Figure of speech.
Replace the word "stupidly" with "very" if you please, it still has the same effect.
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Do you think the backlit keyboard will come back to the MBA???
- Thread starter MBABuyer
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Figure of speech.
Replace the word "stupidly" with "very" if you please, it still has the same effect.
Then why don't you kindly just ignore this thread. There are a lot of people who are interested in the BLK feature so, therefore it isn't useless. Just because you don't feel a need for it doesn't mean that other people don't have a right to their own opinion.
I'm going to miss it too... for those times when watching a movie, reading something etc with no hands on the keyboard, and then the need arises to press a key. E.g. changing the screen brightness, changing volume, subtitle delay, etc. It's really hard to see where the keys are if you just quickly need to tap a single key.
I am 100% in agreement with all of you regarding the BL keyboard. I've started working on a 2010 MBA and I miss it dearly.
But be careful... if this thread is anything like the other ones, there's about to be a bunch of trolls that come in here and tell us that anyone who wants a BL keyboard, or likes the feature in any way are all idiots who can't type and are somehow inferior to all those who hate the BL keyboard.
:SIt isn't hard to memorize keys these threads are getting old. I hope they discontinue it on every line just to annoy you people who can't type (kidding). But seriously, basing your whole purchase on a simple unneeded feature like a backlit keyboard makes no sense.
these threads are getting old. I hope they discontinue it on every line just to annoy you people who can't type (kidding). But seriously, basing your whole purchase on a simple unneeded feature like a backlit keyboard makes no sense.
I think it's not the issue of ignoring this thread so much, it's having to put up with people keep starting new threads about the same old topic!! Seriously, SEARCH function is there for a reason.
If putting the backlit keyboard in the Air will give the keys the same soft resistance of e.g. a Pro, I hope they won't put it back in. The question should be "will the keyboard of the MBA be improved?" instead. If it's backlit AND just as comfortable to type at, it's certainly an improvement.
It's an expensive computer, and Apple should have a VERY good reason for not including it. I have no problems with touch-typing at all, but I do love backlit keyboard, though.
It's an expensive computer, and Apple should have a VERY good reason for not including it. I have no problems with touch-typing at all, but I do love backlit keyboard, though.
I don't think keeping the same design necessarily precludes a BL keyboard. The very first MBA didn't have it but it was introduced in the next revision, which had the same physical design.
Imagine if they can get the Air to have as much battery life as the iPads do? 10 hours would be impressive.
That's not correct. The very first MBA had a backlight keyboard. I had one.
That's another reason I don't expect to see a backlight keyboard until there is a form factor change. So no change in the next update.
To all the people who will/have bitch(ed) about the fact that the backlit keyboard will drain the battery: If you don't like it, turn it off. Its not going to use any battery life if its turned off
I type just fine, but I do miss the BL keyboard that I had on my Rev B Air. Do I absolutely need it? Well, no, obviously not since I bought the 11.6. But it was a nice feature and it helped when I needed to do certain non-memorized key combos. Also, I did like to write in the dark. Now I usually have at least one light on in the room.
JMO
JMO
I was about to pull the trigger on a new 13" MBA today until I realized that WTF, the cheaper MBPs have a BLKB and the MBAs don't. For me, this feature is valuable. I might buy a MBP and replace the optical with a second HD instead. Wanted the thin MBA though. Sigh.
If you don't need a computer right away, I'd wait about a month or so... there could be new MBA's out, and they might have the BL keyboard back...?
Are you yanking my chain? Didn't they just release new laptops and iMacs with Thunderbolt a couple of months ago?If you don't need a computer right away, I'd wait about a month or so... there could be new MBA's out, and they might have the BL keyboard back...?
Another to another to another to...give it a break yall. In defense of the thread starter, this is a very pertinent question and I think deserving of the speculation. *Stepping off soap box
I personally think Apple will include BL to the next MBA just on the amount of criticism they're receiving alone. Taking it away was total lunacy. Me thinks it was a horrible attempt to convey the P in MBP...and somehow justify it more to people [though SB (minus it's IGP) and TB are great]
I still haven't forgiven them for keeping 1280x800 in the TB 13 MBP.
New MacBook Pro's (and yes iMacs)...the Macbook Airs were last refreshed late 2010 (Octish I think...cant remember). Id think a summer refresh at latest...but Im no insider
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100% competent touch typist here, typing on my non-backlit 2008 aluminum Macbook.
I would love to see a backlit keyboard on the 2011 MBA. Sure I can type paragraphs just fine without seeing the keys, but sometimes finding punctuation, function keys, or the fn/ctrl/alt keys (I go back and forth between Windows and Apple keyboards a lot) can be frustrating.
Just a small amount of backlight would be fine and would make using the computer a lot easier in dark situations. Sure you can get along just fine without it, I get along just fine without it right now, but when you're paying so much money for a premium laptop why should you have to squint and strain your eyes when all of the other premium Apple laptops have it as a standard feature?
My thought is that margins were very thin (by Apple standards ) when they released these new MBAs with standard SSDs, just like margins were thin with the first generation of unibody Macbooks.
Next revision the component and manufacturing costs should be a bit lower so I can see them throwing it back in. If they do I'll probably get a specced out 13" Air, if not I'll go with the 13" Pro which strangely still lacks the high res screen.
I would love to see a backlit keyboard on the 2011 MBA. Sure I can type paragraphs just fine without seeing the keys, but sometimes finding punctuation, function keys, or the fn/ctrl/alt keys (I go back and forth between Windows and Apple keyboards a lot) can be frustrating.
Just a small amount of backlight would be fine and would make using the computer a lot easier in dark situations. Sure you can get along just fine without it, I get along just fine without it right now, but when you're paying so much money for a premium laptop why should you have to squint and strain your eyes when all of the other premium Apple laptops have it as a standard feature?
My thought is that margins were very thin (by Apple standards
) when they released these new MBAs with standard SSDs, just like margins were thin with the first generation of unibody Macbooks. Next revision the component and manufacturing costs should be a bit lower so I can see them throwing it back in. If they do I'll probably get a specced out 13" Air, if not I'll go with the 13" Pro which strangely still lacks the high res screen.
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Not yanking your chain at all! Multiple people who have accurately predicted MBP/MBA refreshes in the past have said that they expect Sandy Bridge-equipped MBAs to be released in June.
Apple has said there's gonna be no hardware releases at WWDC (no iPhone 5, and I guess no MBA) but that doesn't mean it can't release new MBAs later in the month...
Why is this such a big issue? Its not cost. Or practicality. If Onkyo can manage backlit keys on their remote controls, surely Apple can do it for a laptop?
Why is this such a big issue? Its not cost. Or practicality. If Onkyo can manage backlit keys on their remote controls, surely Apple can do it for a laptop?
I suspect it *is* cost. Even if it's $1/machine to outfit the backlit keyboard, that would be over $2M that Apple's saved (I assume they've sold almost 2 million MacBook Airs since October 2010 - due to the fact they sold over a million from October to January).
Apple likes keeping a ~30% margin on it's products. And Flash storage is expensive - so in trying to hit the $999 price-point, some things had to be sacrificed. The BL keyboard was one of those things.
People have said it's due to thinness, but there have been some engineers on these forums that have said that's hogwash, plus the fact that the new air is only 2mm thinner than the old air - which had a backlit keyboard. There's no way 2mm precludes the inclusion of the BL keyboard.
Backlit keyboard is MUST have
I will NOT buy another Mac without backlit keyboard. I hope Apple changes this policy, removing it from current gen Air's. I use my computer MOSTLY in dark settings, so this is a MUST have.
I will NOT buy another Mac without backlit keyboard. I hope Apple changes this policy, removing it from current gen Air's. I use my computer MOSTLY in dark settings, so this is a MUST have.