Backlit Keyboard...Revisited

[Corndog5595]

Edit:
I'm digging myself into a hole here.
Just because I have no need for a backlit keyboard doesn't mean that I can simply say "/thread" and have it be over.

 

[HungryPillow]

How can you notice it missing if you don't see it? ROFL.

Sorry, I don't follow... do you mean how do I know it's missing if there's no backlit keys to begin with?

Reason is I also have a 15" MBP so I know how it feels to have the backlit keys. I thought it would bother me but I really don't miss it at all

 

[gwsat]

I certainly do not agree. An anti-glare screen currently would do very little for me. Both of my offices have configurations where there is no direct reflections onto the screen. I also use my MBA a lot laying back in bed (usually at night)... for which an anti-glare screen would provide zero benefit. However, a backlit keyboard is highly desirable.

You have confirmed what I noted in an earlier post. Many Macbook owners actually prefer glossy screens. That I and others detest detest glossy displays and much prefer matte doesn't mean that everybody feels that way.

Although the MBAs don't have matte screens, their screens aren't covered by glass. This makes MBA screens dramatically less susceptible to glare than the glass covered ones used on MBPs and iPads.

 

[flynz4]

You have confirmed what I noted in an earlier post. Many Macbook owners actually prefer glossy screens. That I and others detest detest glossy displays and much prefer matte doesn't mean that everybody feels that way.

Although the MBAs don't have matte screens, their screens aren't covered by glass. This makes MBA screens dramatically less susceptible to glare than the glass covered ones used on MBPs and iPads.

I actually prefer a matte screen over a glossy screen. I was just responding to the other poster who categorically made the uninformed and self-centered statement that everyone would choose a matte screen over backlit keyboard. I am not even sure why I responded. I generally ignore such people as it is not worth my effort to respond. I guess he just pushed my button.

/Jim

 

[Corndog5595]

I actually prefer a matte screen over a glossy screen. I was just responding to the other poster who categorically made the uninformed and self-centered statement that everyone would choose a matte screen over backlit keyboard. I am not even sure why I responded. I generally ignore such people as it is not worth my effort to respond. I guess he just pushed my button.

/Jim

I prefer glossy over a matte screen, but I feel like having a matte screen option is more important than having a backlit keyboard option.

 

[gwsat]

I actually prefer a matte screen over a glossy screen. I was just responding to the other poster who categorically made the uninformed and self-centered statement that everyone would choose a matte screen over backlit keyboard. I am not even sure why I responded. I generally ignore such people as it is not worth my effort to respond. I guess he just pushed my button.

We agree entirely. I loved the matte screens on both my old Powerbook G4 and MBP but hate how susceptible to glare the glass covered screen on the iPad is. That's why I was so relieved to discover that, while the the MBA's screen is not matte, its lack of a glass front panel reduces reflection problems exponentially compared to what I have had to deal with on the iPad.

 

[iRun26.2]

Nobody would put a gun to your head and force you to replace your MBA with the new model. I expect that many (probably the majority) would not replace their MBAs for this single feature. Personally, I would. For me, it would be worth it.

/Jim

I think that I too would replace my 11.6" MBA for the single feature improvement of a backlit keyboard. Certainly, though, it won't be just that single feature that gets added. A year (or possibly even just six months) from now, I fully expect to see the maximum storage on the 11.6" MBA jump to 256G.

I would order a new 11.6" MBA (with 256G storage and a backlit keyboard) in a heartbeat!!!

 

[gwsat]

I think that I too would replace my 11.6" MBA for the single feature improvement of a backlit keyboard. Certainly, though, it won't be just that single feature that gets added. A year (or possibly even just six months) from now, I fully expect to see the maximum storage on the 11.6" MBA jump to 256G.

I would order a new 11.6" MBA (with 256G storage and a backlit keyboard) in a heartbeat!!!

Had I been able to get an 11 inch Ultimate MBA with 256GB of flash storage when I bought the 13 inch model, I probably would have got the 11 inch instead. Now that I have the 13 inch MBA, though, I probably will not replace it for plus or minus three years, when Applecare runs out.

My old Powerbook G4 remained my primary computer for nearly five years until I bought an MBP. I replaced the MBP with the MBA, although the MBA had about 5 months of Applecare coverage left. Thus, I suspect that I will replace the 13 inch MBA as my primary computer in more than 2.5 but less than 5 years, depending, as General "Buck" Turgidson put it, "on the breaks."

 

[flynz4]

Had I been able to get an 11 inch Ultimate MBA with 256GB of flash storage when I bought the 13 inch model, I probably would have got the 11 inch instead. Now that I have the 13 inch MBA, though, I probably will not replace it for plus or minus three years, when Applecare runs out.

My old Powerbook G4 remained my primary computer for nearly five years until I bought an MBP. I replaced the MBP with the MBA, although the MBA had about 5 months of Applecare coverage left. Thus, I suspect that I will replace the 13 inch MBA as my primary computer in more than 2.5 but less than 5 years, depending, as General "Buck" Turgidson put it, "on the breaks."

If the next MBA upgrade is this time next year... I'll pass down my current 11.6" to my wife, and sell her 13.3" Rev C MBA (my previous MBA) with about 6 months of AppleCare remaining.

I really enjoy having a spouse who doesn't care what type of computer she has. It makes it easier for me to "rationalize" upgrading my personal machine with every major release.

/Jim

 

[iRun26.2]

If the next MBA upgrade is this time next year... I'll pass down my current 11.6" to my wife, and sell her 13.3" Rev C MBA (my previous MBA) with about 6 months of AppleCare remaining.

I really enjoy having a spouse who doesn't care what type of computer she has. It makes it easier for me to "rationalize" upgrading my personal machine with every major release.

/Jim

Is your wife envious enough of your 11.6" MBA (without backlight) that she would give up the old 13.3" model when you want to upgrade? Maybe she will like the bigger screen and not value the portability as much as you do.

My wife has a very crappy Dell laptop computer. Maybe I should figure out a way to get her impressed with my new 11.6" MBA so that I have additional bargaining power when the next major MBA revision is released. At least she always spends a lot of money on clothes!

 

[HLdan]

Sorry, I don't follow... do you mean how do I know it's missing if there's no backlit keys to begin with?

Reason is I also have a 15" MBP so I know how it feels to have the backlit keys. I thought it would bother me but I really don't miss it at all

Yes, that's what I meant. I was just trying to make a joke but I didn't do a good job at it.

 

[flynz4]

Is your wife envious enough of your 11.6" MBA (without backlight) that she would give up the old 13.3" model when you want to upgrade? Maybe she will like the bigger screen and not value the portability as much as you do.

My wife has a very crappy Dell laptop computer. Maybe I should figure out a way to get her impressed with my new 11.6" MBA so that I have additional bargaining power when the next major MBA revision is released. At least she always spends a lot of money on clothes!

She very much doesn't care about the backlit keyboard. I had to demonstrate it, as she had no idea that her (now retired) 15" MBP even had backlit keys. Unlike me, she only uses her laptop on a desk or table, with lots of light... sitting upright with her prefect posture.

She loved inheriting my 1.5 year old Rev C MBA 2.13 MBA. We travel a lot, and often she would leave her MBP at home because she didn't want the extra weight. We have made 2 trips since she obtained the MBA and she has taken it along both times. I don't think she will ever leave it behind now.

She is resigned to the fact that I will continuously buy the newest model for myself, and she (or the kids) will gladly take my hand-me-downs. On the grand scheme of things... there are worse vices than my "Apple addiction".

/Jim

 

[iRun26.2]

I prefer glossy over a matte screen, but I feel like having a matte screen option is more important than having a backlit keyboard option.

I think that screen choice for the MBA is perfect because, without glass, it is lighter and also doesn't produce as much reflections/glare.

In this category, however, I think I would have taken whatever they gave me...

 

[Jayratch]

Hey guys,

Any informations about those reflectives keys? I wonder what's this about...
When you say reflective, is it really usable in dark? Is it still working when the screen is at minimum brightness for example?

Need more info on this!

Personally I don't find them particularly reflective at all.

I'm typing this in poor light so I can type on them, but the trouble is that especially with the smaller function keys, which have a different layout than my other Mac on top of it all, you can't see the keycaps very well without angling the screen. Even angling the screen doesn't illuminate all of the keys. I have a pretty hard time navigating through the F keys, but the rest of the keyboard is memorized from about 25 years of typing experience. Even with a backlit keyboard, though, I often get those wrong, and on my MB I always have trouble with the ambient light sensor controlling the backlight.

I do miss my backlit keys, but I don't miss them enough to be willing to haul out my relatively huge Macbook Pro every time I want to type at night. I find that the other advantages of the Air are more than enough to outweigh this one little gripe.

I do think Apple could have done it differently. Maybe go the Macbook style white keys with black lettering, or at least do something else to make them more visible- metallic flecks? luminescence? maybe a Thinkpad-style top-mounted LED?

At this point, I'm thinking that I will probably buy a glow-in-the-dark keyboard cover when they come out.

 

[iRun26.2]

Personally I don't find them particularly reflective at all.

At this point, I'm thinking that I will probably buy a glow-in-the-dark keyboard cover when they come out.

In my opinion, the new 11.6" MBA keys are more reflective than the previous model's keys. If we had the previous version's keyboard (without the backlight) I think it would be much harder to see the keys at night.

To me, this implies that the backlit keyboard was not originally planned and then abandoned at the last minute. I suspect it was not in the plan from the early stage of the design.

I've never heard of a 'glow in the dark keyboard cover' before. It does not sound very appealing (at least not to me).

I'm slowly getting used to where the keys are (with an occasional screew-up). I hate it, though, when I mean to mute the speakers and, instead, hit a volume key (annoying my sleeping wife).

 

[iRun26.2]

Yet Another Thread?!

I thought the 'backlit keyboard' thread had been beat to death...yet now there is another new thread talking about it!!!

It just doesn't go away, does it? Very clearly Apple needs to recognize that they put the backlight back in the MBA, and they will have more sales with people upgrading yet again... I know I would!

I love my my 11.6" Ultimate MBA...but I still miss my backlit keyboard!

 

[iRun26.2]

I thought the 'backlit keyboard' thread had been beat to death...yet now there is another new thread talking about it!!!

It just doesn't go away, does it? Very clearly Apple needs to recognize that they put the backlight back in the MBA, and they will have more sales with people upgrading yet again... I know I would!

I love my my 11.6" Ultimate MBA...but I still miss my backlit keyboard!

I received several personal messages regarding my last post about I referred to as 'yet another thread talking' about the backlit keyboard issue. I did not understand what these people were talking about at first.

It finally dawned on me what I had done: I had complained about the new thread being started when in reality it was the ORIGINAL thread being revived (and this thread was the 'copy'). I apologize for being such a bonehead. I feel stupid...

Can I somehow blame my ignorance on the lack of a backlit keyboard on my new MBA?

(It is such a fantastic computer...expect for that missing feature!)

 

[Rayhab1]

Question about back-lit keyboard

I have a new MacBook Pro with back-lit keyboard. I'm noticing that the 5 % key is much brighter than the other keys. It this an indication that my backlite is about to burn out?

Answers appreciated.

 

[snouter]

Did anyone buy one anyways, gambling they might not miss it as badly as they thought they might?

I bought one hoping not to miss it and I do miss it pretty badly.

 

[snouter]

I have a new MacBook Pro with back-lit keyboard. I'm noticing that the 5 % key is much brighter than the other keys. It this an indication that my backlite is about to burn out?

Answers appreciated.

The backlights are LED and really should last longer than the laptop.

 

[Ronnoco]

I bought one hoping not to miss it and I do miss it pretty badly.

As much as I love my 11" Ultimate, I DO miss the backlit Keyboard A LOT!

 

[samiznaetekto]

I have a new MacBook Pro with back-lit keyboard. I'm noticing that the 5 % key is much brighter than the other keys. It this an indication that my backlite is about to burn out?

Answers appreciated.

I have exactly same thing on my 17" MBP. I don't think it's something to worry about.

 

[iRun26.2]

I have a new MacBook Pro with back-lit keyboard. I'm noticing that the 5 % key is much brighter than the other keys. It this an indication that my backlite is about to burn out?

Answers appreciated.

The keyboard backlight on my original MBA was not perfectly uniform. One side of the keyboard seemed to be lit up more than the other.

When I was using it, I found that fact slightly annoying...but now, without one at all on my new 11.6" I would gladly take that imperfection.

 

[frifra]

I know many people already answered the main question and I am as well one of those who miss the backlight keyboard and for this reason not getting an MBA yet.

But I am somehow wondering nobody is complaining about the missing IR-port. I always considered it a cool feature.

 

[Beanoir]

I know many people already answered the main question and I am as well one of those who miss the backlight keyboard and for this reason not getting an MBA yet.

But I am somehow wondering nobody is complaining about the missing IR-port. I always considered it a cool feature.

Well Apple could always add it all back in and make the MBA bigger again (and more expensive), but that kind of defeats the idea of the new MBA, so its one or the other.