Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Backlit keyboard expected to make triumphant return to MacBook Air

Apple's decision to remove the backlit keyboard from the current generation MacBook Air was met with disappointment, but backlighting could show up in the expected MacBook Air update. In addition to the introduction of Intel's Sandy Bridge processors and high-speed Thunderbolt ports, AppleInsider now claims that the new MacBook Airs will hail the return of the backlit keyboard, leaving the white MacBook as the lone notebook without the feature.

Apple used to differentiate its Pro and consumer notebook lines by offering backlit keyboards only in MacBook Pros, but the company began adding the feature to the MacBook Air when it was first introduced in early 2008. The feature disappeared, however, as part of the most recent update to the MacBook Air line in October of 2010, leaving many MacBook Air loyalists in the dark. Literally.

According to AppleInsider's sources, Apple plans to add keyboard backlights back to both its 11.6" and 13.3" MacBook Air models—the decision to remove them was made for unknown reasons. The only further detail is AppleInsider's claim that the introduction of Lion could be pushed to next week due to last-minute security issues, though we remain somewhat skeptical on this point. (Lion and the Sandy Bridge MacBook Airs have long been expected to launch side by side, and most of the rumors continue to point to this Thursday.)

In related news, 9 to 5 Mac supposedly got a hold of part numbers for not only new MacBook Airs, but also new Mac Pros that could launch with the other products this (or next) week. The part numbers indicate that Apple will release three Mac Pro models with one Mac Pro Server in addition to the four new MacBook Air models (two 11.6" and two 13.3") we've been anticipating. The Mac Pros are rumored to sport a new, rackmountable enclosure and have Thunderbolt support.

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