Backlight keyboard on a P505

I think I’m about to pull the trigger on the P505-S8980 from Best Buy for $880, but it’s lacking one nice-to-have that I’d really like – the backlight keyboard.

Getting a custom built system from Toshiba Direct with the same specs and a backlight keyboard is going to cost about $130 more. Even though the backlight keyboard option add-on is just $36, you pay a premium getting a system built the way you want it over buying a pre-built.

Before I pull the trigger one way or another, I just wanted to check to see if anyone knew either how to add on the backlight feature to the Best Buy model, or how to get a better deal from Toshiba Direct. I found some Toshiba Direct coupon codes on the Internet, but they weren’t valid codes to get something very useful – such as 10% off, $50 or $100 off any order, etc. I couldn’t find another big-box store pre-built model with a backlight keyboard or I’d consider that as well.

Thanks in advance.

 

You will have to buy the backlit keyboard from the parts supplier when it becomes available and it's about $90. I bought one for my x305 but there are no x305's with backlit keyboards and hence no BIOS support so the lights don't light. You shouldn't have that problem but if I were you I would call a sales rep at toshiba.com and ask for a discount. Newegg is probably the best bet because there is no sales tax.

 

Thanks for the feedback. I called Toshiba Direct and explained the price difference. The representative wasn't able to give me any promo code or anything to help offset the cost difference.

I did learn however that Toshiba Direct varies their discounts and promotions. Yesterday's "Instant Savings" was only a 15% discount off the unit price, whereas today it's a 20% discount. Plus today my order also comes up with a 320G external disk drive (except that I have to pay $25 shipping). Apparently these promos can change daily. Toshiba Direct offers a feature for saving quotes that include these promos, so I saved today's price and will compare it tomorrow to see which is better. I don't know if you can save multiple quotes or not, but this approach in throwing in something like an external drive doesn't feel all that bad (if the freebie is something that you can use).