IBM ThinkPad ThinkLight

File:ThinkLight on A21p.jpg

White LED ThinkLight on a ThinkPad A21p Laptop

File:Thinklight.jpg

Closeup of the light

ThinkLight is a keyboard light present in most ThinkPad families of notebook computers. The series was originally designed by IBM, and then produced by Lenovo after 2005.

Description

A white or yellow LED (depending on model) is located on the top edge of the display, illuminating the keyboard to allow use in low-light conditions. It is activated with the key combination Fn-PgUp (the bottom left and top right keys of the keyboard). Newer ThinkPads use the combination Fn-Space instead. The on-screen display of ThinkPad computers will display a light on and a light off indicator. The ThinkLight can be activated when the monitor is on or off but not while the PC is off.

Some ThinkPads, like the Z and R series (though not all - some R61 and R32 models still have the white light) feature an amber (yellow) LED due to the lower cost, while other models, like the T series, use a white LED (which is generally preferred).

The SL series omits the ThinkLight.

Alternatives

The HP EliteBook series notebooks contain a similar keyboard light called HP Night Light. Unlike the ThinkLight, it is activated by a physical button next to the Night Light, rather than a keyboard shortcut.

The Dell Latitude ATG series laptops have also contained a pair of red LEDs which are controlled in a very similar way to the IBM ThinkLight and also serve to illuminate the keyboard.

Some computer manufacturers have opted for keyboards back-lit by fiber-optics. Notebooks with this feature include the Dell Studio and Latitude series, some HP EliteBooks and some HP Envy models, and the Apple MacBook Pro and MacBook Air. Some recent ThinkPads include both the ThinkLight and an illuminated keyboard.

See also

• Selective yellow

External links

• IBM UK ThinkPad Designs
• ThinkLight on ThinkWiki — section listing ThinkPad models that feature the ThinkLight