New MacBook Air to offer backlit keyboard

Computers

Apple is expected to add a backlit keyboard to the new MacBook Air models when it refreshes the laptop line, AppleInsider reported on Tuesday. The Cupertino-based firm used to offer the feature on its high-end MacBook Air laptop, but oddly omitted keyboard backlighting during the last refresh. Apple is expected to take the wraps off of its new models during the week of July 21st, and the notebooks are rumored to offer the new Thunderbolt I/O port in place of a DisplayPort, OS X Lion, and Intel’s new Sandy Bridge processors. Other rumors have also suggested that Apple will offer 400MBps SSD modules. We’ve heard that Apple has an overnight shift planned on July 13th, too, so we’re still keeping our fingers crossed that an announcement could come even sooner.

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20 Comments
  • Anonymous

    Nice, all they need to do is offer a 500 gb model and this will be my new laptop! It would also be my first Mac.

  • Anonymous

    This…is news?…

  • Anonymous

    About time! It was stupid to leave it off the last one. If it does in fact have a backlit keyboard then I am sold

  • David_hodory

    Realiz the Air doesn’t have a media drive (DVD or BD), but while I like Apple products (I own an iMac, iPhone, older MacBook, iPod touch, 4 shuffles, Airport extreme, etc.) I have a large enough Blu-Ray collection at this point that Apple’s non-support of the format is becoming an issue for me. Please Apple, add Blu-Ray playback support to your products. Until you do, I can’t really buy anymore of your computing products …. My bet is that as Apple is (rumored to be) close to selling 1080p downloads out of iTunes, that BD support will lag the release of their 1080p downloads by some window of time, making this round of Apple refreshed computers out of the question for me and those in a similar situtation. Bummer.

    • Eric Walker

      I am happy they don’t have a media drive.  It’s wasted space, since I rarely use a media drive anymore.  A laptop is for travel for me, and the smaller the better.

      I have an external media drive for when I need it.

      I do agree they need to start supporting BD though.

      • NoName

        You could manually swap in a blu-ray drive into a MBP. To the best of my knowledge that shouldn’t void the warranty, but you will be paying $999 for the drive (OMG!) and you’ll have a useless dvd drive.

        Drive, Super: Blu-ray 2x, Slimline, Slot Loading PATA – FastMac

  • http://twitter.com/jackrazzlin Jack Azlin

    It’s rumored to have a different design on the box too. Write a story on that.

  • Anonymous

    NO…WAY!  A backlit keyboard?  OMG!

  • http://twitter.com/skeeg86 von moore

    slow news week huh?

  • Anonymous

    that’s the ugliest laptop ever!  Actually all Apple products are fugly.  I saw one from the outside of an Apple store (we, Goofans aka Apple Haters, can’t go in fearing getting sick to our stomachs) and I can’t believe anyone would buy such an ugly dysfunctional computer (if you can call it a computer.)

    • Guest

      I disagree. 

  • Bringit

    Apple wins again.

  • http://www.electricstudio.co.uk Patrik Johnsson

    Credit card in hand, just waiting for the release!

    • KCRic

      Got your iced mocha latte in hand to? By the way, how’s Starbucks today? Are the rolls warm this morning?

      • http://www.electricstudio.co.uk Patrik Johnsson

        Dude, I roll at Costa Coffee. Get with the game bro.

  • KCRic

    Time to sue everyone else for copying their innovative keyboard…

  • S Pierce

    Happy 2006 Everyone!  Does Apple have a patent on this too?

  • Guest

    So is the light leakage around the side of the keys a feature?   Would it be better if only the letters were illuminated?   I’ve never used a backlit keyboard.  I have no idea what’s good.

  • Ron

    So let me get this straight…….you pay top dollar for there laptops……and you haven’t been getting backlit already ?  you guys who support this company are idiots

  • Anonymous

    It’s not only going to be backlit. It’ll also be magical. /s

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