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 to Return in New MacBook Air?
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
I've been using Mac laptops regularly since the intro of the G3 iBook - NEVER have I had a problem seeing the keyboard in the dark - the screen illuminates it, even at the dimmest setting. Maybe this backlit kayboard's popularity has been inflated by one or more of the Mac Rumors writers. The reports of this feature' being a necessity almost make me embarrassed to be a Mac user.
I would love apple to surprise me with a 15" model and discrete gpu... I can dream
...Guess i"ll have to see what the MBP refresh brings, looking for a new portable Oct!
I'm excited by the imminent prospect of sandy bridge airs, intel 3000hd not so much... Either way, bring it on!
Are you saying the MBP will get refreshed this October??
I'm happy about it
I've had mac laptops with and without the backlit keyboard and it's one of those things that once you have it you do miss it. I can type in the dark just fine but when I'm laying in bed watching movies it's nice to know where the various (audio/brightness) keys are so you can easily find them in the dark.
The bigger reason I'm glad that Apple is bringing it back is for consistency across product lines. The more the products are the same, the simpler it is for the consumer. Instead of having to compare a long list of "features" on a chart when making a decision, people can just choose the size/weight/price that suits them best and feel good that they aren't getting an (unnecessarily) inferior experience for making one choice over another.
Consistency is the reason why I was annoyed they didn't include a camera in the 1st Gen iPad. Now finally (pretty much) every Apple product has a camera which is a win for consumers and developers.
I've had mac laptops with and without the backlit keyboard and it's one of those things that once you have it you do miss it. I can type in the dark just fine but when I'm laying in bed watching movies it's nice to know where the various (audio/brightness) keys are so you can easily find them in the dark.
The bigger reason I'm glad that Apple is bringing it back is for consistency across product lines. The more the products are the same, the simpler it is for the consumer. Instead of having to compare a long list of "features" on a chart when making a decision, people can just choose the size/weight/price that suits them best and feel good that they aren't getting an (unnecessarily) inferior experience for making one choice over another.
Consistency is the reason why I was annoyed they didn't include a camera in the 1st Gen iPad. Now finally (pretty much) every Apple product has a camera which is a win for consumers and developers.
I really doubt they will drop the superdrive just yet, for several reasons:
1. It still has too many uses and is perceived as a "standard" part of a laptop by too many buyers.
2. Apple already has a line w/o the drive and a MBP redesign would put the Air at an awkward position in the lineup. A new 13" MBP would sell for about what a 13" Air does, but with higher specs. So unless Apple plans to kill the current generation of Airs creation of "Air Pros" makes little sense.
I have no doubt the next redesign will include some new features and a cool case - but I would expect it to include more things along the lines of better displays / networking / etc. than becoming Air Pros.
Has anyone ever bought an Apple product from Best Buy? I have a hefty gift certificate there and was wondering if it would take a while for them to get the new MBA's?
(Excitement over latest MBA 'news' 
)
... and back to reality.
But I do hope the new rumour is true.
)... and back to reality.
But I do hope the new rumour is true.
The problem with smaller versions is not just the screen, but the overall form factor. As you shrink the screen you also shrink the keyboard - and anything appreciably lest than 11" will be tough to type on as well as lack the screen real estate needed for a good user experience for most users.
While there are users who really don't need much screen space and can live with a chiclet keyboard they are neither Apple's target market nor would such a machine fit in with Apple's vision of the Apple experience. That, plus Job's seeming aversion to small screens tend to point to no Air mini's.
My 11" air is the best laptop I've ever had. I sold a 15" MBP to buy it and the only thing I miss is the backlit keyboard. That and a ULV i5 will swing me to upgrade.
The cost will stay the same as the current line. They put this in for two reasons. One is to pass on the cheaper cost of the materials such as lack of discrete GPU to the customer. And two is to give this refresh an advantage over the previous model despite the lack of GPU.
Ding, ding, ding. Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner! You called it first. Congrats.
A few lovely samplings:
Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 4_3_3 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/533.17.9 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.0.2 Mobile/8J2 Safari/6533.18.5)
It was stupid of Apple to omit it in the first place.
As has been stated before: 1) offer feature X. 2) omit feature X in next release. 3) re-introduce feature X and tout it as the greatest thing since sliced bread.
They really need the backlit keyboard if only to distract you momentarily about the fact that the Intel Hd 3000 "graphics" are a bag of FAIL.
It was stupid of Apple to omit it in the first place.
As has been stated before: 1) offer feature X. 2) omit feature X in next release. 3) re-introduce feature X and tout it as the greatest thing since sliced bread.
They really need the backlit keyboard if only to distract you momentarily about the fact that the Intel Hd 3000 "graphics" are a bag of FAIL.
Why does Apple constantly take away features people like only to bring them back again after people b*tch about it?
Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 4_3_3 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/533.17.9 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.0.2 Mobile/8J2 Safari/6533.18.5)
Tell me you just didn't suggest that the cost of a backlit keyboard is $100.00 with a straight face.......
Gemütlichkeit said:
Tell me you just didn't suggest that the cost of a backlit keyboard is $100.00 with a straight face.......