MBA11 Question

[Dillenger]

Do the new MBA's have backlit keyboards? This is the only thing stopping me from selling my 13 inch MBP and getting a maxed out MBA11

 

[fuzzielitlpanda]

no, both of them do not have it

 

[Dillenger]

no, both of them do not have it

Thank you, I'll be holding off then.

 

[tomtendo]

Thank you, I'll be holding off then.

Why's everyone think back lit keyboard is the next best thing since sliced bread? Do you honestly need a light to type? If so... You shouldn't be using a computer.

 

[Shadnic]

Why's everyone think back lit keyboard is the next best thing since sliced bread? Do you honestly need a light to type? If so... You shouldn't be using a computer.

Yeah I'm kind of wondering if "so" many people are upset about this just because it's a feature-lost or because they really need it to be productive.

My macbookpro from 3 years ago or so had a backlit keyboard, and I thought it sounded really cool at the time. Then I got the thing, turned it off, and never ever ever ever turned it on again. It was just so unnecessary, and I often use my computer in darkness. All I could think when I had it on is "this is waaaaay too much light and is probably eating up battery for...no benefit to me"

My keyboard on my desktop is on a keyboard tray, but I keep it pushed in rather than pulled all the way out, the keyboard is black, it's in shadow, and there's no backlight. It's kind of like sticking my hands in a box and typing, hehe.

 

[spamboxnet]

people are upset about this just because it's a feature-lost or because they really need it to be productive.

Yeah I never understood it either, but some have actually said they only want it because it's "soooo coolz man". So my take is that the majority only want it to "show off" to other people thinking it's something cool. I think it's a tacky PC gimmick, and for those that actually need it to be productive, why the hell are you typing in the dark?

 

[selfdisplaced]

why don't you just use the light from the screen to see your keys?

 

[hachre]

The printing on the keys is reflective, the light from the display is enough to see it all.

 

[KPOM]

Yeah I never understood it either, but some have actually said they only want it because it's "soooo coolz man". So my take is that the majority only want it to "show off" to other people thinking it's something cool. I think it's a tacky PC gimmick, and for those that actually need it to be productive, why the hell are you typing in the dark?

Sometimes it's unavoidable (on the red eye, early in the morning or late at night at home when someone else is asleep nearby). While I wasn't dependent upon the backlighting, I must admit I'll miss it when the replacement Air arrives.