I agree about the battery - but I'll also whine about the BL keyboard!
Glad to see it's at least in #2 behind CPU.
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Which ONE upgrade on the current MacBook Airs would you value most?
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I agree about the battery - but I'll also whine about the BL keyboard!
Glad to see it's at least in #2 behind CPU.
I really don't understand all the hype about backlit keys. I've used both. Frankly, it's more of a show off than function. The only benefit I can see is if you want to type when your screen is off. Seriously, with my screen on, the light shining down from it is more than enough. Not to mention touch typing- learn it.
Watch the haters thumb this down
..."Nah! !@#$ you! backlit is da bomb".
..."Touch typing is too hard!".
Watch the haters thumb this down
..."Nah! !@#$ you! backlit is da bomb".
..."Touch typing is too hard!".
I'd rather have a much higher resolution on the 13". 1920x1200. 13". Do it.
And really, that's the only beef I have with my MBA. Needs more pixels.
Sure, lets cramp even 2560x1440 and then enjoy neverending zooming
Dude... HD resolution on 13"? You must have eyes like an eagle I'm surprised to see how many people are actually voting on the backlit keys, I mean, I've had a g15 keyboard and also a g19 keyboard as my gaming keyboards, the g19 has an option to change the color of the backlighting, but backlighting has always been an aesthetic function for me, never really a handy function, so I'm surprised to see how many people are actually craving it.
I've been able to touch type since I was like 10-11 years old, and finding the buttons in the dark as long as you sit with your computer is not going to be a problem at all, usually the lighting from the screen would make the buttons visible too.
The only time I could see this as actually a functional upgrade would be at those rare times during the night, where you have to hit a rarely used function key while lying down, and the screen off, so that you wouldn't be able to read the stickers on the keyboard, then, it could come in handy, otherwise it's just a visual upgrade, albeit a fine one.
I've been able to touch type since I was like 10-11 years old, and finding the buttons in the dark as long as you sit with your computer is not going to be a problem at all, usually the lighting from the screen would make the buttons visible too.
The only time I could see this as actually a functional upgrade would be at those rare times during the night, where you have to hit a rarely used function key while lying down, and the screen off, so that you wouldn't be able to read the stickers on the keyboard, then, it could come in handy, otherwise it's just a visual upgrade, albeit a fine one.
Sure, lets cramp even 2560x1440 and then enjoy neverending zooming
I wear glasses and I really find that OS X has huge fischer price sized fonts. Seriously, need moar pixels.
Seriously, I have sent numerous e-mails to DAS about getting a backlight option for my keyboards (one at work, one at home) :
How the hell am I supposed to work at night with the lights off with this ?
I wear glasses and I really find that OS X has huge fischer price sized fonts. Seriously, need moar pixels.
Seriously, I have sent numerous e-mails to DAS about getting a backlight option for my keyboards (one at work, one at home) :
How the hell am I supposed to work at night with the lights off with this ?
Just like you would at day. I understand it's a problem if you don't touch type, but if you do there really shouldn't be a problem. - Except for the rare occasions where you have to hit a key behind the number keys above the qwerty-line, or any rarely used button next to the enter key.
With any other keyboard use though, if you know how to touch type, it really isn't an upgrade besides a visual one.
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I would very much like a higher resolution screen on the 11.6" MBA. I highly doubt that we will see this. If it happened, however, for me it would be another reason (in addition to the return of the backlit keyboard) to upgrade immediately.
Look at the pic I posted more clearly and you'll see why my post went about 3000 feet above your head.
Hint : I was agreeing with you.Look at the pic I posted more clearly and you'll see why my post went about 3000 feet above your head.
I still don't get it.
Edit:
Was it a joke perhaps?
I still don't get it.
Edit:
Was it a joke perhaps?
His keyboard doesn't even have the letters printed on it, that is the thing. Looking at it wouldn't help you at all, thus backlit KB would be no use for him.
When I am in total darkness, with the brightness level set at 'one square', I can not see the majority of the keys.
Also, the argument about bring a touch-typist is BS. I AM a touch-typist but I often do two fingered gestures on the trackpad followed immediately by a keystroke using the hand that made the gesture. It is much faster to simply look for the key rather than blindly reposition my pointer finger to the dimple on the 'f' or 'j' key.
What about the special function keys? Were they on your typewriter back in 10th grade when you learned to touch-type??? Of course not! Heck, their positioning has changed since the last MBA update (and they certainly aren't in the same positions you would find them on a Windows machine).
I'm sorry for the rant, but I'm sick and tired of being insulted by arrogant people who think that think I should learn to 'touch-type' since I want the return of the BLK. Please, open your mind to the possible needs and viewpoints of other people!
Backlit Keyboard
In the end, it shouldn't matter to Apple why people want the return of the backlit keyboard. If they think (like so many closed minded people on these forums) that people should really just need to 'learn to touch type' it would still be in their interest to add it back in. To me, from this survey alone, it looks like they would have a lot more sales.
(Or, of course, one could argue that those of us who want to BLK back are just more vocal about our wants...I thought it was an awesome feature!).
In the end, it shouldn't matter to Apple why people want the return of the backlit keyboard. If they think (like so many closed minded people on these forums) that people should really just need to 'learn to touch type' it would still be in their interest to add it back in. To me, from this survey alone, it looks like they would have a lot more sales.
(Or, of course, one could argue that those of us who want to BLK back are just more vocal about our wants...I thought it was an awesome feature!).
And it probably doesn't. The reason it's not there is probably because it mattered to Apple in a design fashion. IE : No way to insert the leds and keep the current form factor. They chose the form factor over the backlit keyboard because they thought it would generate more sales.
And from the record sales they are having with the machine, I think they were right. Anyway, I've never had a backlit keyboard, ever. It's only available on a very limited number of machines and mostly absent from all desktop keyboards, save a few expensive ones.
And I use a keyboard without any kind of drawings on the keys anyhow
Eventually, you'll be able to hit the standard keys even when coming from the trackpad
(being arrogant on purpose to cancel out your rant )I see, that is actually a pretty good example of when it would be useful for most people, touch typists included.
Typewriter and 10th grade? - I'm not 50, hehe.
I realise this isn't a good argument, and obviously for those who need it, it's a necessity, heck I'd like it myself because I find it pretty, but eventually if one becomes a "1337-typist" with one's keyboard hitting the standard keys should not be enough of a problem (even if one's blackfolded and one has taken one's hands off of the keyboard) to warrant for an upgrade of the Backlit keyboard over an upgrade of perhaps the battery life, however this is obviously my own opinion.
And I use a keyboard without any kind of drawings on the keys anyhow
Haha, I first now realized what it was about. After re-reading both of your statements a couple of times and looking at the picture it suddenly came to me whilst writing this reply, thumbs up.
edit: Yeah - I am definately slow.
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I agree with Scottsdale's thinking on this one: Apple took it away because they plan to bring it back so those of us who desperately miss it back will choose to upgrade again. It may just be a financial issue (to get the base price down under $1K), but if they do want to get more money from me by bringing back the backlit keyboard their plan will work.
Battery life please
If I decide MBA over Mini, longer life.
Yes, I'm spoiled by the iPad2's battery life. But I remember only using movie magic screenwriter ate up a lot of battery time in just an hour. Granted my trackpad skills are almost zip and that probably had something to do with the battery drain.
If I decide MBA over Mini, longer life.
Yes, I'm spoiled by the iPad2's battery life. But I remember only using movie magic screenwriter ate up a lot of battery time in just an hour. Granted my trackpad skills are almost zip and that probably had something to do with the battery drain.
A close second...
Getting the backlit keyboard back was my selection for the poll but a close second for me would be to get a higher resolution screen on the 11.6" MBA (assuming we could get OSX to adjust system font sizes to any scale).
I can not see the individual pixels on my iPhone 4 but I can still see them on my 11.6" MBA screen, when I type, while lying down on my couch. The screen would look much more crisp (and 'paper like') if I could not see the 'little squares' that make up individual pixels. The iPhone 4 just shows you where all display technology will be at some point in the future.
They could also increase the brightness (like the new Samsung model, with 400 nit brightness) so I could see my screen a little better when I am outside using it (although that is not terribly common). I will also often use my MBA in the car (when my wife is driving...)
I will be very happy when they can produce screens that are stronger, requiring a smaller bezel, such that they can increase the screen size yet keep the footprint the same. An edge to edge screen might allow nearly a 13" screen in the 11.6" MBA's package. That would be awesome!
All of these requests will probably eventually happen (in the next 10 years), it is just a matter of time (as display technology marches on)...
Getting the backlit keyboard back was my selection for the poll but a close second for me would be to get a higher resolution screen on the 11.6" MBA (assuming we could get OSX to adjust system font sizes to any scale).
I can not see the individual pixels on my iPhone 4 but I can still see them on my 11.6" MBA screen, when I type, while lying down on my couch. The screen would look much more crisp (and 'paper like') if I could not see the 'little squares' that make up individual pixels. The iPhone 4 just shows you where all display technology will be at some point in the future.
They could also increase the brightness (like the new Samsung model, with 400 nit brightness) so I could see my screen a little better when I am outside using it (although that is not terribly common). I will also often use my MBA in the car (when my wife is driving...)
I will be very happy when they can produce screens that are stronger, requiring a smaller bezel, such that they can increase the screen size yet keep the footprint the same. An edge to edge screen might allow nearly a 13" screen in the 11.6" MBA's package. That would be awesome!
All of these requests will probably eventually happen (in the next 10 years), it is just a matter of time (as display technology marches on)...
Ach111es said:
It depend on what you means by "quality". The MBA screen has better contrast and darker blacks than the MBP screens, but the MBP screens have better colours and gamut coverage.
And (thankfully, IMHO) there's no way there'll be a glass display on the MBA, as the glass itself adds ~0.5lbs and would make the MBA almost as heavy as the MBP.
While a higher res screen would be great - there's no Resolution Independence coming in Lion... so we're kinda screwed on that one. Any higher resolution on the 11" screen would make the UI almost unusable, IMHO. As it is, I think the 11" borders on eye-strainingly small UI.
What is interesting about Lion is the iOS inspired double-tap the trackpad with two fingers to zoom into an area of text - which would make a higher resolution more bearable for those w/o 20/20 vision.
Lion is also going to introduce support for a pixel doubling "Retina" resolution, so there's possibly some traction there - where the resolution would double on many machines, but the UI could stay the same size.