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Backlit Keyboard...Revisited
- Thread starter iRun26.2
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The problem was the design 11"
This lack wasn't money or better batery life
1)If was money, they could put an optional "+100us for backlit keyboard". For sure I would pay that. You too!
2)If was better battery life they could just turn it off like old MBA version
I guess that SJobs could put backlit keyboard in 13".
But the shape used for 11" as well 13 is the same.
So in the smaller model was impossible to put backlit keyboard, because they don't have enough space to put the power button. So the problem was design.
They change the function button to power button and removed f5 and f6.
This was the only way to get a full keyboard in 11" model.
They will never build a different shape for MBA 11 and 13. So I think it will take a long time to get back this function in MBA 13 again.
This lack wasn't money or better batery life
1)If was money, they could put an optional "+100us for backlit keyboard". For sure I would pay that. You too!
2)If was better battery life they could just turn it off like old MBA version
I guess that SJobs could put backlit keyboard in 13".
But the shape used for 11" as well 13 is the same.
So in the smaller model was impossible to put backlit keyboard, because they don't have enough space to put the power button. So the problem was design.
They change the function button to power button and removed f5 and f6.
This was the only way to get a full keyboard in 11" model.
They will never build a different shape for MBA 11 and 13. So I think it will take a long time to get back this function in MBA 13 again.
This.
I'm in the dark right now and you're right. This is the one thing about my 11.6 MBA that I really find annoying.
I found, in a dark bedroom, that the monitor is bright enough to see the keys you may have trouble with. It's not perfect, but you CAN see the keys. I almost think they used something to make the letters of the keys more reflective.
If there is an apple store near you, maybe they'll let you take it in a dark closet to check? Heck, if you tell them that's all that's keeping you from buying one, I bet they'd let you do it.
There are 5 stores within driving distance, the closest 15 min.
My current MBP has the BL keyboard that I find to be very useful at times. I just love the small form factor & the SSD speed of the new MBA. I'll be at the Apple store today. Temptations temptations...
BTW, anyone tried the USB light with the MBA?
I really don't see the USB light as a good option (certainly not an equal substitute). I don't want to have this additional accessory to take along with me. When I take hop on an airplane I want to just grab my 11.6" MBA and go...I don't want to have to find my USB light.
Additionally, I'm sure there is some overhead power wasted by the USB system. I suspect the built in keyboard light would be more efficient (and you don't need to remember to bring it along!).
There are times when a USB light might be handy but I would much preferred it integrated into the keyboard as it was in the original MBA design.
The more I look at Macbooks with backlit keyboards, the more hideous I think they look. I like how the keys look fully enclosed on models without backlighting. The backlit keyboards look weird and I dont like how you can see under them.
I just saw this picture in another thread. It makes me very sad. I will miss my keyboard backlight.
http://www.wardcurry.com/macbookair/mbatogether3.jpg
http://www.wardcurry.com/macbookair/mbatogether3.jpg
While there has been plenty of talk about the omission of backlit keyboard, I'm a bit surprised how no one has brought up the fact that Macbook Air's keyboard is inferior to MBP's. I mean I compared the typing comfort of all different Macbooks and MBA had clearly the least amount of travel, and typing felt slightly taxing on the fingers due to hardness. On the other hand, MBP's keyboard was just about perfect in terms of travel and typing comfort in general. While this may not be a dealbreaker, I did expect MBA's keyboard to be better.
@Anyone who misses backlit keyboard: Be honest, how often do you really sit in complete darkness with your MacBook Air? And if you do, does the screen really need to be so dimmed that you cant see the letters/numbers/symbols?
As a long time Apple fan, and someone who is into compact tech, I was so excited when the 11" Air was introduced. I grabbed my credit card and went right to Apple's online store to put my order in.
Sure, I was annoyed that the display didn't have the black glass overlay to hide that huge bezel, and the black rubber bumper choice was also a head scratcher, but not deal-breakers.
Then, something told me to go over the specs again. So I re-read all the specs, and looked closely at all the product images, and there it was, no back-lit keyboard.
For me, that was the deal-breaker. My credit card went back in my wallet, and a rage came over me - typical Apple and their form over function ways. If you need to remove key features from a notebook to make it thin, maybe the notebook doesn't have to be that thin?
I personally would rather have a slightly thicker and slightly heavier 11.6" Air with a back-lit keyboard, and the black glass overlay. It would still look amazing, be very light and it would have all the features and functionality of its bigger siblings.
The ironic thing is, they removed the back-lit keyboard feature from the MacBooks that needed this feature the most, since they are the most portable out of the entire lineup. Hopefully Apple will have the technology to put the features they removed back in with the next release of the Air models.
Sure, I was annoyed that the display didn't have the black glass overlay to hide that huge bezel, and the black rubber bumper choice was also a head scratcher, but not deal-breakers.
Then, something told me to go over the specs again. So I re-read all the specs, and looked closely at all the product images, and there it was, no back-lit keyboard.
For me, that was the deal-breaker. My credit card went back in my wallet, and a rage came over me - typical Apple and their form over function ways. If you need to remove key features from a notebook to make it thin, maybe the notebook doesn't have to be that thin?
I personally would rather have a slightly thicker and slightly heavier 11.6" Air with a back-lit keyboard, and the black glass overlay. It would still look amazing, be very light and it would have all the features and functionality of its bigger siblings.
The ironic thing is, they removed the back-lit keyboard feature from the MacBooks that needed this feature the most, since they are the most portable out of the entire lineup. Hopefully Apple will have the technology to put the features they removed back in with the next release of the Air models.
I think it's really no big deal. Checkout this picture: http://db.tt/gvGqIgU I took it in total darkness, with display brightness at it's minimum. (13" mba)
You can still read all important keys because of the reflective letters.
You can still read all important keys because of the reflective letters.
Every evening w/my family is watching TV. Room is dim, and I can't see the keys on the board. Now, I can type well but I still can't find the function keys- along with the symbol keys are not my strongest point. Turning up the screen lighting is not the answer for me, hurts my eyes.
I miss it in all honestly.
I agree with you that Apple may have sacrificed slightly too much in their pursuit of extreme thinness. I, too, would have preferred a backlit keyboard (and better typing comfort) even if it meant slightly more thickness. I think they left out backlit keyboard mostly due to space restrictions.
On the other hand, I'm very pleased that there is no black glass overlay in the Air. While it offers some protection for the screen, the reflections of glass are extremely distracting. Glass also adds a lot of weight. Matte screen would have been the best.
I find the black rubber bumper around the screen is aesthetically pleasing. It's better than the old gray in my opinion.
Very interesting! I didn't have clues about technical reasons to remove the backlit keyboard. But with you explanations and pictures, it's cleared now: probably not just a marketing reason! Indeed, there is barely no room for it.
It makes me less suspicious about this decision...
Well, some more informations about that. It seems that it's a technical reason that lead to the non-backlit keyboard on this generation:
The batteries of the Macbook Air is physically very fragile
Batteries have also changed... It make sense!
I had a rev A mba and I loved the backlit keyboard. I am waiting to see if they bring it back before I buy one
It's understandable that people are perturbed by the lack of the BL keyboard on the Air but I wish more people here would stop bitching for a minute and look at the positives. Apple has always been notorious for putting aesthetics first and performance last, especially in their smaller notebooks. They could've given us an IGP rather than dedicated graphics (like they did on all the previous Airs) but they didn't, instead we got a very solid performing dedicated Nvidia card. They could've given us a poor screen that's washed out to meet their $999 price point, but they didn't, instead we got a high contrast screen. They could've given us a standard 4200rpm hard drive forcing people to upgrade to an SSD, but they didn't, instead they gave us SSD across the board. They could've given a poor performing Atom processor, but they didn't, instead they gave us the Core 2 Duo with in combination of the SSD modules makes for a very fast performing ultraportable.
My point is Apple could've given us another poor performing Air with today's prices and it still would've sold immensely and they know it. I would much rather have a ultraportable with solid performance than extra aesthetics that increase only a small amount of productivity.
You can't even get the 11" Sony Vaio with a backlit keyboard but it cost more than the Air and has less performance. Sony does let you opt for color choices though, yeah, Gold, Black or the over-hyped Carbon Fiber.
My point is Apple could've given us another poor performing Air with today's prices and it still would've sold immensely and they know it. I would much rather have a ultraportable with solid performance than extra aesthetics that increase only a small amount of productivity.
You can't even get the 11" Sony Vaio with a backlit keyboard but it cost more than the Air and has less performance. Sony does let you opt for color choices though, yeah, Gold, Black or the over-hyped Carbon Fiber.
Today, as I was using my mid-range Windows PC (which has no backlighting but a really weak built-in light as a "substitute") to get some weekend work done, it occurred to me I'll miss the backlit keyboard when my new MacBook Air arrives. It starts getting dark around 5:00PM now, and right at twilight, I noticed it wasn't dark enough to require me to turn on the lights, but it was too dark to see the keys on the keyboard.
Two Pictures... two very different stories. Can anyone honestly tell me they'd prefer this:
To this:
In a dark room? Yes you can "make out" the keys in the 1st photo... but you can't see them easily at a glance. And for those who say "learn how to type" -I say "Yes, I know how to type. But I don't know the exact spacing and key placement of all the F-keys and their various functions (Dashboard, Expose, Volume up, etc...) especially since their placement is *different* on the new MBA 'cause of the Power Button being included.
It's not Daylight Savings time in the US/Canada (and already was in Europe and Australia before us) - which takes our daylight hours down to 9 out of 24 each day in December.
For those who don't want all their lights on 24/7 or are working in a darker environment, it was really *nice* to be able to see the keys.
Well, some more informations about that. It seems that it's a technical reason that lead to the non-backlit keyboard on this generation:
The batteries of the Macbook Air is physically very fragile
Batteries have also changed... It make sense!
I'm not sure I understand? Are you saying that 'cause the batteries are fragile, *that's* the reason there's no BL keyboard? I'm not sure I follow that logic?
Do you honestly think Apple could have sold a $999 11" MBA with an Atom processor and Intel Graphics?
And what do you mean about the "dedicated graphics"? The 320M is an integrated graphics chip, just like the 9400m was on the revB/RevC air. It's just a better one. (which you would hope, after 2 years of stagnation in the MBA lineup).
And a 4200RPM drive? That barely passed muster in October 2008 with a "new-ish" Core2Duo processor. With a 2-year-old ULV 1.4Ghz, the 11" with a 4200RPM drive would have been no faster than an Atom notebook.
I agree the performance is great on the models for how old their parts are (mostly due to speedy SSD's and decent 320m Integrated Graphics). But that doesn't excuse the backlit keyboard removal. That's a design decision, or a cost decision, and I assume probably a bit of both.
Having a backlit keyboard wouldn't have compromised on the performance of the laptop at all...