Why no backlit keyboard on new MacBook Air?

Have you been living in a cave since the product was announced the 3rd week in October. There must be 1000 posts on this topic between the handful of threads that sprang up to discuss it back in October. I suggest you chime in on one of the existing threads, as nobody is likely to fire up a new round of discussion on this topic.

this is funny, in two ways.

MadMAC123,

Welcome to the forum. If you look at discussions concerning the new Macbook Air, you'll see many threads that cover this subject. Sadly, there are many people that are unhappy with Apple's choice to remover the backlit feature that we've begun to love so much on our notebooks.

Hope this helps.

Wondering Bob

< Edited by Host >

WOW

I had been of your opinion until I had received mine. Honestly, I do not miss it at all. I can still see the keyboard well on dark planes.

I hope that this helps!

I agree ... very disappointed that keyboard isn't backlit.

Message was edited by: Shirley Howe

There is no backlit keyboard because they're trying to extend battery life. Simple as that. Which do you want, backlit keyboard or a longer battery? Maybe in the future they'll be able to give you both, but for right now the speed of the MBA lighting up when you open it and the number of hours it can go without needing a charge are helped by it having no backlit keyboard.

If it's a deal breaker for you, then it's a deal breaker, but for most of us, it's not. We can see just fine by the light of the screen, or we can get a little USB light (most of which are cheap, light, small enough to put in a pocket and can illuminate the whole keyoard), or we know how to touch type which makes a backlit keyboard moot.

Honestly, unless you don't touch type and spend a lot of time in the dark, it's an over-rated feature. I barely noticed or used mine on my MBP. I'd much, much, much rather have a nice long battery life and a screen that comes to life in an instant then a backlit keyboard.

All good points .. thanks for posting. As I read your explanation about battery life, it then seemed obvious. And, I agree, I enjoy longer battery life more than I miss back lighting.

Think it has anything to do with weight etc? That's just what the clerk at the apple store said, if it's a stupid idea I'm not the ones that's stupid! Lol.... I have the mbp 15 also and sometimes I think it's just something extra that might fail... Do love them both tho..

I think the battery life makes more sense than the weight issue. I, too, have an old MacBook Pro but am enjoying the portability of the new Air. I've been having problems with individual Apps as well as the whole system quitting unexpectedly that I didn't experience with either of my 2 older laptops. Genius Bar says it's because I transferred everything from the old to new. I did this on the advice of a One-to-One tech even though I knew there were files I didn't want transferred. Saw a Genius Tech yesterday ... sure hope he solved the problem. If not, I have to erase my hard drive, return the new Air to factory status and start all over again. I'm not happy when I follow the advice of a Specialist and find their action is the cause of my problems.

I know what you mean... Tho I didn't have to transfer anything and for the moment" hopefully a long long moment" it's running perfect... I'm a little obsessive when it comes to problems... Like us all I'm sure I want my stuff running 100%, 100% of the time;)

Just received the 11" Air and what a beautiful machine. The first thing I did when setting it up was to turn on the keyboard backlight, lo and behold I found out there ain't no such thing.
One of the biggest reasons I switched to a Macbook was the backlit keyboard, needless to say I called Apple and got an RMA to return the Air immediately.
To me the Air is not worthy of serious consideration now.

Sorry you feel that way ... I have the 13" and it really is a sweet machine. So much more portable and with longer battery life than my MBP.