So, am i missing something here. Why are PC manufacturers still lame?

[Lee H]

Supply and demand as Agent has stated.

Most normal users don't use their laptops in dark rooms or use them with the lights on in the room so they can see the keyboard. I bet most of these would complain if an additonal 20-30 pounds was added to the cost of their laptops just so the keyboards can be back-lit.

You could get some USB LED lights to illuminate the area needed, or thinking even further out of the box use a LED based head-light that you see for camping to light the keys when you look down

[kalniel]

or thinking even further out of the box use a LED based head-light that you see for camping to light the keys when you look down

<face palm>
And when you look at the screen...

[Salazaar]

Crazy idea I know but you could just turn a light on in the room...

[usxhe190]

However, on another note, I do think windows based laptops should use slot loading drives - I think that is worthy of a rant!

Please flame if you dont think so though

[lodore]

However, on another note, I do think windows based laptops should use slot loading drives - I think that is worthy of a rant!

Please flame if you dont think so though

I agree with that idea.
I much prefer the slot loading disc drives on my newer consoles, ps3 and Wii.

As far as computer manafacurers being lame i hate the bloody recovery partitions... give the user a windows disc fgs....
or in the case of acer they dont provide eiether and expect you to create your own recovery discs using there program. of course most users dont read that until they cannot boot windows anymore..

does anyone else find recovery image partitions annoying?

[Zak33]

what shape is a PC supposed to be then?

I think that, on the whole, it works pretty well. It's a box with an easily removed front and/or side.

It has a monitor on the desk... and a keyboard and mouse. everything else is a variation on a theme, surely?

[jim]

I bet most of these would complain if an additonal 20-30 pounds was added to the cost of their laptops just so the keyboards can be back-lit.

There goes me imagining a 2 stone halogen-lamp arrangement behind the keyboard, before I eventually read it properly and cotton on

[Mazzle]

In answer to the original question, Why?

For the same reason apple can knock out overpriced plastic balls of 'cool' which 'savvy' consumers will flock to.

Because it sells.

*runs up a tree*

[Stompy]

My Windows laptop has a backlit keyboard and a slot loading drive....

[Lee H]

<face palm>
And when you look at the screen...

It's too early in the day to be thinking logically like that. Having your sleep broken every 2 hours makes your brain do weird and wonderful things. As does changing smelly nappies at 4 am

[Charon]

Marcos, why don't you buy yourself a USB backlit keyboard and use it instead? Much better usability than laptop's one.
Alternatively, there're some rather cheap portable USB LED lamps, just plug it into laptop's USB and give your keys some light

[mmh]

Marcos, why don't you buy yourself a USB backlit keyboard and use it instead? Much better usability than laptop's one.
Alternatively, there're some rather cheap portable USB LED lamps, just plug it into laptop's USB and give your keys some light

or look into getting a tablet pc... im pretty sure the controls on that will be backlit

[Splash]

Shouldn't be any problem for your eyes at all.

Countless optometrists would tend to disagree with you on this one.

[Andeh13]

<skulks off into the darkness with his backlit keyboard & slot loading drive....>



For the record most of the Dell Studio line up (possibly the others, iv not check) have backlit keyboards as an option, i got mine off ebay for about £15 and it was a straight swop! Result no need to fork out twice as much for the same specs & an apple badge.

[Funkstar]

However, on another note, I do think windows based laptops should use slot loading drives - I think that is worthy of a rant!

Please flame if you dont think so though

Like the Asus I bought two years ago?

They have their uses, but a disk is far more likely to get trapped in one. Big Leon was moaning about getting a DVD stuck in his Mac book recently.

[usxhe190]

Like the Asus I bought two years ago?

They have their uses, but a disk is far more likely to get trapped in one. Big Leon was moaning about getting a DVD stuck in his Mac book recently.

Slot loading isn't common, even for high end windows laptop.

Maybe they are more likely to get trapped but to me, that's a manufacturing issue. Lots of devices have slot loading now (e.g. car single cd drives).

You must agree Slot loading > manual tray loading!