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An ambient light sensor adjusts the strength of the backlight automatically, but you can also change it manually using shortcut keys on the keyboard.
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Apple has managed to add a backlit keyboard, which makes it easier to use the laptop in dim conditions. So much for one of the few complaints we had about the original 11-inch MacBook Air. The only time the 11-inch MacBook Air's fan got loud was when we ran the demanding Cinebench benchmark, and even then the laptop was quieter than the VAIO Z. The only area that really warmed up was the bottom-left side by the hinge, which reached 97 degrees. Even the underside stayed a relatively frosty 86 degrees.
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We consider anything higher than 95 degrees uncomfortable. After playing a Hulu video at full screen for 15 minutes, the 11-inch MacBook Air registered 88 degrees Fahrenheit between the G and H keys and only 78 degrees on the touchpad.
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