Apple and LED-based LCD Panels: Plans and Problems

In its call for a Greener Apple, Steve Jobs officially mentioned the arrival of notebooks using LED-based LCD panels before the end of the year.
According to Digitimes such transition might already be on-going. Indeed, Apple is reported to have already certified 13.3" and 15.4" LED backlighted panel from AU Optronics (AUO) and Chi Mei Optoelectronics (CMO). Mass production is reported to start as soon as Q2-Q3 2007.
If this information is interesting and important for improving run time of future MacBooks, some problems remains. First, LED-backlighted LCD panels will be more expensive than the current technology, and it will strongly impact the price of MacBook models, so it might appear as a BTO option in a first place. Second, the LED backlight technology is currently only validated for LCD panels up to 15.4", and one can not imagine Apple to offer such option only for the entry level and mid-range notebook models; leaving the MB Pro 17" with the current backlighting technology. From our information, 17" LED-based LCD will still need months of R&D work before being ready to go for mass production.
To conclude we strongly think that Apple will indeed use LED-based LCD modules before the end of the year, but it will most likely be used in currently unannounced sub-notebook models, such as a 13.3" MacBook Pro-like ultra-portable, targeting a different niche market than the current MacBook Pro offers.