[selowitch]

I'd like to know who thinks adding a backlit keyboard to my new 1GHz PB would be worth it.

[Drakino]

Yes.

Even if you don't plan on using the actual backlit keyboard, the light sensors in the laptop adjusting the screen brightness make this feature well worth it. This way, your battery life will automaticially go up a bit when you start using your laptop in a dark room.

My iPaq did the auto screen brightness, though it didn't work nearly as well as the Powerbook implementation.

[nate_02]

I think it works better if you are at a table with your PB. When I'm in my La-Z-Boy, the angle can make it hard to see some of the keys. It does help if you've taken a keyboarding class though.

Overall, I think its worith it.

[Daytonaaaaa]

Honestly, I wondered how the hell did I live without the backlit keyboard.

It allows you to use the keyboard under any lighting circumstances, pitch black included.

It makes the powerbook a truly portable computer in all environments (other than rain and mud, of course )

Daytona

[selowitch]

Originally posted by Daytonaaaaa:
It allows you to use the keyboard under any lighting circumstances, pitch black included.

OK, but when are you confronted with that circumstance? Are you a disc jockey or something?

I'm just trying to picture in my mind why one would choose to compute in the dark “ maybe electricity is really expensive where you live?

[fizzlemynizzle]

it's only worth it if you have to look at the keys when you type. i don't, so i keep it turned off on mine.

[spatterson]

Originally posted by fizzlemynizzle:
it's only worth it if you have to look at the keys when you type. i don't, so i keep it turned off on mine.

Tell me you don't have to look for the "{" or the "|" keys. Really backlighting is truly helpful. Even those of us that can type without looking there are those times that you will look down and appreciate what you have.

[spotze23]

it would be better if they just printed the types black. backlit only works when its totally dark.

[KP*]

Originally posted by selowitch:
OK, but when are you confronted with that circumstance? Are you a disc jockey or something?

Well I voted "yes" but I'm a stage manager, so I do often have to work in near or total darkness. The keyboard lights are amazing for that. I used to have a USB keyboard light for my old laptop, now I plug that into my 'book but turn it to illuminate my script. Obviously the circumstances of my job make keyboard lighting necessary, but if you'll always have control over the lighting wherever you work, and don't care to use it with the lights low when in bed or watching TV or something, I can see why you might not need it.

[NYCFarmboy]

If you can type with reasonable skill the backlight is nearly useless.

If you hunt and peck for each letter as you type I think it would be very much used.

I'm typing this on a 17" Powerbook I've been using the past month, and honestly other than the "oh cool" factor, it is pretty much useless in my estimation. (but then I learned to type back when they had these things called typewriters which didn't require electricity).

[SEkker]

I've only used it once in 8 months, when I was in a car at night.

[carney]

I've used it several times in the back seat of the car while my wife was driving on long trips. I also sometimes hang out in bed while my wife reads or watches the tube. When she nods off, I can turn of the light and keep working without disturbing her or going to the study. I use a projector in my office as a regular monitor. It's plenty bright (2000 lumens) so I didn't need to turn down the lights completely, but now I can. I remember several times flying that I wished I had had the backlight when my neighbor was trying to get some sleep and I didn't want to flip on the overhead light.

I got along fine for three years with my TiPB, but I sure like the new keyboard.

Do you really need the back light? No. But then, couldn't you have gotten by with a used G3 iBook, or an old Pismo?