ships: 1 - 3 business days
Justin R.: Yes, this information is not correct and we are working to have it fixed.
You: what is your recourse for all the people who have already purchased it under the impression they are receiving a backlit keyboard? my significant other has already purchased one and will be very very upset to hear this
Justin R.: Just another minute...
Justin R.: I totally understand your concern. You can call our Customer Service Department and set up a return if you would like.
Justin R.: The number for Customer Service and Sales Support is 800-676-2775.
You: is that really the direction that CS decided to go on this?
Justin R.: This would be your best option, is to contact Customer Service to see what they will be able offer.
This is really crappy in my opinion.
What the hell? They're basing keyboard backlight on a price tier? That's preposterous... thats a super basic feature. It probably costs them more NOT to put it in (disrupting the build process).
It's a pain the online store has it wrong (and sucks more if anyone purchased that model not knowing that), but what do you expect them to do other than offer a complete refund? That model doesn't include the backlight. You want them to bump you up to the next model for free?
pasted from the apple store
Even the keyboard is advanced.
The MacBook keyboard is solid, responsive, and comfortable. Just put your fingers on the crisp keys and you’ll feel pure typing bliss. An illuminated keyboard, a popular feature of MacBook Pro and MacBook Air, now comes standard on the 2.4GHz MacBook model. So when you’re in low-light settings such as airports or lecture halls, you can always see what you’re typing. It’s a luminous feature for anyone on the go.
I got bumped to the 2.4 for free
Even the keyboard is advanced.
The MacBook keyboard is solid, responsive, and comfortable. Just put your fingers on the crisp keys and you’ll feel pure typing bliss. An illuminated keyboard, a popular feature of MacBook Pro and MacBook Air, now comes standard on the 2.4GHz MacBook model. So when you’re in low-light settings such as airports or lecture halls, you can always see what you’re typing. It’s a luminous feature for anyone on the go.
I got bumped to the 2.4 for free
I wouldn't rule it out completely, but I'd be very surprised if they upgraded people for free.
I think they'll offer:
A) A refund
B) You pay the difference and get the higher end model
They're not responsible for typos on their site, just like retailers aren't responsible for typos in circulars.
Sure, some might honor them out of kindness, but I think this is too large a price difference for them to eat. Especially since it seems a large number of the low-end buyers realized it was a mistake and weren't expecting the backlit keyboard, anyway...
I think they'll offer:
A) A refund
B) You pay the difference and get the higher end model
They're not responsible for typos on their site, just like retailers aren't responsible for typos in circulars.
Sure, some might honor them out of kindness, but I think this is too large a price difference for them to eat. Especially since it seems a large number of the low-end buyers realized it was a mistake and weren't expecting the backlit keyboard, anyway...
Welcome to the argument people who have been getting Combo drives in low end Macbooks and iBooks have been making for years. It probably cost Apple more to stock two separate parts (Combo and Superdrives) in their inventory system than the difference in wholesale price of the two units.
It's done simply because there's not much other reason for you to shell out several hundred dollars for the upgraded model, if you don't need the faster CPU and bigger HDD (and most people don't).
A refund won't work. That's just a lost sale and an unhappy customer. Requiring the customer to pay the difference won't work. If they wanted to the more expensive model, they'd have bought one in the first place. So that customer will be even less happy. Apple will have to recompense customers who ordered one thing and got something less. Kindness has nothing to do with it. A potential public relations nightmare does.
This happened on the 15" Powerbook G4's when they first introduced the backlit keyboard. The low end model did not have the backlit keyboard. So there is a sad precedence for this.
I would trust more what Steve Jobs said in the keynote than what is on the website, so that would mean that the 2.1 model wouldn't have it, although that is my opinion.
I think you're giving Apple way too much credit.
I'm sure they're aware of this "glitch" by now and if they were going to give away $1,599 laptops for $1,299, they would have fixed it by now (which they haven't)...
The only thing I can think of is maybe the low-end model will, in fact, have a backlit keyboard and it was a last minute change (like when the upgraded the original iMac's modem from 33.6k to 56k) that only took place moments before the announcement date, and some site wording and sales people are not up to date.
I had ordered a 2.0GHz just 2 hours ago and when I read all the rumors, I wanted to cancel my order. However, it couldnt be stopped because it was already prepared for shipment. I then called a rep, and he said that it has the backlit keyboard. I asked if the call is recorded and he said it was, so I will have to use that as evidence if they don't give me the backlit or some other deal.