Backlit Keyboard to Return in New MacBook Air?

[WissMAN]

Not that I'd use an MBA for DJ-ing, but last night this bar I worked in was so dark where I was set up, I'd have killed for a backlit keyboard. (Though if our Karaoke software had a Mac version, I'd try it on an air just to ditch the winblows machine)

Some people like to sit outside on their patio at night and it might be dimly lit, or they don't want to sit in a flood light. (Me for instance.)

People that do work in a coffee shop (like 90% of the people in those places at night) where it's ambient lighting is dim

Students taking notes in a lecture hall where the lights are turned down.

*I think that a lot of people forget that not everyone is in an office all day long with their computers. Just because you don't see much use for it, doesn't mean 20 million other people don't almost find it a necessity.

Thanks for those points - all are valid!

 

[shurcooL]

I hope they also return the dedicated power button (instead of taking Eject's spot on the keyboard), ala past MBAs and current MBPs. First of all, it looks like bad/cheap design to put power button as a part of the keyboard. Eject is actually useful for some keyboard shortcuts too. But most importantly, for consistency. Is MBA a real Mac computer? Then it'd better not make sacrifices that MBPs don't (in areas where it can afford not to).

 

[shurcooL]

Thanks for those points - all are valid!

Some people like to use their laptops in their rooms, with lights off (at night).

 

[macbookfan]

Wow! These newest Airs are going to sell like hot cakes!

Not that I have ever bought a hot cake, nor do I really know what a hot cake is?....in fact most of my favourite cakes are cold ones.

Hot cakes = Pancakes

 

[torbjoern]

When I bought my MBA Rev D, I had already figured out that I wouldn't get buyer’s remorse even if the BLK came back in Rev E along with SandyBridge and twice the RAM. I kind of wish that the rest of you Rev D-buyers had done the same. I wonder how many of you who have written “it’s only for people who can’t touch type” have written it solely to convince yourselves that you made a good purchase even though you lack BLK. Or am I wrong to think that?

I have known the touch system for the most of my life, and I rarely need to look at the keyboard. Yet still, the lack of BLK in Rev D was intially a dealbreaker for me (for reasons that others have mentioned above). The reason I bought the Air anyway, is that its keyboard is fantastic to type at, compared to the MacBook Pros - the latter giving a bit soft typing-resistance IMO.

So - to those of you who are in the risk-zone of suffering from buyer's remorse when (if!) BLK comes back: You should ask yourselves if the BLK really is worth the soldered-on SSD and HD3000 IGP. But first and foremost, you should ask yourselves why you bought your Air in the first place

 

[pondosinatra]

This plus a matte display option would make this a KILLER machine. I don't think the matte screen will make it though

Don't get me started on that. I'm not upgraded my iMac (ever) as long as there's no matte option.

 

[killr_b]

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So would I. Now how about a color spectrum led? One that you can change the color on? So the kb glows in the color you want!

Now seriously, that would be neat!

I see that this comment was voted down twice so far. Apple should realize that stupid little things like changing the color of the backlight to your liking is one of those things that will turn heads. Even cars are supporting this for their dashlights and interior lights now.
It has nothing to do with function or performance, and may seem tacky to people focused on industrial design, but teens, tweens and undergrads will like it the same way they like Photobooth, which I think is totally useless.

That said, I didn't buy the last batch because it was missing the backlit keyboard and didn't have the HD3000 graphics. Woohoo for this revision!

 

[bchreng]

I see that this comment was voted down twice so far. Apple should realize that stupid little things like changing the color of the backlight to your liking is one of those things that will turn heads. Even cars are supporting this for their dashlights and interior lights now.
It has nothing to do with function or performance, and may seem tacky to people focused on industrial design, but teens, tweens and undergrads will like it the same way they like Photobooth, which I think is totally useless.

That said, I didn't buy the last batch because it was missing the backlit keyboard and didn't have the HD3000 graphics. Woohoo for this revision!

While a feature like that makes sense on an Alienware, it would seem a bit odd and out of place on a Mac. The colored keyboard would totally clash with the glowing white apple on the back!

 

[killr_b]

While a feature like that makes sense on an Alienware, it would seem a bit odd and out of place on a Mac. The colored keyboard would totally clash with the glowing white apple on the back!

The people who will want to change the color won't care. Not even a little.

And those people can't see the Apple and the keyboard at the same time.

Anyway, my point was that it cost about a buck ($1) to do and would generate more than $1 worth of buzz in the younger crowd.

 

[bchreng]

The people who will want to change the color won't care. Not even a little.

And those people can't see the Apple and the keyboard at the same time.

Anyway, my point was that it cost about a buck ($1) to do and would generate more than $1 worth of buzz in the younger crowd.

It's true and I see your point, but i have a hard time seeing a feature like that getting approved by Mr. Ives and/or Jobs. If it did, it'd make me want one even more!

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

Well I'm glad that's all sorted.

Now, wouldn't it be great if they brought out an MBA with a BLK that was matt-black rather than aluminium

 

[calvol]

The reason BLK was omitted in RevD was the height of the LED could not be accommodated. It looks cool, but I rather not have the extra complexity. The soldered-on SSDs are a show-stopper for me. With 1-3% SSD failure rates within one year, it's basically a lotto for a $1K+ new mobo after year one. Ridiculous idea. I can't wait to read the threads on SB heat issues with TurboBoost. I bet there's some Apple engineers sitting on the edge of their seats with this release.

 

[killr_b]

It's true and I see your point, but i have a hard time seeing a feature like that getting approved by Mr. Ives and/or Jobs. If it did, it'd make me want one even more!

LOL, no way would Jobs approve it.
As for Jonny Ives, I don't know... I'm sure he would say it's not up to him and that the only thing he can do is make it work if it is approved.

 

[msprygada]

Before switching to a 17" MacBook Pros, I've only used high-end (the "p" A and, then, T series) IBM ThinkPads. All had a keyboard light LED up in the screen chassis. It was far-far, incomparably worse than that of the MBP. (And I'm speaking of high-end, business IBM notebooks!) The MBO is just orders of magnitude easier to use in a completely dark environment. Wouldn't purchase anything without a keyboard backlight.

I totally disagree. I have a backlite keyboard for my desktop machine and the problem is that you cannot see you fingers. If you don't know where the keys are, then you need to see your fingers as well as the keys. Otherwise they will be just shadows above the keys.

With the ThinkPad light, you can see you fingers as well as the keyboard. Is the lighted keys better than none lighted keys? Sure, but having you fingers and the key lite are much better.

 

[flottenheimer]

I'm SERIOUSLY considering giving my lovely 15" Unibody MacBook Pro to one of my kids in order to replace it with one of the new Airs.

11 inch? Or 13 inch? Or 11 inch? Or 13 inch? ... 256 GB for sure ...

I think they'll discontinue the MacBook when the new Airs come out.

 

[Anaemik]

I totally disagree. I have a backlite keyboard for my desktop machine and the problem is that you cannot see you fingers. If you don't know where the keys are, then you need to see your fingers as well as the keys. Otherwise they will be just shadows above the keys.

With the ThinkPad light, you can see you fingers as well as the keyboard. Is the lighted keys better than none lighted keys? Sure, but having you fingers and the key lite are much better.

Do you have hand-eye co-ordination problems? That's the only reason I can think of for needing to see your fingers when typing. So long as you can see the keys (if you are not a touch typist) most people's fingers would just naturally go to the right place, unless you have some sort of physical problem preventing them from doing so.

 

[GfPQqmcRKUvP]

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Good job everyone. Your lack of ability to type correctly has taken up space in one of the thinnest laptops around that could have been used for something legitimately useful.

 

[Anaemik]

Good job everyone. Your lack of ability to type correctly has taken up space in one of the thinnest laptops around that could have been used for something legitimately useful.

Like a robot arm that slaps you across the face every time you're about to hit "submit reply" on yet another redundant forum post?

 

[Patriot24]

I hope they also return the dedicated power button (instead of taking Eject's spot on the keyboard), ala past MBAs and current MBPs. First of all, it looks like bad/cheap design to put power button as a part of the keyboard. Eject is actually useful for some keyboard shortcuts too. But most importantly, for consistency. Is MBA a real Mac computer? Then it'd better not make sacrifices that MBPs don't (in areas where it can afford not to).

Why would you have an eject button on a machine that has no optical drive?

As far as consistency, I think folks on sites like these forget that most consumers purchase computers one at a time. Not everyone has the unfortunate problem of inconsistent power button layouts between their 5 Macs. I would completely understand if the argument was that making it part of the keyboard lead to more accidental shutdowns/sleeps, but that doesn't appear to be much of a factor.

 

[Kyllle]

Finally!

All the rumor sites are posting about faster/bigger SSDs and sandy bridge processors, while most consumers don't care about how many geebees they have or what gigahertz their processor runs at. People just want the keyboard to light up!

I can't argue though, that is one of the coolest features of mac computers.

 

[bradl]

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Good job everyone. Your lack of ability to type correctly has taken up space in one of the thinnest laptops around that could have been used for something legitimately useful.

..And what makes you think that it is a lack of ability to type correctly that has someone like me looking for a backlit keyboard?

Without needing to justify myself, because frankly, I don't need to, I happen to have a SO who is legally blind. And a backlit keyboard helps her out TREMENDOUSLY, much to the chagrin of your assumption that she could not type correctly.

One of the things that has endeared her to Apple products is their built-in functionality to help the disabled, whether visually or physically. And the more independence she has (read: not depending on someone else to help her unless needed), the better a person she is and more of an equal she is to normal-sighted people.

So until you know the reasons why someone needs a backlit keyboard, no matter how petty or important they may be, please keep the assumptions to yourself.

BL.

 

[killr_b]

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Good job everyone. Your lack of ability to type correctly has taken up space in one of the thinnest laptops around that could have been used for something legitimately useful.

Yeah, the 4mmX4mmX2mm space the led takes up could have housed the cure to cancer...

 

[ftaok]

I can type in the dark (touch-type) but
(a) I need to first place my fingers, if my fingers are on the touchpad and I quickly want to hit a single key, I move to that key directly, not first search for the touch marks on the J and F keys to 'center' my fingers.
(b) I cannot touch-type the function keys (eg, for volume up and down)

In short I only need and use the backlight very occasionally but I still like to have the option.

Regarding (b), I've read other rumors (from reliable sources) that explicitly state that the Function keys are, in fact, not backlit.




nah, just kidding. I felt like being a wiseass just now.

 

[jonnysods]

I think it's sad that users had to complain to get it back in. For the price tag this should be standard IMO.

 

[KPOM]

I think it's sad that users had to complain to get it back in. For the price tag this should be standard IMO.

Exactly. I've been touch-typing since I was 10 (a quarter century ago), and I still appreciate a backlit keyboard, particularly at night or early in the morning. It looks better, for starters, and comes in handy for getting oriented. Every keyboard is a little different, and I switch back and forth between a Windows notebook and my MacBook Air every day.