How often do you make use of your ThinkLight?

I'm just wondering if my experience mirrors anyone else's. I don't use my ThinkLight often, honestly, sometimes I forget it's there. I'm a touch typist, so typing in the dark is not a problem for me. Other notebooks I've used over the years have had backlit keyboards - on my MBP that was a slight annoyance, a little too shiny for my tastes, but I also didn't experience frustration in low light situations. When I received my Google Cr-48, I found myself getting quite miffed when using it in low light situations, and having to remind myself that there was no ThinkLight to fall back on. I've probably turned on my ThinkLight twice on my X201 for actual use, but the fact that the tablet doesn't have one was a major factor in my decision to avoid it. Am I the only ThinkLight addict?

 

I use it occasionally and rarely because I need to see the keyboard. Sometimes, when I am rifling through CDs and I need to look at the titles I scribbled onto them, it's easier to turn on the thinklight than it is to turn on an actual light. Or perhaps you're in a meeting or classroom where a projector's being run and the room's too dark, the thinklight makes for a quick and easy way to read something on paper.

I am a little confused, though - you're an addict of the light that has used it twice ?

 

i do use it very often, especially when there is insufficient light in the surrounding. The benefit of the thinklight is that it is fairly discrete and it doesn't consume large amount of battery power.

it is especially useful in long haul train ride or air travel.

 

I use mine practically daily, and it's one of the major reasons I choose ThinkPads. I've had a Dell XPS with a backlit keyboard and it just wasn't the same... the ThinkLight provides a good amount of ambient light which I believe helps ease some eye strain from working in the dark. Either way, I use it pretty much constantly in the dark.

 

every day! When I'm working at night, I turn off all the lights, set the screen brightness to 0 and use the think light when required. It's a bonus that when on the more conservative power settings, the fan does not run (or runs at a very low speed).

no disturbance to anyone!

 

Only when I'm in the closet.

 

My point is, even though I've only used it a few times on my new laptop (I've only had it for three weeks) I'm keenly aware when I'm without it. My X201 has spent most of its life under the blisteringly bright lights in my office, but my X41's Thinklight has been used heavily, and being without it when I do need it is a very unsettling experience. Its one of the little things I didn't think I'd miss, if I wasn't using a Thinkpad, but I didn't realise just how wrong I was.

I'm also glad to hear that I'm not the only one who has used it as an emergency reading light. That's a nice added benefit.

 

I've tried the thinklight few times but didn't like it. When the lights are on there's an annoying reflection from the keyboard. There's two lamps in my w701.

 

I don't seem to use it at all any more, in fact. Recently, on flights, I have found myself dozing off or reading on my Kindle.

 

I use it quite a bit actually, the last time I used it was early this morning! I get insomnia at times so I just grab my laptop in the dark and just browse to clear my mind off (plus i'm lazy to turn on the surrounding lights!). Thinklights are a lot more subtle in the dark than the backlit keyboards which can be quite glaring so thats a plus for me.

 

Using mine right now! Yes, it's another superior feature of the IBM/Lenovo Thinkpad engineering we pay a little extra for - and once again, Thinkpad does it better!

Little things mean a lot to brand loyalty. And Thinkpad covers more of these "little things" than anyone else. TPF

 

For me, the screen gives enough light.

 

s30 - sometimes (light is not bright enough - due to old age)
X301 - Most of the time (light is bright but it reflects on the keyboard)
T410 - Most of the time (light is very bright and does not reflect on the keyboard)

 

I use it every time I need to type in the dark.

 

I've probably used my Thinklight like 7-8 times in the 3+ years I've had my T61, and one time on my X301.

It's nice to have, but most of the time, I usually have enough light to see the keyboard. So, unless we loose power where there is NO light, or if I'm on a flight (where my X301 would come into play), then I'd use it. I'll tell you, when your on a night flight, and you have an X301 on your table-tray, the Thinklight comes in BIG handy (especially if you have a nagging person in the seat next to you complaining that you turned your overhead light on, that they are trying to sleep) lol

 

I use it almost every day - mostly to see the keyboard, but sometimes to look at something on a piece of paper.

 

i rarely use the thinklight but the times that i needed some illumination, it did come in handy.

 

Ive used mine a few times, but mostly when Im typing in a dark room I touch type. I will admit that the m11x and XPS spoiled me and kinda reverted me back to a semi look typist, but nothing terrible.

 

I have used the ThinkLight a few times, but not many.

Usually if I am sitting in a very dark room, but not often.

 

I loved the ThinkLight on my T400.

Even though I can type (letters) without looking at the keyboard, I also use F# shortcuts and symbols, which on various laptop keyboards are in different positions. ThinkPads, for instance, offset the F# key row one position to the left because they move the Esc key one row above. I found that this makes me always miss an intended F# key by one spot, e.g. I want F5 and nd up pressing F6. With the ThinkLight, I can look and press the correct key.

While a backlit keyboard may look cooler, the ThinkLight is more practical in that you can also illuminate other things you have near the laptop when you work (paper, CDs etc.).a

 

I use mine when on an airplane quite a bit. Turn off overhead light and turn the screen down low...extends the battery life !

 

Rarely. I just turned my on just to make sure it's still there.

Speaking of ThinkLight, are they all white LEDs on the current ThinkPads? Mine is amber from the good old days.

 

Then in that case I think you had a lower cost line....

Renee

 

R series and Z series had amber light (R400 and R61 14.1 inch widescreen had white on the one that i owned).

 

i didn't know they have amber colour. mine t61 is always white colour.

 

The amber color ThinkLight is pretty much useless as it's not very bright.

 

Like every day. Or rather night.

Oh and I actually prefer the amber on R61i as opposed to white on x201. It;s more subtle but good enough.

 

I actually liked the amber light, and I'm still contemplating somehow making the lamp in my X41 full on red. It's abnormally bright, compared to other Thinkpads - X41s included - that I've played with. If it works, I might do the same for my X201. Amber/red is much easier on your night vision than the white that comes standard nowdays.

 

Almost never, to be honest.

 

zero time.... when I use laptop, I always turn on the lights to take care my eyes and I never use it in dark place. however, I think thinklight has many advantages for some situation. I hope to use it

 

I never use mine.

 

Why can't they just make the keyboard that will light up with LED?

 

why does anyone need the thinklight or an illuminated keyboard at all?

the light from the screen is always enough for me...

 

Because some of us don't want that?

 

So I read this and thought I would try the light at least once ... not bad. But then I went over to the newly arrived HP Elitebook 8440p we just got and tried it's version of the light. Much more effective imo....

 

I wasn't too thrilled by the Thinklight on my T61. The screen did a better job of lighting the keyboard than it did. Only if the screen was at the right angle did the Thinklight really improve key visibility. I would much rather have a light up keyboard but that wouldn't be "Traditional" and we can't have that....

 

I suspect because a large portion of professionals have learned to touch-type. The ThinkLight is also useful for things other than just lighting up the keyboard. I've used it a good bit to do paperwork on long flights, do some reading, and even a mid-air hardware repair.

 

I use the thinklight when I'm in bed with the laptop and I need to type something. I turn it off when just browsing to save on battery.

 

The thinklight is great. It lights up the keyboard nicely but isn't too harsh or bright on my eyes in dark conditions. I use it all the time in bed when I don't want to wake my roommate.

 

Because the screen may be sometimes dark or tilted away enough that it doesn't illuminate the keys.

 

I use the thinklight many times when working in a dimly lit room. I appreciate the thinklight and prefer it to a lighted keyboard.

 

I use mine quite often. Great when the wife is asleep in bed at night or on international flights when the lights are out.

 

I use it a lot actually, I don't think I can get another notebook without it. When I had to use my old HP to do graphic work I really missed the light.

 

Almost every night..... I am a touch typist as well, but I like the added bonus of having the light on to see some keys ...

 

On a dark two-lane country road about a week ago the headlight on my motorcycle just stopped working. There was no moon. Thank goodness I had my Thinkpad in the box on the back. I duct taped it to the handlebars and made it home safely, thanks to the ThinkLight.

 

LOL, thats funny
But good to know it worked out
Still you should always have some led flashlight or two with you when on the road.