T400 thinklight quality

Hey everyone,

I played with a Thinkpad X60s tonight and actually really liked it. The keyboard was great (though some keys were a bit small), the touchpoint was responsive (first I've used in years, didn't think I'd use it over the touchpad but now I just might), and although I didn't think much of the Thinkpad design based on photos, in person I really dug the look of it. It has really pushed the T400 up my list (although I only have 2 laptops in that list).

However, the Thinklight... it wasn't good. It was dim, very off center (I noticed it more on the desk to the left of the keyboard than on the keyboard itself), and I had to turn the screen brightness down a lot to even see that it was working on the keys.

But how is it on the T400?

Initial reports suggested that it was poorly designed on the T400, blinding people more than anything, which suggests it has a bit of power to it (and that design flaw has now been fixed). But does it work well?

Thanks
Michael

 

As a T400 owner, I can say it’s almost useless—more for marketing than anything else. However, I find the T400 to be one of the best notebooks I’ve owned.

 

I would have to say the opposite. When I'm using my T400 in a dark room, the Thinklight works perfectly. I lights up the keyboard just enough so that I can see the keys clearly while I'm typing. Its not super bright, but it gets the job done. It might just be a subjective thing, but I find it useful.

Also, it doesn't shine in my eyes, like some early reviewers had noted.

 

The ThinkLight is *totally worthless* except to impress naive friends the first few days after one has bought a new ThinkPad. Most touch typists like myself have little need to see what is on the keyboard; we have it memorized.

And the fact that it is off-center? That is just unacceptable! What is wrong with Lenovo that they cannot center their screens, cameras and ThinkLights like every other manufacturer? It is not cool, it is not function, it is just eccentric!

 

if they just lit the keyboard like normal people do instead of using a flashlight effect they wouldnt have this issue. nope cant do that they we might have to make the letters on the keys transparent. cant do that.

 

On my T500, it works perfectly, lighting up the keyboard instead of my face just enough so I can use it without being bothered by the brightness. An added benefit is that I can read my notes using it, unlike backlit keyboards.

 

So true. This is a huge advantage for me.

 

Thanks guys. Sounds as though the Dell may still be ahead in terms of late night visibility.

 

I love my little Thinklight on my T61. Not so much so because it lights up the keyboard (which it kinda does, but you have to be in PITCH BLACK room before you actually notice it), but because it lights up the entire surface of the laptop. So, as others have stated, if your on a plane for example, or in a dark room, and have to look at a hard-copy of something, just lay it on your laptop with the Thinklight on, and your all set.

 

I really liked the ThinkLight on my T40 and standard x200. It provided decent lighting for the keyboard and also helped to even out the brightness from the screen (easier on the eyes). I actually miss it a lot now, as the Tablets don't have the light (due to the convertible screen design).

In my experience, it worked best when you were in a pretty dark room and/or an airplane cabin. Additionally, it generally worked best when the screen brightness was reduced to 40% or less (something you should do in a dark room anyway). It also works reasonably well as an area light so that you can get a quick glance at a paper when in a dark room.

 

Even though I haven't used it a lot, I like the ThinkLight in my T400. It can shine in your eyes, but it doesn't have to. It totally depends on how far you tilt the screen back. Looking at the screen perpendicular (a straight-on 90°), it's fine. Tilt it back a little more and you'll get some glare. Basically, if you tilt the screen so that the integrated camera has your head centered in the picture, you should be fine. Beyond that, it might be a problem. It isn't for me, though, because I don't tilt the screen very far back.

I know where you're coming from: I too was deciding between a T400 and a Dell (the E6400). I really like the idea of a backlit keyboard, but in the end it wasn't a deal-breaker. The advantage of the ThinkLight is, as people have said, that it can shed light on your whole workspace. For example, this can come in handy if you're giving a class presentation and are reading printed notes.

The brightness of the ThinkLight is nothing to write home about. I'm sure it's the same in the T400 as in any other ThinkPad—just a plain white LED. But in the absence of anything else, it's certainly convenient.

Is it centered? No. Get over it. Note that I am one of those obsessive individuals who is annoyed by things that are not centered, even, or consistent. Does the off-center screen or ThinkLight bother me? No. (Even though I thought they would)

Bottom line: while maybe not as "cool" as a backlit keyboard, the ThinkLight is a useful feature—one that I am glad Lenovo saw fit to include. It's not the greatest thing since sliced bread, but it's not the worst either. It's definitely a "feature" in my book.

 

I am to

lol

btw, it doesn't matter for me either.

 

To answer my own question, heres a photo I found of the thinklight active on the T400.


Original source thread (at ThaiThinkPad)

I'm impressed

 

I absolutely love ThinkLight because it help my eyes not to hurt using in the dark.

and like most people above, the LED which is off the center doesn't bother me at all. I wish my X61T had that though-swivel screen should not be an excuse.

 

Just a tip, the ThinkLight can be controlled programmatically. One of these days when I'm bored, I'll have to come up with a way to put that to some kind of use.

 

I rarely use the thinklight on my T61. It lights the keyboard only when the screen is tilted forward so far I can't read the screen. I am now testing a T400. I don't find it any better -- and it does shine in my eyes, even though this should be one of the newer T400's. I would not base a purchase on whether or not the Thinklight is there.

 

Never tried the ThinkLight on the new generation of ThinkPads. But I've tried it on my T61 and I have no issues finding the power-button in the dark. That's basically the only button the ThinkLight will illuminate.