New Macbook Air to Bring Back Backlit Keyboard?

MacBook Air Backlit Keyboard 2011

MacBook Air Backlit Keyboard 2011Photo by kimb0lene

With the introduction of the 2010 Macbook Air models, Apple scrapped the backlit keyboards in order to make the device more affordable. The backlit keyboard will reportedly be making a return to the new 2011 MacBook Air, pegged for a Summer 2011 time frame.

A report from AppleInsider mentions that Apple is planning to bring back the back lit keyboards in the imminent refresh.

According to people familiar with the matter, back lit keyboards will join the string of hardware enhancements planned for the new 11.6- and 13.3-inch notebooks, which are also expected to adopt high-speed Thunderbolt ports, an upgrade to Intel’s Sandy Bridge architecture, and possibly high-speed 400MBps flash memory.

With devices like the Macbook Air, Apple customers are consistently looking for improvement, and more features. Users want a reason to upgrade to the latest iteration of the device. Apple knows this, and is giving them what they want. The backlit keyboard gives illumination to the keyboard in the dark and adjusts to the ambient lighting in the room. The feature is currently available in Appleā€™s Macbook Pro models, the higher end of the MacBook line.

Part numbers of new Macbook Air models have already been released, and Apple has yet to refresh the online store or announce any event. Apple is likely waiting for the release of Mac OS X Lion in order to release the Macbook Airs as a packaged deal.

{via MacRumors}

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