Backlit keyboards on laptops

[M0RPH]

Can you switch them off? Because it seems like it would just be a drain on the battery in daylight when it's not needed.

 

[Blahman]

Depends on the laptop... some can do it through a hardware switch, others can do it in software, others you can't. My Vaio Z has a light sensor so it's only on when it's dark, and there are software tweaks (registry edits) to disable it, leave it always on or adjust the light sensor sensitivity.

 

[C1]

I know that the lighted keyboards used by the Sonys employs a photo sensor (ie, KB lights up only below a certain threshold of lighting).

I wouldnt worry so much about power draw as a couple simple LEDs would be provide enough light. What would be nice (and what Im not sure about) is whether or not there is provided a capability to override the auto ambient photo sensing (ie, force KB lighting either on or off).

 

[TheStu]

I know that the lighted keyboards used by the Sonys employs a photo sensor (ie, KB lights up only below a certain threshold of lighting).

I wouldnt worry so much about power draw as a couple simple LEDs would be provide enough light. What would be nice (and what Im not sure about) is whether or not there is provided a capability to override the auto ambient photo sensing (ie, force KB lighting either on or off).

Some can, some can't. Actually, it is possible that all of them can, it might just be varying degrees of difficulty.

 

[Lanyap]

On the Dells I have had with backlit keyboard they have three modes and can be switched with Fn key. They had off, medium and high. That was an older studio model so I don't know if it works the same with new models.

 

[CurseTheSky]

My Envy 14 has an on/off Fn key for the back-lighting.

 

[M0RPH]

I have another question, for those that use a laptop with backlit keyboard. Do you feel that it's an indispensable feature now, to where you couldn't go back to using a laptop without one?

 

[Paperlantern]

I have another question, for those that use a laptop with backlit keyboard. Do you feel that it's an indispensable feature now, to where you couldn't go back to using a laptop without one?

Yes and no... but more no. I could go back to using a laptop without one, by no means would that be a deal breaker. My MacBook Air now can run with very low screen brightness in very dark settings (ie sitting in the living room with the tv on and all the lights off) and i can see the keyboard perfectly . If i turn off the keyboard light (yes it has a separate control of about 10 varying degrees of brightness), it is more difficult to see them, but not to the point where i can no longer type. And I do look at the keys when i type, i never did learn to type "properly". So seeing the keys is a fairly necessary thing for me.

So yes i do prefer it and would try to get a laptop with keyboard backlight, but no, if I were to come a cross a killer deal on a laptop without one, it wouldn't prevent me from buying it.

 

[JETninja]

Being 52yrs old, my up close vision is no where like it used to be, having a BL KB like on my new Dell XPS15 makes it much easier in lower light for me to see the keys..

 

[thescreensavers]

Having a back lit keyboard is extremely useful in dark situations, The next laptop I get I want to have this feature.