Why no backlit keyboard on new MacBook Ai…

Level 4

3,938 points

Feb 23, 2011 8:17 AM in response to IllumiNations

It's all very well and good to say, "give the user the option to..." but there are a lot of "options" one can give a user, and the more such you put in, the more the cost goes up, the more the weight goes up, the less room you have inside and so the thicker it gets, and the less battery life there is if such options are accidentally chosen without being noticed by a user so, again, you might want more battery which make its thicker, heavier, more expensive...

And whadda you know? You end up with the MBP! All the options so many customers want that the MBA doesn't have. New MBP's are due out soon, and word from Apple is that they will be lighter and thinner. So, there you go. An "MBA" with optional backlit keyboard all yours again--just a little heavier because it has other optional options that other customers complained weren't on the MBA that they wanted as well.

A computer can't have each and every option that you or any other customer think should be there. Decisions have to be made to make the machine tailored to particular customers--that say, "This is what this machine is all about." In this case, the MBA is about being thin and light. Not about having a back-lit keyboard. Some things had to go to make this thin/light machine the best thin/light machine it could be (at a reasonable price), and evidently, the backlit keyboard was one of those things.

There are a ton of "options" out there to give you a lit keyboard from a cheap USB to brightening the screen so you can better see the keyboard, to just practicing finding and hitting those function keys in the dark. That's if you want an MBA now Because tight now it does not have that backlit keyboard. That's all there is to it. Maybe in the future it will return, but it's really silly to complain here about an option it doesn't have which, in the end, can be gotten around if you really, really, really want this particular laptop now rather than waiting for Apple to bring back that backlit keyboard, yet maintain all the REALLY important things the MBA is supposed to have--thinness, lightness, battery-life and reasonable cost.

I know to some that backlit keyboard is the be-all and end-all, but if it really is that, then any computer of a reasonable weight and thinness will do. You really don't need it to be the thinnest and lightest if the backlit keyboard is the most essential and important feature that your laptop absolutely must have or else there is no deal.

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hawleyrw

Level 3

631 points

Feb 23, 2011 5:49 PM in response to JE13

Personally, a 13watt CFL lamp works just fine. Illuminates the room (so I don't trip and fall when I get up), and lights up the room enough so I don't need the backlit keyboard....besides I'm a touch typist, so don't have to look at my hands or keys when I type.

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Mar 26, 2011 9:44 PM in response to MadMAC1234

The higher end models of the macbook air have a lit keyboard

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Mar 27, 2011 1:14 AM in response to Jpfromlbc##

Really? Look here: http://www.apple.com/macbookair/compare.html there is no mention of a backlit keyboard.

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carl wolf

Level 6

14,631 points

Mar 27, 2011 5:27 AM in response to MadMAC1234

"The higher end models of the macbook air have a lit keyboard..."

That's not true.

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John K.

Level 1

68 points

Mar 27, 2011 6:13 AM in response to carl wolf

I said this in another thread, but will say it here as well. The 13" MacBook Air is the best laptop or MacBook I've ever owned. The lack of a backlight is a little upsetting, but not when you realize what you get. Put simply:

256 GB Flash Storage which equals lightening fast launching of apps and superior performance + ultra slim and beautiful form factor + higher resolution screen than the 13" MacBook Pro

vs.

Backlit keyboard.

There's no question in my mind. I never thought I'd be able to get a notebook (without spending over $1000 extra) with an SSD with all the benefits if offers because it's so expensive. I'll trade that for a backlit keyboard any day.

My two cents...

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Apr 14, 2011 8:01 PM in response to MadMAC1234

I own 3 macbooks and it's total bull that it doesn't have a keyboard light.

when you look at the macbook air, you don't check that it has a kb light because it's expected, they've had them on previous model, older mbp, older airs even. So anyone saying it doesn't mention it you're a tard. it also doesn't say
"Warning there is NOT a keyboard back light." It's not something you look for in the specs, you look for memory, you look for hard drive space, hard drive type, resolution, video memory, etc. You validate it runs the latest snow leopard, but this is expected. I also noticed it doesn't support 64 bit, but that is something you would verify if you needed it, a keyboard light is just current technology.

It's very wrong, please don't argue it's not, it's a mistake, an Apple has made mistakes, the list goes on, why did Iphone take so long to do multimedia messages, there is no argument here, it *****, but hopefully, the next version of the macbook air addresses this mistake.

It's also like if second click "just" didn't work, and it wasn't an Option under Trackpad, and then someone says, "duh, in the specs it never says that second click will work." no it doesn't and it's not something you verify once it's an option that is added you expect it to always be there unless we are traveling back in time.

I'm ****** about it, yes it's a great piece of hardware but this is sad, especially when these cheapy (200 dollars) netbooks have a backlit keyboard, kind of embarrassing when i pay 6 times the price as my co-worker because it looks cool and lack a critical function.

This "discussion" is for people who are rational and see this is only a negative thing and lack of functionality. Start a separate thread if you think backlit keyboards are evil and for some reason a problem.

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Hutch51

Level 1

126 points

Apr 15, 2011 6:02 AM in response to Stavroche

So basically, you want to have a thread where you can whine like a child but where no one can disagree with you? Welcome to the Internet, buddy.

Guess what? A backlit keyboard is NOT a critical function. You can do every single thing that a computer is capable of doing without a backlit keyboard. I've had a backlit keyboard and I never, ever used it. When technical specs list a mouse, it is an assumption that there will be the same level of usefulness that all mice have. A basic level. Apple lists theirs as a multi touch trackpad so that you know what kind of functionality you're getting.

When I purchase a keyboard from a store or a computer for one of my salespeople, I don't assume that it will be backlit because that is NOT a base level function. Keyboards are input devices. They have keys that are mapped to specific letters and functions. It is made to type words and control the computer. Those things can be achieved without backlighting. And in 99% of all cases in which a keyboard will be used, backlighting will not help you use a keyboard better.

Let me explain how Apple works. When I bought the first model of iPhone, it came with the phone, a cloth, a cord, headphones, and a dock. When I bought my iPhone 4, it came with a phone, headphones, and a cord. No dock. ***, right? No. Because as the iPhone grew in popularity, Apple began removing non-essential items and selling them separately both because they knew people would still buy the product and to cut costs/raise margins. They're a company and while I wish I had a dock, it wasn't a necessity.

As Apple moved into this iteration of the MacBook Air, they made some design and cost cutting decisions. They included a PREMIUM SSD, an older generation processor, and no backlit keyboard. I don't work for Apple so I can't speak for them, but logically, these decisions made sense. You people complain that it's such a small thing that it couldn't make a difference to Apple's bottom line, but when you're mass producing millions of these suckers, it most certainly does make a difference.

In a consumer product, the needs of the FEW (which is what you are) will always be trumped by the needs of the many. For a majority of people, a backlit keyboard is little more than a feature that never gets used. You see it, you think "neat" and then you turn it off to conserve your already taxed battery. I owned a MacBook Pro with a backlit keyboard for about 4 years and never once found myself in dire need of its backlighting. So Apple's decision not to include it in this model wasn't a mistake. It was a conscious choice.

If you want a cheap netbook that has everything under the sun thrown into its chassis and crashes all the time and gets crap battery life and runs slower than my grandma, then go buy a freaking netbook. When you're dealing with a design like the MBA, where every millimeter counts, design decisions like whether to put in backlighting are critical.

Also, do your research: The new model Macbook Airs absolutely are capable of running a 64-bit kernel. Apple has simply turned the option off in 10.6 likely due to the fact that the average user does not need and will not benefit from running a 64-bit kernel at this time. But it is capable.

Finally, I liked that you put quote marks around "discussion" because the way you'd have it, it's more of a rant. Well, rant on, but don't expect that anyone's going to let you do it in a vacuum. You're welcome to rant about it, and I'm welcome to point out how foolish your rant is.

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fuzzydog

Level 2

355 points

Apr 15, 2011 6:07 AM in response to MadMAC1234

Better question to ask - why no automatic back scratcher on the new macbook air? You knew the answer before this rant. The MBA is focused on one single thing - light. If you want a backlit keyboard you have alternatives. You just can't have both. You must choose. This life is full of those things. They are called choices.

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Apr 20, 2011 2:19 PM in response to MadMAC1234

I have a clinic.... with 9 macs and a mac server.... and 2 2009 macbook air computers.

When i wake up in the morning i can stay in bed and type, because the letters are backlit, so i can see them even if i'm asleep.....

When I take the plane, i'm very happy to be able to type without having to open the big spotlight and wake everyone up......

And to anyone who's gonna tell me to go learn ''touch typing''.... i'll tell you to go learn surgery..........

Now i'm stuck.... i want to change both my MBA's but i can't..... its a complete no no without the backlit keyboard......

When i switched to Apple, I did it because they were innovators.... i loved the fact that you couldn't really guess what they were gonna do next....

Of course i didn't expect them to start playing the old car dealership game (oh.... this year's model doesn't have air conditioning included).....

I pay big bucks for technology.... and you (Apple) have an obligation to make this technology available... so where is the backlit option for an extra 99 or 199$ ???

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slyguy_28

Level 2

188 points

Apr 20, 2011 6:07 PM in response to ZfromMontreal

ZfromMontreal wrote:

I pay big bucks for technology.... and you (Apple) have an obligation to make this technology available...

Apple is the moderator of this forum, they don't respond to individual posts. Little tip there pal...

ZfromMontreal wrote:

And to anyone who's gonna tell me to go learn ''touch typing''.... i'll tell you to go learn surgery..........

Now, that's just stupid. The MBA is an amazing piece of technology. Backlit keyboards are a great option, I'll agree. I've never needed it and don't want that option, but I also agree with the idea that there are people that do.

Here isn't the place to whine about it....

Sly

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Dr Sly

Level 1

145 points

Apr 20, 2011 8:40 PM in response to ZfromMontreal

A suggestion: how about a glow-in-the-dark keyboard cover? Or glow-in-the-dark keyboard key stickers?

Those things are popular, you can find that through a Google search in no time.

But I agree, no backlight is lame. I am a touchtype kinda person, but own too many keyboards which have different layout (French and English. for one thing), so it's not just about touch typing.

The current gen of MBA's keyboards do not afford me the same enjoyment I have from my MBP, for one thing. Otherwise, the MBA is a wonderful little thing.

For all of those saying you don't need the backlight, I'm happy for you. Seems like this notebook was definitely better for you than any MBP from the last 5 years... But don't defend Apple senselessly, it's rude to think that your opinions - which appears to be based more on defending Apple than appealing to ergonomics principles - are more important or more accurate than others.

And ergonomically-wise, it was indeed a questionable decision. Not to mention marketing-wise. It's always a bad idea to lose some features at the expense of others. Remember Stevie's reality distortion field working it's magic on all of you upon announcing the current gen MBAs:

"it's a cross between an iPad and a full MacBook Air" (or something like that), and "it's like having the best of both worlds" (which it isn't apparently, since it lost both the IR receiver and the backlight for the keyboard).

But Steve can't be wrong, can he...

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Apr 21, 2011 3:18 AM in response to Dr Sly

I very much agree. I just got the new Mac Air, less backlit keyboard. I knew it did not have such. Is ok, but any laptop in this price level should be expected to have a lit keyboard. Shame on Apple. I hope they bring it back. Personally, I like the lit keyboard capability. Thanks for mentioning the subject. We all need to squawk a lot about it and see if it will make a difference in the next MBA addition.

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Dr Sly

Level 1

145 points

Apr 21, 2011 6:50 AM in response to KentMagnuson

Thanks Kent. They did something odd like thta once with the lower-end 13" MacBook Pro, i.e., they removed the backlight and customers could get it back by paying for the next one in line (+150$, including other upgraded features). Must have been regarded as a bait-and-switch, because it only lasted a few months...

People probably thought that if it's a 'Pro' machine, just have the darn backlight already!

Another oddity was back in 2009 I think, when they *dared* to release an aluminium-cased 13-incher, identical in all things to a MacBook Pro, as a mere 'MacBook'... Now that was also a bit of a faux pas, and pretty much defeated the point of the brand name 'Pro' again.

As for the MacBook Air, well they did improve just about everything, of course. I'm sure the backlit keyboard will come back some time soon. We'll probably not see the IR receiver again though. But this is all speculation!

It's like the message boards asking why the iPod nano doesn't have video playback capabilities anymore ;-)

Having said all of the above, I will still buy the next gen MBA, it's wonderful for travel. I love Apple products with a passion.

cheers

Dr Sly

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JE13

Level 4

3,938 points

Apr 21, 2011 1:02 PM in response to ZfromMontreal

ZfromMontreal wrote:

And to anyone who's gonna tell me to go learn ''touch typing''.... i'll tell you to go learn surgery..........

😮 Wow. I had no idea learning to surgery was like learning to touch type! So, I can learn to be a surgeon in a few weeks? And with a quick, online program? It's that easy? Whoo-hoo! I'm gonna be a surgeon.

Please, let's not compare apples and oranges. As for your terrible dilemma on the plane--turn on the spot and wake the other person up or learn to touch type...how about this? Three lousy dollars and you can illuminate your keyboard without bothering anyone. Problem solved.

The illuminated keyboard is a very nice feature. But it is not the be-all and end-all. Maybe you can't have your cake and eat it, too, yet (who knows what the next upgrade will bring?), but you can have all the features that really matter--or should matter, the reason why you get an MBA. And, unlike if you needed to perform surgery and couldn't, you can deal with this terrible handicap pretty easily. Either with a three dollar USB light or by learning to touch type. Or you can wait and hope your cries for that backlit keyboard will be heard and answered. One never knows. All I do know is that this missing backlight isn't as big a deal as you all want to make it into. It really, really isn't.

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Why no backlit keyboard on new MacBook Air?