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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.

How come that all the international sites don't have this change then? Will the US lowend MacBook differ from the international ones then? The british, german and dutch sites, to name a few, all have the lowend MacBook without backlighting.
 
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.

Yes, I've also considered the possibility that something changed in the specs at the last moment. As for giving Apple too much credit, I don't think I am. They've made good on customer complaints in the past. Not that they do it out of the goodness of their hearts, mind you -- they do it to avoid ugly press.
 
I'd say it probably costs more to NOT include it as well. Totally ridiculous on Apple's part to leave out the backlight to entice people into the higher-specc'd (yet firewire-absent) Macbook.

I hope EVERYONE who ordered under the impression they were getting a backit keyboard gets bumped up for FREE. Apple has 20 BILLION in cash. They can afford to do the right thing every now and again.
 
well to contradict i just spoke to a Apple rep and she said that the website is being fixed and that all macbook models will ship with back-lit. including ones in the store.

she said that they had had a ton of calls on it already.
 
yea lots of conflicting answers going on, but if you save the convo that says you can exchange if it doesnt have the backlit then go for it
 
I'd say it probably costs more to NOT include it as well. Totally ridiculous on Apple's part to leave out the backlight to entice people into the higher-specc'd (yet firewire-absent) Macbook.

I hope EVERYONE who ordered under the impression they were getting a backit keyboard gets bumped up for FREE. Apple has 20 BILLION in cash. They can afford to do the right thing every now and again.

YEAH!!!
 
well to contradict i just spoke to a Apple rep and she said that the website is being fixed and that all macbook models will ship with back-lit. including ones in the store.

she said that they had had a ton of calls on it already.

So does this mean the 1299 model will be shipped with as the most expensive model due to apple's error on their website? Or was the 1299 model suppose to come with a backlit keyboard?
 
Ok right now it is 10:33 PM and it still says that $1299 laptop HAS a backlit keyboard!!!! So it takes them a whole day to correct a problem?

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So does this mean the 1299 model will be shipped with as the most expensive model due to apple's error on their website? Or was the 1299 model suppose to come with a backlit keyboard?

i think maybe they were just all just manufactured with the backlit and apples just shipping maybe what they have? who knows. but the 1299 was NOT supposed to have it. but every apple rep is saying yes they will have it, even though the website doesnt. and no one on the website is in a hurry to change it. so it must not be that big of a problem. who knows!?
 
Here from Apple website:

"Input:
specs_input20081014.jpg

Multi-Touch trackpad for precise cursor control; supports two-finger scrolling, pinch, rotate, three-finger swipe, four-finger swipe, tap, double-tap, and drag capabilities
2.0GHz MacBook

Built-in full-size keyboard with 78 (U.S.) or 79 (ISO) keys, including 12 function keys and 4 arrow keys (inverted “T” arrangement)
2.4GHz MacBook

Built-in full-size illuminated keyboard with 78 (U.S.) or 79 (ISO) keys, including 12 function keys and 4 arrow keys (inverted “T” arrangement)"
 
THEY ASSURED ME IT DOES HAVE IT. well i contacted them to here is the screen of it. The 2.0 have it for sure.
 

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I'm heading off to the store tomorrow to pick up the 2.0ghz model. I'll see whether it has it or not. Either way, what's the point of a backlited keyboard if you don't really look at the keyboard. All you need to do is put your fingers in the home row position and type, but I just think the backlit thing is cool.
 
I'm heading off to the store tomorrow to pick up the 2.0ghz model. I'll see whether it has it or not. Either way, what's the point of a backlited keyboard if you don't really look at the keyboard. All you need to do is put your fingers in the home row position and type, but I just think the backlit thing is cool.

I am not as skilled a typer as you are sir ;) so I must look down to see what I am typing every now and then even as we speak, so in the dark I have to lean in closer to get the light from my iMac to see what I am typing. It is a big plus for me if it has it :)
 
I am not as skilled a typer as you are sir ;) so I must look down to see what I am typing every now and then even as we speak, so in the dark I have to lean in closer to get the light from my iMac to see what I am typing. It is a big plus for me if it has it :)

yes but is it a deal breaker?
 
I'm a touch-typist... however I do get lost when I need to hit a function key and I often get the fn, ctrl, alt/option, and apple keys wrong. Why the heck is there an alt/option key?

And those pesky brackets and such on the right.
 
So I just called CS and CS is assuring me 100% that the 1299 does have a backlit keyboard, and that I can return it for the 2.4 if it does not.

Rest assured that they will let you return it for the 2.4, you'll just be paying the $300 price difference. And maybe a restocking fee, but you should be able to argue your way out of that one.

Either way, I'm buying the 2.0 today. Can't wait for it.
 
Heh.... previously it was black or white and now its backlit or not! I bet someone comes up and posts the grapes are sour and why shouldnt they.... $300 is alot these days!

BTW is the US Store still down as of 9:15 PM PT? I cant get it....
 
The $1299 model doesn't have a backlit keyboard.

Other than one error on the Apple store page, it's rather explicitly stated in the MacBook Specs page. It was also mentioned during the keynote, no?
 
I called 4 separate sales reps and they all told me the 2.0 had the backlit keyboard. I got so flustered that one of them spoke to her supervisor and told me it did indeed have it. She said if I didn't receive one with the backlit keyboard to call them and they would "make it right" for me.

It shipped this evening.
 

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The $1299 model doesn't have a backlit keyboard.

Other than one error on the Apple store page, it's rather explicitly stated in the MacBook Specs page. It was also mentioned during the keynote, no?

We're not going to know until this is all settled. Things happen to be fluid at Apple.
 
Why the heck is there an alt/option key?

And those pesky brackets and such on the right.

Alt/Option is used for a lot of keyboard shortcuts, and in many apps, holding it down will alter the behavior of a button or something in the UI, cf. iTunes. (If anything, it would be better to ask about Control, but that's still needed for some Unixy and now Windows apps...not to mention that's an additional modifier for keyboard shorcuts.)

And brackets are used because, in addition to being standard on US keyboards, square brackets are often required in typing, and curly braces...well, besides math (which they are pretty much useless for at that size anyway), you need them for programming in many languages? :D I do wonder who decided those would be a good idea...
 
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