Thinklight > Backlit keyboard

Unlike backlit keyboards, the Thinklight actually lights up my entire work area around the laptop. I wouldn't try reading a book in it, but it's better than an illuminated keyboard. Huge plus for me.

Agree or disagree?

 

There is a reason Lenovo is starting to introduce backlit keyboard models.

 

Disagree of course. Unlike Thinklights I can have the subtlety of the backlit keyboard and/or spend $6 for the following:

In all seriousness, I DO like the Thinklight too.

 

I don't like the Thinklight. It's hardly bright enough to light up the keyboard (On my T61) and only works well if the screen angle is just right.

 

I've never owned a laptop with a backlit keyboard, so the Thinklight is a pleasant addition for me. I enjoy that I can use it for more than just seeing the keyboard... I'm a good enough typer to not need to see the keys.

 

Agree. Backlit keyboards are distracting in the dark. Though, I rarely find myself using either simply because I know where everything is on a keyboard.

 

why not thinklight and backlit keyboard all together.

 

I too am used to having no lighting on my laptop keyboard, so the ThinkLight seems pretty sweet to me. I have no complaints with it.

 

I don't have any use for a backlit keyboard. I don't need keyboard lighting, I can touch type, I don't lift my hands off the keyboard often due to the Trackpoint/equivalent, so the time saved from me re placing my hands in the correct position is negligible.

The Thinklight illuminates the area surrounding the laptop and I find it more comfortable on my eyes to work with the Thinklight on in the dark for some reason. I wouldn't try to read a book in it, but looking through an important document or something in the dark every once in a while is possible.

 

So you work for Lenovo and you scour all the forums for product R&D huh lead_org.

ThinkLight is a great idea, wish the light was a little bit bigger.

Also while on the topic of ThinkLight, any Z61t owners, is your ThinkLight orange? Both of mine are, but my T60 and T410s are both white ThinkLight..

 

I think they should have both but I tend to hate both, since I'm a touch typer. I think the amber thinklight was preferable (though I have neither on my X220T)

Honestly, I wish I could shut off all the indicator (volume and power light) lights.

If I'm in the dark, I prefer to have only the light from my screen.

I guess I'm old school (though at 28... not that old) I even hate the stupid trackpad... but I can turn that sucker off.

 

I think Z and a lot of the R series used Amber Thinklights for cost reasons.

What would be really cool, though not much more useful than a backlit keyboard is a UV Thinklight and glowing text on the keys.

 

why people keep on asking for UV Thinklight? you people do understand what UV can to you during prolonged exposure?

You could ask for some Cesium chloride painted keys.

 

From a consumer use perspective......

I have a nice adjustable backlit keyboard on my desktop PC and the white thinklight on my W520. The backlit keyboard looks cooler, but I can see the merits in having the thinklight illuminating the work area around the keyboard. Either one is fine for me as long as I can see my keyboard, but I wouldn't be willing to sacrifice anything extra, such as battery life or keyboard feel, just to have the cooler looking backlight. Also everyone has a backlit keyboard, so its kinda cool to have something different like a little built in laptop lamp.

I could see them integrating backlit keyboards into the consumer aimed laptops, but the thinkpad seems more like a work oriented than fashion oriented laptop and the thinklight seems more practical.

 

If it was brighter I'd find the Thinklight far more useful than a backlit keyboard. As is, I try not to work in the dark anyway and have a nice lamp on my desk when I need it.

 

Thinklight > Backlit keyboard. Less so because thinklight illuminates the working area, but just because thinklight doesn't compromise on the legendary quality of the thinkpad keyboard (refer to the X1)

 

Why couldn't Lenovo keep traditional keyboard and add backlight? E6400/E6410 keyboards are pretty good.

 

Because of the way they are made? Thinkpad keyboards have springs beneath them, so they can't afford to have crappy lights shining from below? Just my guess.

 

Well that is what innovation is for! The newest ThinkPad keyboard (T_10 and beyond) use a new style of keyboard, and it is not as good as the previous generation. In fact for me, it ties what Dell offers for the same generation Latitude laptops (E6410) and E6410 has backlit keyboard.

 

i have taken off the Keyboard of the ThinkPad X1 keyboard, and the backlight system was a later addition, it looks perfectly doable on the traditional thinkpad keyboards with a little modification to the backplate (need more perforations on the backplate -> crappy typing experience?), and make the lettering on the keycaps transparent so that the light can shine through.

I think what prevent Lenovo doing these backlight in the traditional thinkpad keyboards maybe down to cost and user ability issue.

 

Innovation is good of course, but considering the fact (as you concede) that the newer and more innovative thinkpad keyboards are crappier I'd rather be conservative and stick with the current one we have. The backlit X1 keyboard already proved to be a disaster.

 

Spoiler

I like my ThinkLight because it reduces the difference between average brightness and maximum brightness by illuminating the surroundings. I'd like to avoid burning out my retinas.

 

Thats exactly how I think about it. The brightness level on my x220 on 0 can be quite bright in a completely dark environment. By switching on the thinklight its all more forgiving for the eyes.

Also the thinklight on my x220 is way more bright than my old x300. On the x300 only the keyboard is lit up, the x220's also lights up the surroundings a bit. A bonus!

 

It's definitely way more forgiving for the eyes as the eye adjusts it's pupil size based on average brightness, and not highest brightness, so it may allow in more light than the retina expects. I'd've definitely liked the T400's ThinkLight to be brighter. Nice to hear the newer ones are brighter.

Corollary: Staring into a flashlight in a dark room is painful, while it may be okay/tolerable in brighter surroundings.

Aside: The black border on MacBook screens can also be a bit straining by adding a nice superdark border immediately next to a bright screen, compounded by the fact that MacBook toting students tend to max out their brightness for no good reason (trend I've noticed in lecture halls).

 

Another excellent point.

 

I liked using both equally. If they add the option to dim the keyboard backlight it works just fine and I don't find it distracting at all.

ThinkLight works well too and is probably more useful if you want to take notes on a piece of paper when you're working. It's also more "old school" or "vintage" or whatever for those of us who like that stuff.

 

If they do it like Dell then the light level and delay can be adjusted or it can be turned off completely.

 

I've also had both ThinkLight and backlit keyboard (X1) and I much prefer the ThinkLight.

The backlit keyboard on the X1 looks awful when viewed at 45 degrees (which is where most users have their keyboards. The light bleed actually makes it harder to see the keys and I have to turn it off to see the keys.

The ThinkLight is also more versatile. For example, you may need to read a business card so you can copy the information on to your PC. You could not do that with a backlit keyboard.

I just hope Lenovo does not get rid of the ThinkLight soon.

 

I prefer the thinklight.... I find backlit keyboards slightly harder to use, perhaps because my fingers are not illuminated as they dance around the keyboard. I dunno, but having lighting from above my hands seems preferable to having lighting from below them.