M1710 keyboard (backlit)?

Calling on all M1710 owners to provide feedback here...

I just received the June 06 catalog in the mail (shows the XPS 700 'Nemesis' on the cover). On page 11, it states the M1710 has a "light-up etched keyboard". In the picture, there is a small section of the keyboard visible and it is clearly lit up (see attached pics).

Is this only on the SE (Special Edition 'Formula Red') model? Or did Dell implement this recently for the M1710 (black and red).

This is the first time I've seen this and after checking numerous reviews on the M1710 (including NotebookReview.com's review), none mention this feature.

A light up keyboard on this badboy is totally cool. I've left a message for my sales rep to check into it but she's out of the office for the weekend.

Anyone confirm they have this on their machine?

Thanks.

 

My black one doesn't.

 

That would be so awesome if it did

I dont know what that means though - "XPS M1710 SE"


wierd

 

I was wondering about this also. XPS m1710 SE is the formula red edition

I like the lighting features but the white keyboard and the rest of the case just freak me out I just don't like the looks of the machine

 

when i first saw it in the pics, it was the same thing i said.

But now that i have it, its a lot better looking than my old m170. WAY better in my opinion.

The Silver keyboard is nice

 

I think that is light from the screen. I can pretty much guarantee you there is no such feature on any m1710

 

that or it may have "glow in teh dark" keys that are glowing from the light of the screen.

 

Well, thanks for the feedback. It will be interesting to see if the one I receive has a 'light-up' keyboard.

Been in the boxing phase for two days now... ARGH

Delivery Estimate: Wednesday, June 14, 2006
This information is current as of Saturday, June 03, 2006.

Order Processing: Thursday, June 01, 2006
Pre-production: Thursday, June 01, 2006
In Production: Thursday, June 01, 2006

x Kitting
x Build
x Testing
Boxing

Shipping Prep: Tuesday, June 13, 2006
Estimated Ship Date: Tuesday, June 13, 2006

 

Yeah its probably just the screen lighting. I agree it looks better than the old xps 170 but compared to the painted concepts they had at e3-no comparison! But they aren't willing to put the time and money in to do the painting so I'll just do it myself

 

From what I can find on the net, there are some pics of black covers with the transparent looking keyboard. There are also some that just have black keyboards.

There is another pic in the June catalog of a black cover with this keyboard. See below.

Perhaps this is a new feature or its just a typo and glitch with Dell's Marketing Dept. I guess I wont really know until I receive mine or someone can take a pic of their black 1710 to show it off.

 

there is no such thing, and dont count on it.

A i lighted keyboard would have been awesome, but oh well.

And if anything, you will have your M1710 by Thursday i bet

 

Yes the keyboard is advertised as backlit. However when I recieved mine (june 18) it did not have a backlit keyboard. I called dell tech support and they said that there is no dell notebook with a backlit keyboard. So I sent a nasty email to customer care claiming false advertisement, In respond they said they would give me a 25.00 coupon. I said that is crap, and that I wanted the backlit keyboard, so now they are going to send me a light up keyboard for me to install myself on my laptop . So yes...the computer should come with it, i presume that maybe they just advertised it too soon, before it was actually in production, but my XPS M1710 SE Formula Red will have a backlit keyboard and it kicks ass. I will post again after i recieve it, and let you know how it is.

 

3NIGM4, can you please say where you saw the SE Formula Red advertised with backlit keyboard? I have that edition and it doesn't have a backlit keyboard, although during the ordering process I never saw such a thing advertised. It would be nice if it did. I also haven't been able to find anything on Dell's site where I can order such an animal...cause if you can point me in the right direction, I would certainly take advantage of such a feature!!

 

@ 3NIGM4

I would like to see pics of that keyboard installed when you do it (^_^)

 

Interesting, must be a very new USA only thing.

Oh well, I use my lappy with all the lights off anyway...

 

I saw the advertisement in my june '06 catalog from dell, page 11. The picture may be decieving (cant tell if its backlit, or lit by the screen) but it says in plain text "with light up etched keyboard". As for posting a pic, I was given an order number that i check daily, the product is called "black sapphire keyboard" It's estimated ship date is june 30, so i will post pic thereafter. However, when i run a search for said product i only find backlit desktop keyboards, I hope they dont send me that. I told them i could install the notebook keyboard myself. If you already purchased a dell M1710 SE Formula Red..... I suggest that u all call dell customer care and get your keyboard, dont accept any other offers, maybe they will get their **** together if enough people act.

 

3NIGM4:

What's the part number showing on your order for the 'black sapphire keyboard'??

Thanks.

 

This is copied and pasted directly from the "my order status" part of the dell website, but of course without my order number.

This information is current as of Monday, June 26, 2006.Pending Items

Your item(s) is being processed and should ship by the estimated ship date.
_______________________________________________________________

SKU: A0241812 Quantity: 1
Description: Black/Sapphire Lighted Keyboard


Estimated Ship Date: 6/30/2006

 

i wanna see picture, because this is my only gripe with my e1705. If this works out and I can swap out the keyboards that would be ****ing amazing

 

This is very interesting

Be cool if it works. Because if it does, im for sure ordering the keyboard.

 

would the keyboard fit in an 1505?

 

Umm, no

Different size, different connecter, etc

 

Well, i got the keyboard about 10 minutes ago, istalls very quick via a usb cable lol. I am very angry at dell right now, i sent them a nast email. They sent me a cheap elluminex keyboard for desktops. Now i'm thinking i should have taken the gift card lol. I could post pics of it "installed" but it would be pretty pathetic, sorry to get your hopes up guys, dell decieved me, there was nothing they sent to indicate that this was not a laptop keyboard.

 

Oh sh*t! I can't believe it (>_<)!

 

wtf m8?!?!?! that's lame

 

omg... so funny.... hahaha.. I almost fell off...

 

Ok, the dell "escalation dept" called me on the phone after my nasty e-mail. (The first fluent english speaking person I have ever dealt with from Dell) Informed me that she is aware of the problem, and that she would personally look into a solution and If no keyboard is made, or can be made, that she will give me back $200.00 She should be calling me back today or tomorrow with an answer, this makes me fell a little better, i still make out with the crap keyboard they already sent me, and $200. I really dont expect them to actually find me a keyboard, i will just give the other one to my little brothers.

 

Dang, that sucks man. I was really hoping that there was a way that we could get a backlit keyboard for these things.

 

I think dell m1710 will be a perfect notebook if dell decides to incorporate full numeric keypad. Why won't they include one? They have enough real estate...

 

That blows -- I had a nasty feeling that was going to happen. Typical of Dell. When I was dealing with my E1705 Nightmare I always had the feeling they werent 'listening' to what I was trying to explain.

I actually figured you were going to get the Saitek keyboard - at least that would be worth keeping.

I called them after receiving my M1710 and complained that the Personalization sheild I ordered didnt have any inserts as advertised. They apologized and said they would ship them out - well, I ended up with another shield but once again no inserts. LOL

 

Well, after a few phone calls from the escalation department, I was finally offered 300.00 cash....OR a 500.00 dell coupon. I took the coupon and searched all throughout dell.com for anything that I "needed" because I also have an xps gen 5. After seeing that my gen 5 needed no upgrades, I didnt need any software, or assecories, I bought a dell Axim. I dont really know what i will use it for but what the heck. The one stipulation about the coupon is that the total order must equal 500.01 or more. My dell axim cost 504.34 so after coupon and all i spent next to nothing. Sure the backlit keyboard would have been great, but 500.00 is even better. Dell also informed me that this keyboard is supposed to be out at the end of july and able to purchase online, however no guarentees. Overall, i am finally happy from dell for doing their best to resolve a very important issue.