Are we ever going to get led backlit keyboards from Clevo/Sager?

Title says it all.

 

Don't really care about backlit keyboards, they are nice to have, but not necessity, won't mind having it if the price is still as competitive.

 

Is it really necessary to have backlit keys? The light from the screen isn't enough?

 

Who looks at their keyboard when typing anyways? ^^

 

So true.

 

You may be right.
I find myself not looking at the kb either so much
This would be my first laptop, i figure in dark situations it may come in handy..well and it looks nifty.

 

yeah i think that they are a mere gimmick, nice to have but something that isnt required in all situations and if i need to see the buttons then i turn the light on

 

Since it became more common I guess I can see why you would expect it. Especially since Clevo's aren't the cheapest machines out there.

 

what so because 1 laptop has it then every laptop should have it?
it would be nice, but its not essential to me to have it

 

I didn't say that.

It is a feature that other companies are or have adopted.

I am sure Clevo will follow suit, whether or not you need it is an entirely different subject.

 

Id like to have a backlit keyboard but i wont lose any sleep over not having one...

 

I wont either. I mean if I get mad enough I will just go to bed

 

I need a backlit keyboard pretty bad. I am not a professional secretary or typist. I am a professional DJ and i type with half of my fingers, In club lighting I cannot see the keyboard with the screen lighting at all, I have a usb LED light that I use but it takes up a USB port that I often need for my turntables. I have an external hub but I would like to cut down on things I have to plug and unplug every day. And really, how much trouble could it be to give me a lighted keyboard when I am spending $2500?????

 

Wow, super-old thread revived!

 

Supplement with nightvision for now?

Jk, ya, backlit shoukd be standard for a build of clevo's quality, or at least an option.

 

its a good addition in clevo, in fact in my opinion that is the only thing that is lacking in clevo these days....

 

i perfer put on optimus maximus keyboard which has an OLED screen in every key
can custom image every key

 

Can you hit Ctrl+C, F12, Up/ Down Arrow, or other shortcut keys without looking. That's where the backlit it would really help.

 

Not sure I follow your logic, your fingers can't see the backlights can they? If you aren't looking, then what is?

What I would like to see is something like my awesome Filco keyboard built in It would add about 2 inches to the thickness but so what lol

 

The original comment was who needs a backlit keyboard if they don't look at the keyboard to type. I'm saying even the best typer looks at the keyboard for the odd keys or combo keystrokes so the backlight would be useful to anyone. Make sense?

 

Agree!

I would like to have a backlit keyboard since I need to see the keys since I am not a touch typist. I would like to be able to software toggle the backlighting verses BIOS enable/disable the backlit keyboard.

 

I agree. I'm a touch typist, but when it comes to combo keys and such I make sure I look so that I don't screw up. And keys you don't use so often like home, pg up, pg dn, etc, or ones where you have to reach, I gotta look.

 

any aftermarket options that wouldn't require soldering to your board? not that i couldn't, i just dont want to solder my $2800 laptop.. maybe somethin will surface at CeBIT?

 

Yeah, thumbs up for a backlit keyboard on a Sager...although I doubt it would start with the midrange one (NP5160) first...

 

Wow
I like those OLED keys! I bet thats over $500 to do right?

 

Here ya go. Does this answer your question?

http://www.artlebedev.com/everything/optimus/

ThinkGeek :: Optimus Maximus Keyboard

 

There's also stickers

I don't know how good they are, but I was considering getting some for my laptop

 

Stickers? Wait what? What do you mean?

 

I am just as intrigued....

 

Glowing Keyboard Stickers | Glowing Keyboard | Glow in the dark Keys for Keyboards

There are more sites like this offering similar items. I was thinking about it, but glow in the dark stickers are not the same.

 

I'm really hoping with Cebit almost here, that we will see backlit keyboards. I know that we heard it wouldn't be until Q4 but, I can hope. Especially with the x8100 refresh coming up. I would love a backlit x8100 refresh.

 

I failed. Double post. Sorry.

 

That looks like a lot of work for glow in the dark

 

Haha, I guess it's a little bit above glow in the dark. I hope that in the next 2-3 years Sager puts in BL keyboards in time for my next purchase. I wouldn't even mind paying 25-50 bucks to see it.

 

yea this is basically what i'm talking about.

it's not as cool as backlit keyboards but i guess its a cheap alternative? haha

 

It would definitely be nice to have a BL KB, but I find it more flash than utility, so it never really was part of the consideration for me. Plus, I still have my trusty Saitek, although it is getting a little old.

 

Bah, you youngins and your backlit keyboards. I learned to be a touch typist and I can't remember the last time I had to look at the keyboard. Even shortcuts are easy once you get the muscle memory for them (F keys and the home keys, etc).

Those ridges on F and J are there for a reason you know

Plus I've never seen a backlit laptop keyboard that wasn't tacky. I've said this before, how many of you can't see the keyboard via the light from the screen anyway?

 

I'm a touch typist, 80+ WPM, but I still like a backlit keyboard for special character keys, and this keyboard I still have a hard time remembering del, ins, home, etc, not to mention the special media keys with the "Fn" button. Also when gaming I may need to peek at the keys to make sure I press those certain special keys, not the same as typing when you're in a game, you don't position your index fingers on the F and J keys.

Backlit keyboards aren't tacky. The HP Envy are really nice as are the ones in the Sony laptops especially the Z. They don't all need to be Alienware tacky.

 

I wouldn't mind a backlit keyboard just to spruce up the laptop a little. I like the exterior to be plain like it is, but with that interior to match I feel like the laptop should belong to Ben Stein or Droopy.

 

The thing i like about Sager though is that it has the "business" look. Its powerful without being overly flashy and screaming "hey look at me I'm a gaming laptop!!!" so you can take it to class/meetings or wherever without it drawing attention.

 

hopefully if sager releases some later this year, they be able to be retro-fitted to our models

 

I'm not as much concerned about the keyboard being backlit as I am about the layout of the keyboard in general. I don't understand why Clevo has to use the same keyboard on their 17" and 18.4" (when it was still around) as they do on their 15". It would be ok if it were a standard keyboard with a separate 4 row numeric pad but Clevo completely jumbles up the keyboard where the arrows and the right shift and the numeric pad are in some sort of twisted knot. Is it THAT difficult to build a full-sized keyboard and numeric pad? It's not like they don't have enough room. Heck, on the 18.4" there were those game button things that made the whole area look screwy. I just don't get why Clevo can't use a standard keyboard design.

Hopefully they'll come out with a new design that features backlighting as well. I just don't get how they can screw up something so simple so horribly. >.>

 

yeah, that's a good point moneybags.. a little more specialization between the sizes would go a long way as far as impressing the end users/buyers

 

I agree and I brought that up in my impressions / review of my NP8170. Keyboard is nice, but to use the same darn keyboard makes no sense when you have room to make for a better spaced keyboard and layout.

 

actually I've read some reviews that say the keyboard flex is troubling... I do type pretty hard so I was wondering if you think there's any chance I'd be beating up on my ram etc?

 

Where did you read the keyboard flex is troubling? This this is as solid as a rock. Sure if you smash your fingers on it as hard as you can the whole keyboard will flex down a bit, but better than any keyboard I've used.