Do You Make Use of Backlighting?

[kekman]

i hate backlit keycaps


leds that provide a soft glow underneath the keycaps (not into your ****ing eyes) or on the underside of the keyboard are the only ones that should be legal

[Keycap]

Backlighting may be some sort of aesthetic thing for people, but for me it's about simplicity. This may also explain why I'm not a big fan of artisan keycaps.

[eohmiller]

Eh, only if I'm doing number input on a 60% do I even look at my keyboard. So not really. I find it has to be VERY tasteful for me to like any sort of backlighting.

[SBJ]

i hate backlit keycaps


leds that provide a soft glow underneath the keycaps (not into your ****ing eyes) or on the underside of the keyboard are the only ones that should be legal

*bows head in shame* I'm using a backlit keycap right now. Didn't think I was going to like it. But I LOVE IT.

[jcoffin1981]

I touch type and don't necessarily have a need for backlighting.  However, I often use the board in dim lighting and I find it useful especially if I want to press a few keys with one hand.  I kind of only find the keys with both hands on the home row.  Backlit boards will have several degrees of brightness. I find very bright light to be distracting.  Most backlit boards will have ABS caps.  While I do find PBT to be more pleasurable to type on, I find the keys feel more responsive with ABS caps, so my preference once again has gone to ABS (it changes from time to time).

[Powerglove89]

Pretty much anything that makes a keyboard more complicated I don't like. Don't own one with LED's and dont plan to.

[jcoffin1981]

Backlighting is actually a deal-breaker for me. I can't stand it. It's a gimmick at best, and really you shouldn't be looking at the keyboard anyways.

If you like a board the LED should not change you decision.  It can be turned on and off as you please.

[davkol]

Backlight adds complexity. More things, that can break. Once something breaks, they keyboard loses market value. It matters, if you ever resell/trade keyboards.

In addition, (in case of through-hole LEDs in [MX-compatible] switches) there are more things to desolder, when replacing switches, and diodes have to be desoldered before opening switches (if the plate supports it or there isn't any, i.e., switches are only PCB mounted).

[ander]

Think about it for a minute: A keyboard is an input device where you press one key at a time. So use it most efficiently, you must learn to type without thinking about the keys you're pressing, the same way you learn to ride a bike by not thinking about staying balanced or which foot is up or down. To use a KB well, the last place you want to be looking is as the KB.

Manufacturers know that keyboard backlighting is a senseless gimmick. But it always sucks in a certain number of people because primates—of which humans are a member—are naturally drawn to bright, glittery objects.

This is why we place such high values on things like gold, silver and gemstones. If we didn't have this meaningless fascination for glitter, those things wouldn't be anything special—and something like a KB with flashy disco lighting would be considered a thing of comedy.

[rowdy]

Think about it for a minute: A keyboard is an input device where you press one key at a time. So use it most efficiently, you must learn to type without thinking about the keys you're pressing, the same way you learn to ride a bike by not thinking about staying balanced or which foot is up or down. To use a KB well, the last place you want to be looking is as the KB.

Manufacturers know that keyboard backlighting is a senseless gimmick. But it always sucks in a certain number of people because primates—of which humans are a member—are naturally drawn to bright, glittery objects.

This is why we place such high values on things like gold, silver and gemstones. If we didn't have this meaningless fascination for glitter, those things wouldn't be anything special—and something like a KB with flashy disco lighting would be considered a thing of comedy.

Or ... so many gaming peripherals, and indeed gaming PCs, have lots of lighting - mouse lighting, case lighting, front panel lighting, speaker lighting - it was inevitable that keyboards would including lighting to, in order to appear to the gaming market.

[SBJ]

Think about it for a minute: A keyboard is an input device where you press one key at a time. So use it most efficiently, you must learn to type without thinking about the keys you're pressing, the same way you learn to ride a bike by not thinking about staying balanced or which foot is up or down. To use a KB well, the last place you want to be looking is as the KB.

Manufacturers know that keyboard backlighting is a senseless gimmick. But it always sucks in a certain number of people because primates—of which humans are a member—are naturally drawn to bright, glittery objects.

This is why we place such high values on things like gold, silver and gemstones. If we didn't have this meaningless fascination for glitter, those things wouldn't be anything special—and something like a KB with flashy disco lighting would be considered a thing of comedy.

Or ... so many gaming peripherals, and indeed gaming PCs, have lots of lighting - mouse lighting, case lighting, front panel lighting, speaker lighting - it was inevitable that keyboards would including lighting to, in order to appear to the gaming market.

I'm pretty sure I've seen a mouse mat with leds too, I think it was a razer,

[kekman]

it's pretty smart though, when i was 10-12 i was into razer, even though i had no idea what anything meant such as "mechanical" or "optical sensor"... all i knew was that it had lights......

still though, lots of adults fall for the con for some reason

[xtrafrood]

I look down at my keyboard when I have to press 2-3 key macros for some programs. I taught myself a bit of html before I learned to touch type and I think that really messed me up. If I owned a desk with a keyboard tray I think I would rather have a backlit keyboard instead of a desk lamp. But like I said before, I've never owned a keyboard with backlight functionality so I could probably live without it

[zcmy]

My work board is non-backlit, but my home board is backlit. What I tend to use it for is to confirm keypresses (backlight only lights up when keys are pressed), as all my password entries are complex and in the bash style, which means I have no clue how many characters i put in, so I can't really guesstimate where I went wrong. So if I type a password wrong, I'll know because of the key brightness (10 ticks) compared to what brightness it should be at the point where i finish typing a password.  So, for example, my password is "Hunter2" by the time I've inputted the password completely, the H is at brightness 2, the shift key is at brightness 2, the U key is at brightness 3,the n key at brightness 4, the t key at brightness 5, the e key at brightness 6, the r key at brightness 7, and the 2 key at brightness 9. Otherwise, my backlight is off.

[NightCabbage]

I do not need backlighting. I always use my computer with the lamp on in the room

Which is good, because all of the good mech boards do not have backlighting! (the switches I'm looking at, anyway... I don't like Cherry)

[phosphoric]

My work board is non-backlit, but my home board is backlit. What I tend to use it for is to confirm keypresses (backlight only lights up when keys are pressed), as all my password entries are complex and in the bash style, which means I have no clue how many characters i put in, so I can't really guesstimate where I went wrong. So if I type a password wrong, I'll know because of the key brightness (10 ticks) compared to what brightness it should be at the point where i finish typing a password.  So, for example, my password is "Hunter2" by the time I've inputted the password completely, the H is at brightness 2, the shift key is at brightness 2, the U key is at brightness 3,the n key at brightness 4, the t key at brightness 5, the e key at brightness 6, the r key at brightness 7, and the 2 key at brightness 9. Otherwise, my backlight is off.

does your keyboard automatically reset brightness levels after a while or do those letters stay lit until you manually reset?

[zcmy]

does your keyboard automatically reset brightness levels after a while or do those letters stay lit until you manually reset?

It currently has two different settings. The first one is where it goes down in brightness every time a key is pressed (which is the one i prefer using).I screwed with the firmware on my home board so that it would only fade when keystrokes were inputted. However, all keys will reset if there is not input for more than 5 seconds or 1000polls, whichever is quicker.  The other one is the natural fade. Natural fade does 7-8 ticks per second and goes faster the faster i type.

[phosphoric]

does your keyboard automatically reset brightness levels after a while or do those letters stay lit until you manually reset?

It currently has two different settings. The first one is where it goes down in brightness every time a key is pressed (which is the one i prefer using).I screwed with the firmware on my home board so that it would only fade when keystrokes were inputted. However, all keys will reset if there is not input for more than 5 seconds or 1000polls, whichever is quicker.  The other one is the natural fade. Natural fade does 7-8 ticks per second and goes faster the faster i type.

this sounds super cool. what pcb are you using?

[zcmy]

does your keyboard automatically reset brightness levels after a while or do those letters stay lit until you manually reset?

It currently has two different settings. The first one is where it goes down in brightness every time a key is pressed (which is the one i prefer using).I screwed with the firmware on my home board so that it would only fade when keystrokes were inputted. However, all keys will reset if there is not input for more than 5 seconds or 1000polls, whichever is quicker.  The other one is the natural fade. Natural fade does 7-8 ticks per second and goes faster the faster i type.

this sounds super cool. what pcb are you using?

I'm actually using a mostly stock ducky shine 3 tkl. I had someone screw with the firmware updates exe so that we could inject custom code into the firmware. I know it's not safe but since this is probably the only board that I'm going to keep with me until it's FUBAR, I decided to have a little fun with it.

[phosphoric]

does your keyboard automatically reset brightness levels after a while or do those letters stay lit until you manually reset?

It currently has two different settings. The first one is where it goes down in brightness every time a key is pressed (which is the one i prefer using).I screwed with the firmware on my home board so that it would only fade when keystrokes were inputted. However, all keys will reset if there is not input for more than 5 seconds or 1000polls, whichever is quicker.  The other one is the natural fade. Natural fade does 7-8 ticks per second and goes faster the faster i type.

this sounds super cool. what pcb are you using?

I'm actually using a mostly stock ducky shine 3 tkl. I had someone screw with the firmware updates exe so that we could inject custom code into the firmware. I know it's not safe but since this is probably the only board that I'm going to keep with me until it's FUBAR, I decided to have a little fun with it.

this is the sort of thing that makes me love this community ahhaha

[C5Allroad]

Back-lighting is almost useless.
Unless you're looking down when typing I think it would bother you. The glare from the light fatigues the eyes quickly.
Most of time the lights are off. Blue light is hard on the eyes in the dark. F.lux is great on windows. I can't get it to work on ubuntu yet....

[jcoffin1981]

Ya I've noticed that, especially on RGB boards. Some others (Razer BlackWidow Ultimate 2013 I believe) have a backplate that matches their LED colors. This wouldn't be an issue for me if it wasn't so noticeable.

I could switch out the case, but I'd really like to find an "ideal" keyboard, where I don't have to switch out parts and stuff. I think that's pretty much impossible though, just like I can't find an ideal mouse.

I would be comfortable putting one together if there was like a kit or something where I didn't have to do any soldering or having parts custom made. I'd also like to have it soon-ish (within a couple weeks). I don't really think it's an option all things considered.

I'm probably just gonna go with the VP3 or Pok3r with custom PBT caps. I type in low light occasionally, but never to the point where I can't see the keys. I'm just so used to having the LED's it's hard to imagine not having them lol.

Switching out a case isn't too difficult with most 60%s as you're just removing 5 screws and then swapping the cases, so I think if you're looking for something more ideal, then this should be an option you keep in mind perhaps later down the road.

As for making your own keyboard, you can source most parts and get them within a few weeks. There are a lot of soldering guides out there and practice soldering kits if you ever want to learn, but as someone who was once in your shoes, I completely understand not being comfortable in soldering your own board. If you ever do decided to go this route, soldering isn't -that- scary and is quite empowering when you realize you can customize your own board.

Another option you might consider is the KBParadise V60. The case and caps are inferior to the Pok3r of course since Plastic vs. Aluminum Case and ABS vs. PBT Caps, but I believe it has a black backplate (Not entirely sure on this as I own a non-LED model). If the case and caps matter more though to you though and you don't feel like swapping them, then this will not be the stock keyboard you're looking for either.

Also, are readily-created custom PBT caps a thing? If you're looking for your very own special custom keycap set, AFAIK, the only people who do single-order custom keycaps at a affordable price (WASD, MaxKB) only do ABS custom keycaps.

I can confirm that the v60 uses a black backplate instead of a white on the LED models.  This makes the legends nice and visible, but there is no light leakage or underglow from the LED's, which I hate.

[davkol]

Back-lighting is almost useless.
Unless you're looking down when typing I think it would bother you. The glare from the light fatigues the eyes quickly.
Most of time the lights are off. Blue light is hard on the eyes in the dark. F.lux is great on windows. I can't get it to work on ubuntu yet....

Redshift is actually free and works much better on GNU/Linux.

[ander]

When you think about it, you type best when you're not looking at your keyboard. So why would you add distracting multicolored, tricked-out lights to it? Would you add them to your monitor, too, to distract you from the work you're doing, the website you're viewing, or the game you're playing?

Let's face it: Backlighting a keyboard is just a sales gimmick. For some reason, primates—which includes people—are fascinated by glittery objects. (It's why we think diamonds, gold, and other glittery stuff is so cool.) If it weren't for that, pretty blinking LEDs under key switches wouldn't mean anything at all. They'd just be lights, and no one would put them there because it'd make as much sense as putting pickles in your socks.

That said, go ahead and buy keyboards that light up and do disco effects. It's a pretty random kind of thing, though, ultimately.

[raymogi]

Never unless I'm in total darkness and I need to look for that one particular number.

[zcmy]

Never unless I'm in total darkness and I need to look for that one particular number.

Huh. Never thought of that. Do you have the centering nubs on f and j? or are you using a non-qwerty layout? I have a general idea of where my keys are. I normally use the edge of the board as a reference. Or are you on a smaller board?

[raymogi]

Never unless I'm in total darkness and I need to look for that one particular number.

Huh. Never thought of that. Do you have the centering nubs on f and j? or are you using a non-qwerty layout? I have a general idea of where my keys are. I normally use the edge of the board as a reference. Or are you on a smaller board?

I know where every letters are even without looking but numbers I still have trouble with lol.

[zcmy]

Never unless I'm in total darkness and I need to look for that one particular number.

Huh. Never thought of that. Do you have the centering nubs on f and j? or are you using a non-qwerty layout? I have a general idea of where my keys are. I normally use the edge of the board as a reference. Or are you on a smaller board?

I know where every letters are even without looking but numbers I still have trouble with lol.

Eh, that's pretty normal, even with mutliple keybvoards with the same layout. I still haven't learned my way around my ducky, even though i've had it for almost a year.

[RobotMalcolmX]

For the most part, I'm not a huge fan of backlighting on my boards. My first board had it, but the two I've purchased since didn't. I almost feel like it's too much, even on low settings.

[C5Allroad]

Back-lighting is almost useless.
Unless you're looking down when typing I think it would bother you. The glare from the light fatigues the eyes quickly.
Most of time the lights are off. Blue light is hard on the eyes in the dark. F.lux is great on windows. I can't get it to work on ubuntu yet....

Redshift is actually free and works much better on GNU/Linux.

You're an amazing person. Thank you 

[khirin]

My very first mech was the logitech g710+ with white backlighting.  Since I am a touch typist I never looked at any keys under my fingers. After only a few months, the keycaps started to shine, oily and I didn't feel comfortable touching them anymore. I ended up by using PBT keycaps ever since, which usually don't allow backlighting. So, backlighting has never been the feature I care for my later purchased boards.

[rowdy]

Think about it for a minute: A keyboard is an input device where you press one key at a time. So use it most efficiently, you must learn to type without thinking about the keys you're pressing, the same way you learn to ride a bike by not thinking about staying balanced or which foot is up or down. To use a KB well, the last place you want to be looking is as the KB.

Manufacturers know that keyboard backlighting is a senseless gimmick. But it always sucks in a certain number of people because primates—of which humans are a member—are naturally drawn to bright, glittery objects.

This is why we place such high values on things like gold, silver and gemstones. If we didn't have this meaningless fascination for glitter, those things wouldn't be anything special—and something like a KB with flashy disco lighting would be considered a thing of comedy.

Or ... so many gaming peripherals, and indeed gaming PCs, have lots of lighting - mouse lighting, case lighting, front panel lighting, speaker lighting - it was inevitable that keyboards would including lighting to, in order to appear to the gaming market.

I'm pretty sure I've seen a mouse mat with leds too, I think it was a razer,

http://www.razerzone.com/au-en/gaming-mouse-mats/razer-firefly

[SBJ]

Think about it for a minute: A keyboard is an input device where you press one key at a time. So use it most efficiently, you must learn to type without thinking about the keys you're pressing, the same way you learn to ride a bike by not thinking about staying balanced or which foot is up or down. To use a KB well, the last place you want to be looking is as the KB.

Manufacturers know that keyboard backlighting is a senseless gimmick. But it always sucks in a certain number of people because primates—of which humans are a member—are naturally drawn to bright, glittery objects.

This is why we place such high values on things like gold, silver and gemstones. If we didn't have this meaningless fascination for glitter, those things wouldn't be anything special—and something like a KB with flashy disco lighting would be considered a thing of comedy.

Or ... so many gaming peripherals, and indeed gaming PCs, have lots of lighting - mouse lighting, case lighting, front panel lighting, speaker lighting - it was inevitable that keyboards would including lighting to, in order to appear to the gaming market.

I'm pretty sure I've seen a mouse mat with leds too, I think it was a razer,

http://www.razerzone.com/au-en/gaming-mouse-mats/razer-firefly

(Attachment Link)

I'll never understand the appeal of that. I don't judge people who do (too harshly) but I just, personally, don't get it.

[zcmy]

Think about it for a minute: A keyboard is an input device where you press one key at a time. So use it most efficiently, you must learn to type without thinking about the keys you're pressing, the same way you learn to ride a bike by not thinking about staying balanced or which foot is up or down. To use a KB well, the last place you want to be looking is as the KB.

Manufacturers know that keyboard backlighting is a senseless gimmick. But it always sucks in a certain number of people because primates—of which humans are a member—are naturally drawn to bright, glittery objects.

This is why we place such high values on things like gold, silver and gemstones. If we didn't have this meaningless fascination for glitter, those things wouldn't be anything special—and something like a KB with flashy disco lighting would be considered a thing of comedy.

Or ... so many gaming peripherals, and indeed gaming PCs, have lots of lighting - mouse lighting, case lighting, front panel lighting, speaker lighting - it was inevitable that keyboards would including lighting to, in order to appear to the gaming market.

I'm pretty sure I've seen a mouse mat with leds too, I think it was a razer,

http://www.razerzone.com/au-en/gaming-mouse-mats/razer-firefly

(Attachment Link)

I'll never understand the appeal of that. I don't judge people who do (too harshly) but I just, personally, don't get it.

Well, gotta have all the matching colours, man. Everything's got a theme to it.

[rowdy]

Think about it for a minute: A keyboard is an input device where you press one key at a time. So use it most efficiently, you must learn to type without thinking about the keys you're pressing, the same way you learn to ride a bike by not thinking about staying balanced or which foot is up or down. To use a KB well, the last place you want to be looking is as the KB.

Manufacturers know that keyboard backlighting is a senseless gimmick. But it always sucks in a certain number of people because primates—of which humans are a member—are naturally drawn to bright, glittery objects.

This is why we place such high values on things like gold, silver and gemstones. If we didn't have this meaningless fascination for glitter, those things wouldn't be anything special—and something like a KB with flashy disco lighting would be considered a thing of comedy.

Or ... so many gaming peripherals, and indeed gaming PCs, have lots of lighting - mouse lighting, case lighting, front panel lighting, speaker lighting - it was inevitable that keyboards would including lighting to, in order to appear to the gaming market.

I'm pretty sure I've seen a mouse mat with leds too, I think it was a razer,

http://www.razerzone.com/au-en/gaming-mouse-mats/razer-firefly

(Attachment Link)

I'll never understand the appeal of that. I don't judge people who do (too harshly) but I just, personally, don't get it.

I wouldn't get one, but I can appreciate that someone who likes light leaking out of every opening and window in their PC, mouse and keyboard would naturally want light leaking out of everything else too.