There’s long been talk — and hope — the PowerBook would get illuminated keys on its keyboard to make working on the portable easier while on airplanes, in dark boardrooms, and similar circumstances. During a product demonstration session this week at Macworld Tokyo, an Apple spokesperson said “lit” keyboards were possible.
“This feature is certainly possible,” she said. “Other companies have done it, but so far, it’s not something we’ve chosen to pursue.”
There’s also been lots of speculation about an Apple subnotebook and/or handheld device. The rumors have been fueled by a box in Apple’s product lineup graphic (below the Cube) that currently is filled by the Apple logo.
When asked, during the product demo session, what would fill the empty box, the spokesperson merely smiled and said, “The Apple logo.”
She preferred to talk about the new Titanium PowerBook. She reiterated Apple CEO Steve Jobs’ keynote announcement that the new portables were now shipping in volume.
The spokesperson also said that one of the biggest challenges in designing the Titanium PowerBook was the slot-loading DVD. The final product, illuminated keys or not, is “mainly about customer feedback,” she said.