No Backlit Keyboard? GLOSSY screen????!!!!!

So I'll be honest; I have a MacBook Pro (2010) and the new Air (13) - for different uses. I quite love the new Air. It's great, quite, fast. the whole shebang. I can forgive the missing light sensor I guess, and I am not horribly put off by the missing keyboard light. That said, I really miss them. Enough to make the air unusable? No way. But, I miss both features, and would have gladly paid more to retain them.
Not sure this helps - but the omissions weren't big enough to me to 'vote with my wallet' - the system is great! - but are being missed....

Same here. I would have preferred to have a backlit keyboard like on my MBP's, but it isn't a deal breaker. Just a chink in what would have otherwise been a near perfect portable.

I use mine in the operating room where the lighting varies from super harsh 80 fluorescent tube to near black out over the course of minutes. The screen is far less glossy than the MBP's (about 1/4 the reflection). No problem reading the screen easily with max room lights on. In the dark, I can still see the key legends sufficiently albeit with more difficulty than with a backlit keyboard. Luckily I CAN touch type and that is greatly aided by this having a full size keyboard.

Overall, I find the 13 inch MBA a wonderfully usable and capable companion machine during my day's travels.

Alex.Ly wrote:
Glossy Display is also a problem. They produce MBA as an ultraportable notebook but how can it work under the sunlight with glossy display. U can use the light of screen to type in the dark but using MBA outdoor must be disaster!!!!!!!!!!

I'm not sure if it's been addressed somewhere in these 14 pages, but the screen is no glossier than the previous MacBook Air displays. If anything, the screen is a significant improvement over the Rev B. The SSD is much faster, and the processor doesn't throttle down as much. While I miss the backlit keyboard, overall it isn't a deal breaker for me.

Cheesemaker wrote:
...
- but WHY would you scratch the IR receiver??
Apple got the best presentation application and the best remote out there and I can't use that with there newest model?
...

Because you're supposed to control keynote with the iPhone app? Presenter notes in your hand.

Because a remote that requires line-of-sight doesn't work for me?

Just my two cents.

{quote:title=daftlush wrote:}
http://www.myglowkeys.com/
http://www.funkeyboards.com/glowmain.html
http://www.latkey.com/glowing_stickers.asp
http://www.baronbob.com/glowingkeyboardstickers.htm
http://www.google.com/products?q=glowin+the+dark+keyboardstickers&hl=en&aq=f
{quote}

I'm not expected to pluck a set of freaking lame stickers on my 1800 buck aluminium hottie? Am I?

I got a new 13 inch MBA yesterday, 4GB memory, 2.13 Ghz.
I'm returning it to Apple.
I can't live without the backlit keyboard, especially after having a MBP. I'm not a great typist, so I do look at the keyboard. What was Apple thinking?

Not having a back-lit keyboard on the new Mac Book Air models is a deal breaker for me too. I have a 2 year old Mac Book Air and I was thinking about upgrading, but not if it doesn't have a back-lit keyboard.
I was on a recent night flight and the women next to me was using the glow from her cell phone to view her keyboard on her NEW Mac Book Air, she held the phone in her left hand and was typing with her right......not me, thank you, I'll stick with the old model.

I didn't even think to check for this feature when I orderedmy Mac Air. I am so disappointed. When it arrived and I realized it did not have a backlit keyboard I tried very hrd to adjust but once you have one that is backlit going back to not hving it is just making me frustrated. I am initiating a return in the morning and will pay the restocking fee. It is seriously failure on their part for not including this feature. They could have made it an optional feature, even if it cost more but no option in not an option.

You should not be paying the restocking fee, it aint your fault if you cannot see the keys at night, and it aint your fault if they removed a feature that is currently on any other macbook on the market.

Of course he should..... It aint Apple's fault he didn't check first.

Forget the backlit option for a moment, but I consider gray key labels on a black keyboard a defect.

The keys on my MBA are charcoal, not black

Ok, gray labels on charcoal keys how does that sound to you as far as visibility?

I have no problem with the keys, and I usually type in a dimly lit room.

Will not buy the new MacBook Air unless the backlit keyboard is added back!!