Yellow ThinkLight is a cost cutting mistake?

I can barely see the keyboard when the room is pitch dark. The screen even on the lowest brightness setting is way brighter than the ThinkLight. Is it possible to change it to white LED like before? Thanks!

 

Which ThinkPad do you own? I haven't heard of a yellow ThinkLight before, but after a bit of search it seems that some ThinkPads do indeed come with a yellow/amber light instead of bright white.

I suggest you call Lenovo support and ask them if they can replace it. I would tell them exactly what you wrote here. I use the ThinkLight every night and I would be quite frustrated if it was yellow and too dim.

Edit: It seems that the Z and R series come with the yellow/amber LED due to the lower cost of these. Hence, it may be difficult to have Lenovo replace it. You can probably replace it yourself though. I just looked at my X61 LED and it seems like you would have to open the screen casing. A bit scary, but anything is possible for the savy ones.

 

I have the Z61m with the yellow/amber ThinkLight. It's really dim and I can barely see the keyboard in the dark. Does the T61 come with the normal white LED ThinkLight? Thanks!

 

I think so. Up until now I thought all ThinkPads came with the white LED.

All I know is that my former T60 as well as the X61 I have now, came with the white ThinkLight.

I am sure the T61 guys will let you know as soon as they wake up in the US.

 

white LED on my T61...and T43

 

Yes, the T61 comes with a white LED thinklight. But it doesn't seem like its worth using either. The screen on full brightness pretty much drowns it out.

 

You're missing the point.

ThinkLight is ideal in very dark areas where you either don't want to disturb others with your brightness set to max (i.e. on a flight) or because you think high brightness puts a strain on your eyes - which it will when it is pitch black.

In those situations the ThinkLight is ideal for illuminating the keyboard in a discrete manner, whilst also making the screen less straining on your eyes.

 

This article will answer your question.
http://www.lenovoblogs.com/insidethebox/?p=35

I have used both white and amber LEDs, and I find that both of them are useful in a dark environment, and yes the white is brighter but I don't have problems with the amber one as well, so it's fine to me anyway.