Which laptops come with lighted keyboards?

Stupid, I know. For graduation presents, our family traditionally gives a laptop before college entry. Now, when it came time for my sons, they were very easy to please--it has to be so powerful that when you turn on your laptop in the dorm room that lights on the entire floor dim.

See, simple.

But nieces--God save me from nieces...

Last year, "I don't care as long as it is pink."

This year. "I don't care as long as it has a lighted keyboard."

I know the arima flextronic w840, Dell Studio, Alienware, Macbook (no good--does not meet the requirements for her school). Any others?

The only other requirements are it needs a AMD Radeon Mobility 3200 or nVidia GeForce 8400 GS dedicated video. Whatever OS is on it I will be blowing away with a copy of Vista or Windows 7 pro or Ultimate

 

Maybe fill out the FAQ? Do you only want a mobility 3200 or 8400M GS? Dell Studio XPS, Latitude, and Precisions also have it.

 

I know there is an HP model with the ATi 3200 and backlit keyboard, although it's unfortunately AMD-only. I'm trying to remember which it is.

EDIT - I think I was looking at the dv3t, which does have the backlit keyboard, but now has Intel processors and either the integrated Intel video or dedicated nVidia G 105m.

When you say it must have an ATi 3200 or nVidia 8400m, do you mean only those cards, or at least those? The Dell Studio 14z has a backlit keyboard and the nVidia 9400m.

 

The Toshiba A505-S6965 has a backlit keyboard and is $729 at BestBuy.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=9371556&type=product&id=1218093379440

 

I think the Dell 1555 has it as well as CTO.

 

Yes, all the Dell Studio (14z, 15 17) and Studio XPS (13 and 16) series laptops have backlit keyboard options.

 

those are some funny requirements. Usually dell's and macbook's are the most popular choices when it comes to laptops for college. You might have to pick up a Lenovo ThinkPad, which does not offer lighted keyboards, but they do have the ThinkLight, which is just a little LED light at the top of the screen to illuminate the keyboard. They probably will not want that

 

Yeah, Thinkpads have the Thinklight, the Dell E4300 and E6400 have a lighted keyboard option (as apparently some other Dells do), and of course MacBooks.

I suspect there are others, but that is what I follow.

 

I think the lighted keyboard option is available on pretty much any Dell.

I wish mine had it, and I keep a lookout on ebay for a backlit UK keyboard for a Studio 1555, but have had no luck so far

Thing with the Dells is you can get em in a load of daft colours/patterns as well, which (and no offence meant) sounds like it will be of interest to you...

 

Just for clarification, it is AT LEAST those cards. She is enrolled in an engineering school and will be doing some 3-d modeling with software with those cards as a stated minimum. There are other minimums as well, but they are so low as to not be worth talking about. Any dual-core processor will meet the requirement.

 

The illuminated keyboard is not available on the Inspiron series, nor any of the Mini netbooks, nor the Vostro series.

As for the backlit keyboard for your 1555, send an email to fabio_mejia[at]dell.com; he will be able to set you up with an order form for the part.

In that case, any particular size preference? From Dell, there's the Studio 14z I mentioned, with the 9400m, or the Studio 15 (1555) with the ATi 4570 in 256MB and 512MB flavors, or the Studio 17 with the ATi 3650 512MB, all with backlit keyboard options. There's also the Studio XPS 13 with the nVidia 9400m, and Studio XPS 16 with the ATi 3670 512MB or 4670 1GB, both with backlit keys.

So, preferred size and budget?

 

What software? She might want to consider a middle end workstation card and a Q9000 CPU. As I said earlier, fill out the FAQ...

 

HP also has illuminated keys.

 

I know there is a FAQ--I am not I wanted to simply get a list of computers with a lighted keyboard and I can take it from there. At worst, I can narrow it down to two or three.

This is what I have been able to find

Dell
According to their rep, these are the only models (of course, I don't think he was absolutely certain).
Studio 15
Studio 17
Alienware m17
Alienware m15x
Alienware m17x

I specifically asked about the Precision, Latitude, and XPS. Rep said no.

As pointed out here, I found both the Dell XPS 13 and 16 do have backlit keyboards, so I don't know if the rep can be trusted on the Precsion or Latitude, though I could not find any. Specifically, nothing on the e6400 or e4300.

So add
Dell XPS 13
Dell XPS 16


HP
Someone mentioned the Dv3, thank you
For those who come after, the HDX series (16 and 18) also have an available backlit keyboard. I could not find illuminated keyboards on any other DV series notebooks.

Toshiba
Someone mentioned A505-S6965, thanks.
For those who come after, a few other ones
U505-S2940
Supposedly a p500 model, but I could not find it.

Flextronic Arima
w840--this is identical to the Alienware m17 without the Alienware customized exterior

That seems to be it (Macbook is not an option because the university requires XP, Vista or Windows 7 pro or ultimate to hook into domain).

I am suprised there are not more.....

 

Dell's Latitude models (at least the E6400 and E6500; my mother owns an E6400 and the keys definitely illuminate), and Precision models also have backlit keyboard options.

As for the Mac thing...you can install Windows on a Macbook.

 

the M17X is the most impressive keyboard I have seen, but its also one of the most expensive laptops out there to boot, so unless your looking for a gaming notebook it wouldnt be a good choice.

I must ask why its important? Other than pretty pictures and cool factor a lightup keyboard is all but useless when your looking at the screen as you type, if you have to look at the keys to type its time to take typing lessons because its one of the most important skills you can have probably.

Edit: NVM just saw its not for you its for a child, I only give computer advise on these forums but I am a father of 4 and my kids get what I give them

 

Being a gaming computer wouldn't necessarily make it not a good choice. Although it might not be the most cost effective one. Also, if I'm not mistake, AW pioneered the lighted key board on laptops.

Nothing wrong with "cool factor" is it? AW (as well as others) sell lots of computers base on it.

I'm well aware of fathers like you!!

 

Too true. The same things that make it a good gaming computer will also make it really good for those 3D modelling applications.

 

Yes, I know about the Windows on a mac--more trouble than it is worth and overpriced hardware to boot.

I went through every configuration screen on the e6400 and e6500....no lighted keyboards. Maybe they discontinued the option.

 

It looks like the Gateway MC and MD Series also have illuminated keyboard. It also appears the Gateway P Series has them, but I can find nomention of it in the literature--pictures show illuminatd, though.

Also found the Toshiba P series I was looking for and added it above

 

Asus g51 has a lighted keyboard. Don't know if its what you are looking for but you can add it to your list.

 

Also the ASUS U80/U81, UX50V and U50V are options. Not too sure if the video cards are up to par though.

 

I type about 75 wpm which is not too shabby. I have been doing a lot of work at home on my laptop recently, and I just have to say that I would love to have a backlit keyboard. I don't need one for typing straight text, but it would be nice to have one when I am trying access symbols that I don't use often (like the ^ which I kept trying to find last night), function keys, home, end, insert, delete, etc, especially since many of these keys are not in a standard location on a notebook keyboard. Wanting a lit keyboard and knowing how to type are not mutually exclusive.

 

Thank you--completely missed the Asus G 51--should have seen that.

I cannot find the ASUS U80/U81, UX50V and U50V available online....maybe I am missing them?



Asus
Asus G51
ASUS U80/U81
ASUS UX50V
ASUS U50V

Dell
Studio 15
Studio 17
Alienware m17
Alienware m15x
Alienware m17x
Dell XPS 13
Dell XPS 16

Note: the Dell studio 14 DOES have an illuminated keyboard, but it does not have a dedicated videocard that meets her needs


HP
Someone mentioned the Dv3, thank you
For those who come after, the HDX series (16 and 18) also have an available backlit keyboard. I could not find illuminated keyboards on any other DV series notebooks.

Toshiba
Someone mentioned A505-S6965, thanks.
For those who come after, a few other ones
U505-S2940
P505-S8950


Flextronic Arima
w840--this is identical to the Alienware m17 without the Alienware customized exterior


Gateway
MC series
*removed MD Series--cannot verify this laptop has lighted keyboard, only lighted multimedia controls

That seems to be it (Macbook is not an option because the university requires XP, Vista or Windows 7 pro or ultimate to hook into domain).

 

The Dell Precision E6500 has a backlit keyboard option and an option for an NVIDIA Quadro NVS 160M.

 

There is no Dell Precision e6500.

There is a Latitude e6500, but if they have a lighted keyboard it is not mentioned anywhere I can find, nor can I find a configuration to add it.

Perhaps the model you are referring to was discontinued.

 

The Dell Studio 14z has an nVidia 9400m...it's better than the minimum 8400m you specified.

 

So the Thinklight is insufficient I take it then?

 

Well now I feel like an idiot. You are right, I was referring to the Latitude e6500, which according to the current online configuration does have an option for a backlit keyboard.

http://configure.us.dell.com/dellst...=us&l=en&s=bsd&cs=04&kc=laptop_latitude_e6500

Select the Internal Keyboard option. One of the options is "Internal English Backlit Keyboard".

 

buy yourself about 15 feet of EL light ribbon and a 5V power supply. Run the PS from an internal USB port, weave the EL light ribbon underneath the keyboard keys.

 

Well, now I feel like an idiot.

I swear I looked at the e6500 and the lighted keyboard option was not there...I looked twice.

I also could have sworn the 14z had a more limited GPU--I think Dell is playing games with me

 

Been there, done that. Most EL ribbon comes encased in an insulator that's 1-2mm thick, it will interfere with key travel.

http://highlandsun.com/hyc/LumiKey/

 

the latitude E6500 definitely has a backlit keyboard, also, the 2ccfl WUXGA screen is really great, and it has an entry level workstation card, the NVS 160M (the workstation equivalent of the geforce 9300GS)

also available in red, if shes interested in colour options.

 

The only reason I would hesitate to recommend the Dell Latitude series is that they're not particularly attractive, and I know that can be a big deal to college students, especially girls.

 

they do look a bit "masculine" but they also do come in red and blue....those might be more appealing to them

 

E6500 is a great choice, i think it looks better than most other business class laptops to be honest. and your right, you can get them in other colors and there's always laptop skins.

 

I personally find the Latitudes and Elitebooks to be better looking than the Lenovos, but some people would disagree

 

Anything looks better than a perfectly square black brick.

Nah, I'm not knocking the ThinkPads. My first laptop was a hand-me-down T61, and it did its job admirably. And my mother owns a Latitude E6400, which, while still somewhat on the boxy side, does look way better than any Thinkpad.

 

its design was inspired by the japanese bento box. basically a lunch box.

the design and research centre is still located in yamato, japan, since the IBM days.

 

Heh, I never knew that, but now I can kinda see it.

 

As said before, ThinkPads have the ThinkLight that illuminates the whole keyboard deck.

If you want a more stylish option, the HP EliteBook 8530w has a similar light at the top of the LCD bezel. Plus, the EliteBook has ISV certified graphics for maximum compatibility with the design programs you'll find in engineering.

 

a lot of people find that light distracting and not very effective. Its just a bright LED pointed towards the keyboard.

backlighting is much better IMO

 

For anyone who cares, they seem to have removed the lighted keyboard form the XPS 16 line...even though it says it offers it on the front page, once again, no way to select it.

 

All Studio XPS 16s come with backlit keyboard. It's not an option last I recall.

 

Correct, all Studio XPS laptops have backlit keyboards, it's just how they are; there is no option for an unlit keyboard.

 

IMO the ThinkLight in my T400 is worthless.

 

That is what I thought, but that completely contradicts what the Dell sales rep told me,

To quote: "I am the sales rep and that is what I am telling you"

 

Well think pads have always been useless anyway... always looks so boxy and unattractive... nver gonna buy one.

 

Anyone who hates thinkpads has clearly not ever had a "road-warrior" sales person or careless office staff person with a company laptop. Thinkpads, the t-series, are great laptops.

Short of a toughbook, there is no better built laptop.

Plus, they have great keyboards--at least they did before up until the t61 -- I understand the newer t-series have different keyboards.

 

Dell Precision m4400 and m6400 both have backlight options, and are excellent for CAD and 3D work.