BL or NO BL it doesnt friggin matter! NO I MAY NOT HAVE AN MBA OR MBP THAT HAS A BL BUT THAT DOESNT MAKE ME ANY DIFF!!! So if they tear it down and find that hey a BL will work then fine. Im not knocking Apple at all I love Apple products a lot better than anything else I have purchsed in the past!!! Just tired of people whining about the BL THEN DONT BUY IT IF YOU NEED THE BL!! Thats was all I was trying to say so get over it dude!!!
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New Macbook Airs don't have Backlit keyboards?
- Thread starter hellfire88
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BL or NO BL it doesnt friggin matter! NO I MAY NOT HAVE AN MBA OR MBP THAT HAS A BL BUT THAT DOESNT MAKE ME ANY DIFF!!! So if they tear it down and find that hey a BL will work then fine. Im not knocking Apple at all I love Apple products a lot better than anything else I have purchsed in the past!!! Just tired of people whining about the BL THEN DONT BUY IT IF YOU NEED THE BL!! Thats was all I was trying to say so get over it dude!!!
I was planning on getting the 11.6 inch air but I think the fact that there's no backlit keyboard there is going to stop my purchase. It's not only because of the backlit keyboard though, it's that teamed with the fact that the next revision of MBP will likely have AMD Zacate's or Sandy Bridge which is a huge step up from C2D (they will probably give me comparable graphics performance to the 320m) and knowing Apple, the backlit keyboard it probably going to make a return which is very desirable. It's a bit of a no brainer for me.
I'm ready for Macbook Air 3.2 with OSX 10.7, Q2 2011
I'm ready for Macbook Air 3.2 with OSX 10.7, Q2 2011
Lots of people getting antsy about back-lit keyboard...
... I think alot of people need to learn to touch type and spend more time looking at what they're doing on-screen.
Others have alluded to this, but if I'm on a flight or travelling or something I want to conserve battery so I turn off back-lit keyboard and put screen brightness as low as I can.
If you're helpless to the Cult of Mac and find yourself impulsively and inexplicably drawn to buy the next revision because it has a back-lit keyboard then that's fine as well.
... I think alot of people need to learn to touch type and spend more time looking at what they're doing on-screen.
Others have alluded to this, but if I'm on a flight or travelling or something I want to conserve battery so I turn off back-lit keyboard and put screen brightness as low as I can.
If you're helpless to the Cult of Mac and find yourself impulsively and inexplicably drawn to buy the next revision because it has a back-lit keyboard then that's fine as well.
... I think alot of people need to learn to touch type and spend more time looking at what they're doing on-screen.
Others have alluded to this, but if I'm on a flight or travelling or something I want to conserve battery so I turn off back-lit keyboard and put screen brightness as low as I can.
If you're helpless to the Cult of Mac and find yourself impulsively and inexplicably drawn to buy the next revision because it has a back-lit keyboard then that's fine as well.
But THAT's the point - they could have included the option (BTO) or leave it in and everyone who doesn't need it but needs more battery life can switch it down. I do that as well but I know I have it if I need it. So it is a step down from the previous MBA. What would you say if Apple delivered for no apparent reason only 2G RAM standard in the 15 MBP...? Step down
That's why I'm going to buy the base model at base price and resell it in 6/12 months when Apple decides to bring "revolutionary" BL back. Hopefully by then, 4gb standard/ SD slot for 11/ 7+ battery as well.
Did you know that the the backlit keyboard is sheet of plastic, about the thickness of 2 sheets of paper?
I'm following the same line of thought right now. 13" with 4GB RAM and sell it later when the 3,2 comes out.
With all the negative backlash they are getting about this I can only imagine it will reappear. Probably under the excuse of "now we can do it thinner and still keep it lit up" which is total BS but whatever.
It almost hurts my head how stupid of a move this was for Apple. I loved that my Rev B had the backlit keyboard, why in the world would they even THINK about removing it?
I'm starting to seriously think that this is either a "branding" thing (ie: only MBPs will have it), they went for ULTIMATE thinness (dumb sacrifice), or even some marketing ploy to make everyone re-buy the 3,2 model. Ugh.
Anyone know if it might be possible to modify the keyboard on the new MBA to retrofit a backlit option? I love the Air, the thin profile and weight make it so wonderful however the lack of a backlit is a HUGE step back for me. I'm not saying its a deal-breaker for me, but it does bother me insanely.
The backlit keyboard is definitely useful and those who say that it isn't are missing the point: this is a high-end laptop and as such, it should be included. There is also no technical reason why it can't be included.
The main reason that it was not included is b/c it's another feature that they can claim to add in response to overwhelming consumer demand (Apple does listen, after all) and b/c it's another way to get people to upgrade faster.
If they had made it an extra option a la the matte screen on current macbook pros, I could have lived with that.
But the recycling of 3 year old cpus and holding storage constant is really starting to get old. As I've been saying, these macbook airs may be actually selling better 1 yr from now on the used market as that's about the price that will cause units to move in bulk. $1000 is pricey for what you get. $600 would be a much more compelling proposition. To further contradict myself, I think that the ipad is the worst value proposition at $700. Taken from the point of view that the macbook air is an ipad with a keyboard, it's pretty nice. Starting with the notebook replacement point of view, it's missing alot.
This is really an expensive palm foleo.
The keyboard backlight is not for you to see the keys in the dark. It's about people next to you seeing the keys in the dark. It's about showing off without saying a word.
The new MBA is like buying a Mercedes-Benz without the MB star.
I want my backlit keyboard.
The new MBA is like buying a Mercedes-Benz without the MB star.
I want my backlit keyboard.
I thought i'd replace my old MBA for the new one but I won't. I need a backlit display definitely. It's my only computer and with three small kids I'm using it whenever the situation allows me to. It's pretty frequent I'm in a dark room with baby slipping next to me in a complete darkness or on a sofa when others watching TV...so Steve forget about me...Was it 4 gram difference between the old and the new MBA??? The marketing win...??? So stupid...
Amen to that....Father of seven myself
But that won't stop me from buying this time around. If a revision comes out next year with BL, I can always hand the old down to one of my kids.
As a MBA user, I'm disappointed by the whole update.
A processor who's abilities date back to technology of 5 years ago; weak updates to the graphics; and a lack backlight on the keyboard. To top it off, more ram is a BTO instead of standard. I mean WTF, my new PC is rolling with 8 gigs, and my 5 year old iMac with 3 gigs. To have 2 gigs as standard for the "future" of Apple is pathetic and frankly sickening.
A processor who's abilities date back to technology of 5 years ago; weak updates to the graphics; and a lack backlight on the keyboard. To top it off, more ram is a BTO instead of standard. I mean WTF, my new PC is rolling with 8 gigs, and my 5 year old iMac with 3 gigs. To have 2 gigs as standard for the "future" of Apple is pathetic and frankly sickening.
I have a 15" MBP wit backlighting and just ordered the 13" and don't care one bit about the lack of backlighting on the keyboard. At least you got your little SD slot and another USB. I'm sure people will complain during the next version if they drop one of these too.
That is because no one is ever satisfied. I just say if I do not like something about a product then I will not purchase it!! To some the BL might be perfect for them or they need that so I say do not get the new MBA as it isnt going to fit your needs. Go with something else. Or wait for an update or something I mean to me it seems silly to whine about. Nothing is going to be made perfect for you.
The difference here is that Apple did not fail to include a feature we wish to have but they opted to drop something that we already had. Remember when they dropped the firewire port...? Same thing (or close to).
Exactly. At first in the excitement of them finally updating the MBA, I was all "NO BL Keys, Oh well, no biggie..." Now that the excitement is wearing off I'm really beginning to wonder if it's something I can live without. I'll be heading to the retail store tonight to see it IRL and will make my decision then.
It's clearly a big issue for some and not for others. I think the ones who complain about the complainers ought to be more understanding - clearly a lot of people work in dark environments (next to sleeping children, in a darkroom, low light, airplanes etc.) and it clearly is a major deal that a $1000+ notebook that once HAD a backlit keyboard now doesn't - it's a deal breaker for me and I wrote to Apple to give them feedback, and if you're angry then perhaps you can all do the same - they may reintroduce it quicker. For me; black keyboards require BL, no question. It's a real shame as the 11.6 was what I wanted.
I'm a touch typist. Most of the time I don't look at the keyboard -- once I know I have my fingers on the right keys -- which is easy with the bumps on the "F" and "J" key.
However, I do use the backlighting when I reach for function keys. I can never remember exactly which is the brightness or sound level key. And because I use various keyboards on various Macs, I can't remember if the "fn" key or the "control" is the one at the far lower left.
I'm spoiled. After having a backlit keyboard on my MacBook Pro, I don't want to do without. In fact, I wish Apple offered a "deluxe" version of the Apple keyboard that has backlighting. Plenty of third party keyboards offer backlighting. I bought a very nice one from LogiTech for times when I want to work on a Mac desktop in the dark.
However, I do use the backlighting when I reach for function keys. I can never remember exactly which is the brightness or sound level key. And because I use various keyboards on various Macs, I can't remember if the "fn" key or the "control" is the one at the far lower left.
I'm spoiled. After having a backlit keyboard on my MacBook Pro, I don't want to do without. In fact, I wish Apple offered a "deluxe" version of the Apple keyboard that has backlighting. Plenty of third party keyboards offer backlighting. I bought a very nice one from LogiTech for times when I want to work on a Mac desktop in the dark.