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

Ditto for me. No backlit keyboard, no sale.

The new Air is obviously intended for Mac newcomers, and not those who currently own the older MacBook Air models.

Apple is now marketing the Air as a watered-down, compromised, cheapie netbook. It's no longer the upscale product it once was. That position will be held for the new MacBook Pros coming out next year - which will be more like the older MacBook Airs in its features.

I am a 1rst gen macbook air owner.

I was willing to upgrade to the new model but no backlight keyboard? no antiglare screen? Come on!

Apple don't tell me you remove the keyboard light to get a 0.02 inch decrease....

I have a late 2009 fully tricked-out MacBook Pro with backlit keyboard. I just also ordered the Air to become my primary "schlep around" notebook so I can keep the MBP safely at home, as I really want to take good care of the more expensive MBP so it will last me a while.

Having used the MBP for about a year and a half now, I actually find the backlit keyboard a bit annoying at times and I find myself turning the light down lower, or all the way off, pretty frequently. I'm a fast touch typist, and because I'm in meetings interacting with co-workers, half the time I type without even looking at the screen, much less the keyboard. The F and J keys have the little protrusion on them for a reason, and whenever my fingers get lost, I just feel around for those keys and I'm back to accuracy again.

Thus, the absence of a backlit keyboard on the Air is not a deal-breaker for me. Actually it's not even an issue. I guess I figure that if the Air had all the features of the MBP, it would be as big as a MBP, I'd be paying MBP prices for it and then what is the point of having that second computer? I bought the Air 100% because it is a heck of a lot smaller and lighter than my MBP while still retaining a full keyboard (otherwise I'd have gotten the even-smaller iPad at a much cheaper price) and that extra weight is a real drag when you carry your notebook around as much as I do. If removing the backlit keyboard gets me even a little bit lighter weight and a thinner profile, then I'm very happy with that.

But that's just my situation. Not everyone can type accurately without looking like I do. So it is really up to the individual to decide if a particular model suits their needs BEFORE purchasing. Apple is really clear on their website's product information for the Air that it does not have the backlit keyboard.

Raji

Where's the edit button? Hahaha. I should say I have a late 2008 MBP, not a late 2009. Boy, time flies when you're having fun 🙂

yes, the backlit keyboard is good to have since I am new to the typing in the dark group. I am not as proficient as other keyboardist and need to look at the keys for symbols and such. So no sale for my family. Please put the backlit keys back into all the books, pro or other wise.

I think/hope Apple will put the backlit keyboard back into the next generation MBA's

Seriously guys, I really think you are making to much out this no backlit keyboard. I had two previous generation Airs and just sold one of my old ones to buy a new one. I have had the Air a couple of days and I don't miss the lighted keyboard. The improvements to the Air out weigh the non-backlit keyboard. I love this one and will probably be buying another one to replace my old one.

While I'd agree with you that too much is being made of the absence of backlighting (I have no use for it in real terms, although I do find it sexy looking on my MBP), I do think that some people really need it, esp. those who are hunt and peck typists and need to frequently look at what their fingers are doing. I'm kind of the same opinion about the glossy screen.... I find it a non-issue; I actually kind of prefer the saturated look of the colors on glossy. Not having a choice between it and anti-glare doesn't bother me at all.

When weighing the features of this product, I think you have to keep in mind that the Air is a much, much different price point than the MBP and even the previous incarnation of the Air, and leaving some less essential things out is probably one of the ways Apple managed to get the cost so much lower while at the same time being able to make this their smallest notebook ever. No matter how talented your design and engineering people are, there are always tradeoffs. Thus, I don't think you can expect the Air to have every whiz bang feature that the MBP does. If you do expect that, maybe you need to revisit what you really are looking for, and just pony up and buy a MBP.

On both issues, it's really a balancing act... what do you sacrifice to achieve a certain goal? I'd gladly give up backlighting to have the tiniest, lightest computer Apple is able to give me, because size and portability were my number one criteria. I know some people who have posted here to protest the absence of backlighting wonder why those of us who don't care about it have responded here, but as a consumer, I can tell you I read all these Air threads very thoroughly before deciding to buy, and hearing both sides of an issue is very valuable to me when I'm about to drop $1400 on a piece of hardware.

Some people are going to care about it very much, and some aren't. It really pays to research around before you buy and even better, find one to try out so that you avoid disappointment.

agreed the reason i didnt go for an upgrade.... how silly of jobs not to figure this one out and he is supposed to be thinking outside the box....just pls the mba battery bashing critics....bad call Steve

What a total disappointment on Apple side to lose the back-lit keyboard on the new MacBook Airs, I was ready to place an order but after checking out one of at the store I was shocked to learn that it does not have a back-lit keyboard so I have decided against it! I hope Apple will issue a quick fix that they did with the antennagate issue to restore back customer confidence in their newly released products.

I've owned MacBook Pros with backlit keyboards for years now and have never seen a use for the feature myself.

I hate glossy screens, but I don't type in the dark.

dbs wrote:
I touch type at about 50-60 wpm without looking at the keyboard but I still need back-lighting to find e.g. the function keys. Plus I find backlit keys aesthetically pleasing and appropriate to a high-end product like the MBA.

I believe they dropped the feature to get the new air even thinner, and also to keep the price down - it's a good deal cheaper than the original 13" MBA.

I certainly won't - it's a real annoyance when I've been using my Macbook in a hotel room as a superior TV and then put it to sleep via the remote. That sleep light can illuminate a whole room.

TOS99 wrote:
I am returning mine.

First of all, the labels on the keys are not WHITE. They are grayish, silverish, and on a FULLY lit room they are not that clear/visible. On a dark room, forget it. Second, the screen wont light the keys unless its tilted downwards and brightness is above 70%. Result: cannot see the keys well.

Umm... then you should know that in a FULLY lit room the keyboard backlight is disabled, leaving you with the same gray/silver lettering.