purpose of backlit keyboards?

other than making it look pretty,what really is its purpose? i mean you cant see the the lights on the keyboard when you have a lamp on, now can you?

 

When you use your computer in a dark room. Yet the screen should provide enough light to see the keyboard. So I think it's more for visual aesthetic.

 

Depends on the keyboard, and how bright the back lighting is.

On my BlackWidow Ultimate, I can see the keys lit up just fine with a lamp on/ceiling light on/in the sun, etc because it is quite bright on the highest setting.

But yes, the only real reason is looks. It's also very good for people who don't type without looking at the keys, because in a dark room and the back lighting on, it's much easier to type because you can see the keys without having to turn on a lamp.

Not to mention it looks sweet if you have a case/room that is the same color.

 

Erm no much more than looks, when you're in a dark room you turn down the screen brightness to help preserve your eyes. The backlit keyboard allows you to actually see all the function keys and stuff as well, quite nice too being able to clearly see the keys still

 

I touch type, so once I find the G and H keys, I am good... but occasionally I want to hit a key not normally used and if I am in a dark room, I need to tilt the screen down towards the keyboard in order to find that key. If the characters on the keys were painted with phosphorescent, glow in the dark paint which didn't rub off or fade over time, that would do the job for me.

 

If you play games with the lights off, then it does help quite a bit. I usually have my lights off unless I'm actively using them.

 

Same here. Touch typing, but for the occasional off-normal key presses, or if I need to make sure I press the proper keys. I always thought that metallic type paint would be great, reflect using light from the LCD.

 

I H&P so seeing the keys is a must. Now I have been doing this for many years so now I am a "Speed Pecker".................

 

Yeah, I know someone like that. He's pretty quick with the H&P method. I just call him a "pecker" for good measure and he gets mad, lol.

 

If you can't laugh at yourself...................

 

Fatal flaw of backlit keyboards: the mushy feeling of the keyboard, and my Alienware M17x is the ultimate victim at that. The keyboard is useless for typing documents/emails.

ThinkPads have it right with ThinkLight, illuminates only the keyboard section and not half the room.

 

It is made mostly to look pretty, but when you just can't have the lights on, backlit keyboards are for you.

 

The keyboard on my Asus g73 (which is backlit) is also pretty good

I find the keyboard on my m17x to be decent, but it flexes a tad too much.

 

I do not find the keyboard on either my Vaio F or my MBP to be remotely "mushy." I do find some other chicklet keyboards, that look the same from five feet away, to be profoundly mushy (Asus, I'm looking at you).

I like backlit keyboards. I touch-type just fine, but when it comes to special characters (I never remember where the @ or # or $ or & or \ or + is without looking), I need to see. Since I set screen backlighting to a minimum in a dark room, and since these special characters are pretty small, I need backlighting to really see them well.

And yes, it's pretty. I appreciate that, but it's not the main reason I seek it out.

 

Eh the ASUS is still kinda mushy IMO, not as mushy as my Alienware.

The Macbook Pro is still mushy but the key travel is too short, not good for typing papers/emails IMO. Plus Macbook Pro keyboards are such a pain to change, you have to replace the entire top palmrest which is $$$.

Both cannot compare to ThinkPad.

 

Some people are more sensitive to mushy keyboards than others. The keyboard on my G73 is ok, but not ideal according to my personal tastes. I'm using a usb keyboard most of the time that is definitely anything but mushy and i have to say that i prefer it. Yeah, it is backlit too because i tend to like working/playing in low light environments and i can't blind type, yet so the backlight is definitely useful.

 

You didn't know that LED lights overclock your computer for you?

 

All my long flights are much easier with a lit keyboard in a dim cabin.

So, I would have to ad usability on the big list!

Mushy feeling? Must be all that thick wire with the heavy LED attached?

 

That's an another useless and am sorry stupid question
cant understand such questions
Of coure it HAS purpose i am behind computer nights and nights and when i dont want to disturb other people in house with lights even small lamp is disturbing i turn keyb lit on and its awesome sone people are just ungrateful realy ..!
Why did u bloody buy it ??

 

I depends on how the backlight is setup. For most situations the backlight is only a gimmick and is more of a show-off thing than actually useful. However, some backlight keyboard does do what it should. Like the Precision M6600 Backlight Keyboard actually is just bright enough to see the keyboard in a dim environment, but not bright enough to light a battlefield and the keyboard itself is very rigid for backlight and it is a joy to type on.

So some OEM's get the backlight right, but most can't and sell it off as a gimmick.

 

Backlit keyboards increase your skill when playing games by alot. thats why all the gaming keyboards have it why else. lol

id rather have backlit keyboard and never have to use it than not have it and then actually need it some time

 

While I mostly dont look at the keyboard, soemtimes I do and its nice to have while in the dark.

Even working with computers all my life and all that home row work I did on apple IIe's back in elementary school I still cant do it (home row typing). So being able to see special keys and + and fn + keys is a must for me.

 

Some the new Sagers are rumored to have lighted keyboards.

 

Yes, upcoming Clevo based laptops (thus Sager) will have backlighted LEDs that can change colors -

ImageShack® - Online Photo and Video Hosting

http://forum.notebookreview.com/att...7-p270wm-discussion-information-thread-kb.jpg

 

Looks good.

 

The MBP has like 40-something screws holding the keyboard to the underside of the aluminum frame... it's possible to separate the two, but it's difficult.

On topic though, after having backlit keyboards on my notebooks for years it's almost barbaric to go back to a non-backlit keyboard. The Sony I've learned to put up with because it's a white keyboard with black lettering, so it's pretty easy to see in the dark. But there is no way I'll go back. I'm too dependent on it now.

 

Well being an ASP for Apple, you have to order the whole top palmrest piece of the keyboard is damaged. Apple makes us change key caps if they are missing, but if a hook is damaged, you officially have to order a new whole top piece from Apple.

Another gripe about backlighting is uneven backlighting, which has been an issue on some XPS laptops. Most backlit keyboards are not good IMO, they are either blinding or bleed, and most are rubbish to type on.

 

So far, the only backlit that i have that has very little bleeding and uniform lighting isn't a laptop keyboard, it is my mionix zibal 60. Every backlit laptop keyboard i've seen suffers from bleeding, uneven lighting or both as Tsunade pointed out. I'd still get backlit for the convenience in dark environments.

 

LOL. Well, I'm not so much a keyboard enthusiast. As long as I can type on it at a decent speed it works for me. I like the Vostro keyboard more than the MBP's keyboard, oddly enough. And for non-backlit the Vaio is pretty great to type on... surprisingly solid.

 

For some of us, it's all about the tactile feel and feedback, for others, it isn't as important. Just like for some people, food texture matter a lot.

 

I mean if you are typing on your laptop for 2-3 hours a day, doesn't the feel of the keyboard play a factor in choosing a keyboard that suits you?

 

purpose? well not only by the looks, but by use on dark areas, i only use it when i need it. the special keys like ; " * keys etc. are the keys i need to verify because its like that i can commit a mistake on doing so. so a backlit keyboard is a big help. im also used to the 'touch and type' F and J keys because i owned a non-backlit keyboard before.

 

Not really, unless it's just ridiculously cheap feeling and bends and flexes. I prefer "chiclet" keyboards, where most of you guys probably don't.

I'm more sensitive to keyboard layout than the feel of the keys or the key travel.

 

I'm more old school, i prefer full fledged desktop keyboards I use one whenever i can.

 

LOL, agree. This is like debating the meaning of lighted logos on back of the screens?

 

Yeah and I was damn angry when i unpacked laptop first time and no acer sign lighted up .. pitty
I like these things ; it's like when I going outside to the town everything is lighted up not dark

 

Absolutely! I spent hours at BB, OD, OM, Conns and a couple of local PC shops just typing and typing to get the feel of what I might like best. Some of the smaller keyboards had me making typing errors and double key hits every sentence. Others, like this one, have certain non letter keys in the "wrong" place... so I had to look to find it.

Even so, I always have my fullsized USB wireless keyboard and mouse plugged in while in the office so I can lean back and use my DV7 without having to wear my oldman glasses to see the screen.

Only concern with my new DV7 keyboard is the space bar at the bottom... I am a right thumb spacebar thumper when I type and the space bar makes a clicking sound when I thump it while all the rest of my typing is silent...

 

While I've seen other laptops which have poor backlighting, I have to say that the studio xps 16 has a pretty decent keyboard. The backlighting has three differetn levels, the keyboard is well laid out, the keys are fairly nice with little flex and there's almost perfect coverage without bleading.

I feel a little odd when I type without a backlit keyboard now, I like my room to be fairly dimly lit when I use my computer so my eyes don't hurt so it's kinda hard to see the keys in the dark.

 

The XPS 17 I've got has a backlit keyboard. I don't feel that it is flimsy at all. I think my Inspiron 1720's keyboard is worse. I do like typing in dark environments, so this really helps me.

 

I will never buy a laptop unless it has backlit keys. When working in a dark room it allows me to see all the keys perfectly well, which isn't possible from the screen brightness

 

I have Dell E6320 and the backlit keyboard is rock-solid and, due to adaptive lighting, turns on the backlight only when lighting conditions warrant it. I'm also a hunt 'n peck typist, so this is a bonus.
One thing I've found over the years is that it's well worth getting a 'business class' laptop vs. consumer models. Yup, I pay more, but a 3 yr 'next day service' warranty (had by screen replaced due to ONE stuck pixel near the top left edge and have had personal experience with the quality of service) and Milspec toughness make it definitely worthwhile.

 

Really OP, isn't pretty enough for you?

It you need something more scientific, consider it an alternative (and much more efficient) way to light the keyboard.

 

What is H&P?

 

If i had to take a guess, I'd say hover and peck.

 

Hunt 'n Peck™

 

In my case, I have a theater setup in my office and wanted a backlit wireless keyboard so I could load everything up or even use the computer from 10' away w/o the lights on. The logitech k800 worked perfect for me. No it wasn't necessary but then again, what percentage of electronics (especially portable) are 'necessary' lol?

In my case, it's just fun to use and I love it!

 

I think any home computer or notebook you use for travel should have a backlit keyboard.

I usually keep mine off unless I need it... but do use it occasionally (and yes... like other posters said, while I can do fine once I find the home keys, it's the less often used keys like the shifted ones on the numeric row that I need the light for).

 

Alright, since people can't discuss why they prefer a backlit keyboard without going through the usual, this is an obvious question or this is stupid. I'm closing this thread.

And yes, it is a very obvious question, but still some good points were made. If you think something is not worth answering, then don't answer and let the thread be buried by the new ones.