Problem with the Vaio TZ keyboard design...

I just love the Sony Vaio TZ....BUT...the keyboard letters are not legible enough in dim light. This is really important for frequent fliers like me who spend a lot of time in dim aircraft cabin lighting (or anywhere else the lighting is suboptimal).

There is simply not enough contrast between the white letters and the black keys. The letters are a dull grey colour, and thin and small, and do not stand out.

Why is this important? Because not everyone can touch type and people like me (and many businessmen) need to glance down at the keyboard a lot to check our typing.

Sadly, I returned my TZ to Sony today – and it absolutely breaks my heart to do so. I love every other aspect of this machine. It is the most beautiful laptop I have ever seen. It is light, elegant, offers great performance (for the size), well built and has the best screen available.

I know that legibility is a subjective and therefore contentious issue, and many people will not even notice this problem – especially if they touch type and have better eyes than mine. But I hope Sony makes the letters easier to read for the next version of the TZ - then I will buy it and keep it!

 

I really see your point, and hope that Sony will make a better contrast on the keys in the next model. Personally, I also hope that there will be more colors to choose between, also regarding the keyboard. I personally would like to have a white machine (and a white keyboard) as an option, with good contrast between the characters and the color of the keys.

 

An interesting point. I was recently comparing a new Samsung Q70 with a slightly older Samsung Q35. Both had what look like black keyboards with white letters but the Q70's were actually light grey so they would be less visible in poor light.

Isn't a work-around to get a clip-on LED light which you plug into a USB port? OK, it will reduce the battery time slightly, but that's better than not being able to work.

John

 

The whole point of getting the TZ is the nature of its portability, so carrying more things like an LED light might be something some won't want to carry, I know I won't.

I did notice a difference between the keys of the TZ and my former T60p, in that I cannot see any letters at all when using the TZ in complete darkness, but when I was using the T60p, I could see the white letters standing out from the black keys.

It isn't a big deal, but I do wish there would be better contrast with the Sony. For example, how hard would it be to use glow in the dark paint for the lettering. It wouldn't use any battery life and you can see clearly see all the keys without them lighting up like a christmas tree.

 

Its all personal preference, I almost never look at the eyes when I am typing, I think I could manage even if the keyboard had no keys printed on them at all! Shame you had to return it because of that minor issue.

 

He can't touch type! How is this a minor issue (at least for him)?

 

Cuthbert, when you are telling us that you have problems with seeing the characters of the keys on the TZ in suboptimal lighting, I come to wonder whether you have experience with the TX's keyboard in such lighting condition? I ask this question because I think the contrast on the TX's keys seems even weaker (lesser) than the contrast on the TZ's keys. (I have first hand experience with the TX and only seen pictures of the TZ's keys.)

 

Yeah, I don't know if the TX's contrast is any better - silver keys with black text on the TX, or black keys with grey (?) text on the TZ. I think a ThinkPad with the ThinkLight would be a good solution to your problem, or perhaps the Macbook Pro (is it only the pro that has this?) with the lighted keyboard.

 

Hi Mandersen, before I returned the TZ to Sony I took it to the local PCWorld store here in London to compare the keyboard with lots of other notebooks. Just to make sure I was not imagining the problem. But it became clear that the TZ legibility factor was lower than all the other laptops on display, with much less contrast between the letters and the black keys. Even the store assistant who helped me said the same thing (He really liked the overall design of the TZ though, like I do). As for the TX, I have tried one a few times and wasn't bothered by the keyboard. Perhaps because being a lighter silver shade it does not fade into the dark when the lights dim.

Anyway, I hope this does not put people off the TZ because as I said earlier, I think it is a brilliant machine. But keyboard legibility is important for me.

PS. From a marketing perspective, Sony should address this problem quickly. This is because the TZ is a flagship, premium (and expensive) product, and therefore, a prime target audience would be affluent, mature business people who travel a lot. These people often find themselves in dimly lit places such as planes, airport lounges and hotels, and their eyes are not as good as a 25 year old's. Also, after a long flight, one's eyes become tired and more prone to eye strain. This is why we need good keyboard legibility on the TZ.

 

Funny, I was going to post the exact same observation. It drives me crazy too that Sony did not use highly reflective lettering to make the keyboard easier to distinguish. A definite weakness, but not enough to make me want to return it though.

 

I actually considered buying some stick-on letters but decided they would look too tacky. In the meantime I will write to Sony and ask if they have any plans to make the letters bolder, and will keep this forum posted on any developments.

 

Learn to touch type. It's the future.

 

OK, it's both past and future - but definetively not the point here. Sometimes one needs to SEE the keys.

 

I'm pretty sure the future involves the keyboard reading my brain waves but yours is certainly an obnoxious statement

 

avalpert, I didn't read your brain waves in the above post, I am afraid. But I tried to be funny, and failed. But I think the fact remains, that sometimes it is good to be able to see the keys. On the other hand, I have not yet had first hand experience with the TZ. So this may not be an issue at all, for me, at least. But, if it is a problem for someone with failing eyesight, Sony can make the contrast better....

 

There are only advantages to learning to touch type. You'll be more productive (if you type a lot), you won't have to look at the keys whilst typing, it'll give you something to do on the flight (if you got no work and internet) and you'll look the business!

And brainwave typing sounds awesome. The eye movement typing Stephen Hawkins uses is the real deal. How cool would that be on the TZ! LOL

 

SuperShinobi, I really agree with you about the advantages of learning touch type. At the same time, I also see the point of having a good enough contrast for the letters on the keys.

 

Yeah I know. I didn't mean that keyboards shouldn't have the letters printed on them at all. No one wants a blank keyboard and yeah if the lettering on keys are hard to see then yeah that is an issue.

 

they sell led lights that are plugged into the usb nowadays... and they can be attatched and hung over the screen

 

Mandersen- I wasn't reffering to you post, sorry about that. I meant it was obnoxious to direct one to lear to touch type - it's not easy for everyone.

 

I've had half a dozen of the small-form VAIO's over the years and loved them all...........until now. Unfortunately this is a deal-breaker..........I mean, if you can't interface with the machine (ie type) then its nothing more than an expensive DVD player.
C'mon Sony...........you can do better than this.
Mine is likewise back at the dealers.......as I crave a decent keyboard and AT LEAST 160GB of onboard storage

 

I was hoping your comment was for the "teacher".
I have TX for about a year now and I had to learn to touch type, well almost.
I think I would have slight problem if my keyboards contrast was just like TZ.
My wife can touch type (65wpm) and shes glancing at the keyboard once in a while.
Rob

 

I can touch type on mine, even though it is the Japanese layout and I am used to the English one.

 

Have you seen the MCT iLite Ultra. Yes it does take up a usb port and yes it is a keyboard light but at least its not one of those incredibly ugly creeping vine type screen-mount monstrosities. And it looks tiny. If your typing in the dead of night its not gonna matter what the contrast of the keyboard is and you would have to look for other methods to illuminate things anyway. The other option is to tilt the screen forward a bit to let the screen light shine across the keys. This is what I have had to do with any laptop I have owned/used in 15 years.

http://industrialcomponent.com/usbstuff/mikilite.html

I simply dont see this as a reason to return a $3000 laptop if the problem can be cured for a $10 outlay. The idea that the TZ is nothing more than a DVD player because the keys dont have great contrast is quite honestly one of dumbest I have ever heard and completely disregards everything the TZ is capable of as a laptop. Go get a macbook if you dont like it.

 

That's a nifty little gadget.

I totally agree that there isn't anything wrong with the TZ. If it had lighter/brighter key colours, the keys would look out of place.

I brought my TZ because it is a functional piece of art (lol). Any colour changes to the keyboard would make it look out of place.

 

I've been tilting my screen on every laptop I owned. Sometimes I use this tiny usb light. Especially on the plane, where I don't like to use overhead light.

 

Sorry, this is kinda off-topic,

I now feel that I should use an oil based dark-pen to colour out the letters in the keyboard, - or use a little paper-knife to scrap-off the keys.
Comeon,,, it 'should' look a lot more *pro* as people will see 'oh look, his keyboard got no letters whatsoever!'

 

You are a nutter, zerodays. If you do it, show me a picture!

 

Has the keyboard legibility problem been fixed yet? I haven't seen the latest versions of the TZ for a while, and am wondering if Sony has made the letters whiter and thicker - so than non-touch typists like me can use the TZ more easily.

 

No, still you can't see the letters in the dark. Is the exact keyboard as the first generation of TZ, no change there.
I'm quite dissapointed with the TZ actually, letters don't type good after one month of purchasing and also it doesn't play videos from some sites. I tried also IE7 and firefox but nothing!
I think I will sell it.

 

Yeah also imo a blacklit keyboard is a must in such a laptop. Not everyone is touch type.
Armadilo, I think the videos (flash player) issue is a Vista thing and not a TZ's. Do a little research about this and I'm sure you will find a solution.

 

Might be Vista that cause the videos to shut down but again what a huge dissapointment the TZ. You spend a premium and Sony can't make a machine to work properly. Ok, great design but is not clothes that are we speaking here right? All this forums are full of TZ problems...broken screens, battery clips, keyboard not working...Well done Sony

 

I wonder if there is a company out there who can modify laptop keyboards and add in LEDs in all of the keys... I'd pay money for that kind of modification.

 

Too bad they couldnt take the power button LED and use that to illuminate translucent keys.

 

Or, you can also tilt the screen closer towards you, so the screen light will fall on top of the keys. This way, the keys will be visible, and you can take advantage of the good viewing angles of the TZ screen.

Joke. Although, the viewing angles are good.