The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    Backlight on new XPS uneven?

    Discussion in 'Dell XPS and Studio XPS' started by BNHabs, Nov 19, 2010.

  1. BNHabs

    BNHabs Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    74
    Messages:
    1,009
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    I noticed on my brand new XPS that the backlight isn't as bright on some keys ex: Tab, Caps Lock, Shift and Ctrl

    Did anyone else notice this? It's not that big of a deal though.
     
    BNHabs, Nov 19, 2010
    #1
  2. Snapdragon

    Snapdragon Notebook Geek

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    97
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    Hmm haven't noticed it with mine..
     
    Snapdragon, Nov 20, 2010
    #2
  3. MaxGhost

    MaxGhost Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    9
    Messages:
    118
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Some of my keys are slightly lopsided, but only slightly. The lighting if pretty consistent though.
     
    MaxGhost, Nov 20, 2010
    #3
  4. BNHabs

    BNHabs Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    74
    Messages:
    1,009
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    I mean, like the Caps Lock, Shift and Ctrl key are not as bright as the others. They seem much more dim.
     
    BNHabs, Nov 20, 2010
    #4
  5. jetcity

    jetcity Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    18
    Messages:
    209
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    All my keys are evenly lit.
     
    jetcity, Nov 20, 2010
    #5
  6. dkwhite

    dkwhite Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    72
    Messages:
    757
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    I see it. QC issue for sure. But I feel the keyboard isn't that great to begin with. I'm kinda hoping during a refresh they replace this keyboard with an island style keyboard that would fit so I can replace it.
     
    dkwhite, Nov 20, 2010
    #6
  7. BNHabs

    BNHabs Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    74
    Messages:
    1,009
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    Do you find that the same keys as mine are dim compared to the rest?
     
    BNHabs, Nov 21, 2010
    #7
  8. MaxGhost

    MaxGhost Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    9
    Messages:
    118
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    I just wish the backlight would stay on... It just turns off after a few seconds of inactivity. The whole point of getting a backlit keyboard is so I know where I start to type. I don't need to see the keyboard while I type.
     
    MaxGhost, Nov 21, 2010
    #8
  9. CowboyCoder

    CowboyCoder Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    149
    Messages:
    661
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Re: dips in keyboard, this has long been a problem with Dells. Easily fixed by taking the keyboard out and making sure the cables on the board underneath are put into the channels designed to hold them - you'll most likely find they are outside the channels, hence making a bump under the keyboard.

    Re: backlight - you can adjust how long it stays on for, in the Dell Control Point Software.
     
    CowboyCoder, Nov 21, 2010
    #9
  10. LiMubai

    LiMubai Newbie

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    6
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    Can You post a photo back-lit keyboard, because I heard is different from standard.
     
    LiMubai, Nov 21, 2010
    #10
  11. nk290

    nk290 Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    16
    Messages:
    242
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Just do a Windows search for "windows mobility center" and open WMC. At the bottom, you will see the backlight keyboard box. Click on the icon, and you will be able to adjust the settings there (at least this is how I did it on my SXPS, assuming its the same on the XPSs)
     
    nk290, Nov 21, 2010
    #11
  12. MaxGhost

    MaxGhost Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    9
    Messages:
    118
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    I might be crazy, but I don't think my XPS has Control Point. I can't find it anywhere.
     
    MaxGhost, Nov 21, 2010
    #12
  13. MaxGhost

    MaxGhost Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    9
    Messages:
    118
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Yeah the controls are there, but even if I put it on "on", it still turns itself off after 1 minute or 2, then turns back on if I hit a key on the keyboard again.
     
    MaxGhost, Nov 21, 2010
    #13
  14. jetcity

    jetcity Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    18
    Messages:
    209
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    In control panel under window mobility, do you also have a section that says "customized by dell"?

    I did a clean install and didn't have it until I reinstalled Dell Quickset.

    Anyway, there's a drop down that has an option to never turn it off. It's been working for me.
     
    jetcity, Nov 21, 2010
    #14
  15. CowboyCoder

    CowboyCoder Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    149
    Messages:
    661
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    [Post Removed]
     
    CowboyCoder, Nov 21, 2010
    #15
  16. dkwhite

    dkwhite Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    72
    Messages:
    757
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    No, but like my caps lock key is unevenly lit. the AP is lit up brighter than the rest of it. other keys are similar
     
    dkwhite, Nov 21, 2010
    #16