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T23 Light?
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BruisedQuasar
- Junior Member

- Posts: 406
- Joined: Sat Nov 05, 2005 8:12 am
- Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan
T23 Light?
I have read a few posts about the beloved T23 LED light for the keyboard? Am I missing something here? My T23 light, located on the top left corner of the display shines bright when I press the light key but I find it useless.
It certainly does not light up my keyboard in the dark or partial dark & it does next to nothing for reducing display glare in low light conditions.
I looked closely and see no evidence that my T23 is supposed to have more than one of these lights. Two, one on each side, may have been effective.
I bought a USB powered LED light from Big Lots for $3 that does a lot for me but the IBM light is nada to me.
Are my eyes shot or what?
It certainly does not light up my keyboard in the dark or partial dark & it does next to nothing for reducing display glare in low light conditions.
I looked closely and see no evidence that my T23 is supposed to have more than one of these lights. Two, one on each side, may have been effective.
I bought a USB powered LED light from Big Lots for $3 that does a lot for me but the IBM light is nada to me.
Are my eyes shot or what?
The More I Learn, the Less I Think I Know
The Less I Think I Know, the More I Learn
I'M... Still Learning
--Bruised
The Less I Think I Know, the More I Learn
I'M... Still Learning
--Bruised
Your eyes are likely like mine, shot.
I too find the "ThinkLight" practically useless. For me it provides enough light that I can barely read the keys in the dark. I think the glare from the screen makes it harder to see. I also think two would have been better, and I also have a $3 USB powered light I bought at Big Lots. Looks like we're pretty much of the same mind on this subject. 
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tfflivemb2
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ambientscape
- Junior Member

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stevech wrote:I find my T23 light practically useless and I thought it is just an isolated case. Both my T22 and X23 light are MUCH MUCH brighter.
I have both T22 and T23.....but I found the brightness the same. Maybe your thinklight have some dust on it??
-Thinkpad T23 1.2Ghz (2647-4RG) with Docking Station (2631)
-512MB RAM
-60GB Western Digital HDD
-3Com X-Jack Wireless A/B/G
-Imation External Combo DVD/CDRW
-Windows XP Pro SP2
-External 160GB Maxtor HDD
-512MB RAM
-60GB Western Digital HDD
-3Com X-Jack Wireless A/B/G
-Imation External Combo DVD/CDRW
-Windows XP Pro SP2
-External 160GB Maxtor HDD
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BruisedQuasar
- Junior Member

- Posts: 406
- Joined: Sat Nov 05, 2005 8:12 am
- Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan
LOL! I bought the $3 Big Lot USB LED, which normally retails for over $16, thinking it could not be worse. Actually, I love mine. It really lights everything up well. I laugh when I think about how much time I invested searching for a second light on my T23 display frame. I finally had my daughter look, saying: "I must be visually challenged." She assured me there is no evidence of another light.LtTPfan wrote:Your eyes are likely like mine, shot.I too find the "ThinkLight" practically useless. I also think two would have been better, and I also have a $3 USB powered light I bought at Big Lots. Looks like we're pretty much of the same mind on this subject.
Some may find this one amusing. After I turned on my Casio BE 300 PDA for the first time, I stepped outside with it. I was alarmed. The screen went blank. I need a mini mag to see a lot of things indoors anymore. I was afraid that my eyes were really going fast and I hate the hassle of sending anything back to sellers. I went back inside to get the telephone and noticed the 300 screen was back and nice & sharp at that. I didn't know older PDA displays are not viewable in outdoor light.
I am glad to learn similar lighting on other Thinkpad models work much better. I guess I thought so highly of the IBM Thinkpad team that I refused to believe they would install a light just for hype. After the feed back here, I wonder now if the team members were all under 30!
The More I Learn, the Less I Think I Know
The Less I Think I Know, the More I Learn
I'M... Still Learning
--Bruised
The Less I Think I Know, the More I Learn
I'M... Still Learning
--Bruised
If I ever have the need to take my screen apart (or just an urge) I'm going to look into putting in a brighter LED.
As I've aged I find the need for extra light outdoors in the daylight, seriously. I guess it's a contrast issue. If I try to look under the hood of a car, I can't see squat. I have a Mini-Mag Solitaire on my keychain so I'll always have extra light.
BTW, when I got the USB light at Big Lots, I also got a USB fan, numpad, travel mouse w/retractable cord, and a 4-port hub, with a total cost of about $15. I've since gotten a wireless travel mouse so I don't have to jack with a cord at all. Not too long ago I bought a black printer ink refill kit for $7. My wife is an eBay PowerSeller and goes thru black ink like crazy. For two OEM cartridges at Sam's Club its about $39. The kit I got at Big Lots has 3 bottles of ink; I've refilled her cartridge twice so far and have used only 1/3 of one bottle, and the quality of print seems better than when using the expensive HP ink. I'm amazed, and now trying to find a color kit I saw at another Big Lots for $11 but my local stores don't have any.
As I've aged I find the need for extra light outdoors in the daylight, seriously. I guess it's a contrast issue. If I try to look under the hood of a car, I can't see squat. I have a Mini-Mag Solitaire on my keychain so I'll always have extra light.
BTW, when I got the USB light at Big Lots, I also got a USB fan, numpad, travel mouse w/retractable cord, and a 4-port hub, with a total cost of about $15. I've since gotten a wireless travel mouse so I don't have to jack with a cord at all. Not too long ago I bought a black printer ink refill kit for $7. My wife is an eBay PowerSeller and goes thru black ink like crazy. For two OEM cartridges at Sam's Club its about $39. The kit I got at Big Lots has 3 bottles of ink; I've refilled her cartridge twice so far and have used only 1/3 of one bottle, and the quality of print seems better than when using the expensive HP ink. I'm amazed, and now trying to find a color kit I saw at another Big Lots for $11 but my local stores don't have any.
I find the light on my T23 works as advertised for me. I love the fact that IBM even thought to include a light. Now an ambient keyboard that is on the newer powerbooks would be a cool way for IBM to go.
New:
Thinkpad T470 16GB RAM 250GB SSD LinuxMint
Old:
ThinkPad Tablet 16GB 1838-22U
IBM Thinkpad X61T, T61, T43, X41T, T60, T41P, T42, T410, X301, T430s, T450, T460
Thinkpad T470 16GB RAM 250GB SSD LinuxMint
Old:
ThinkPad Tablet 16GB 1838-22U
IBM Thinkpad X61T, T61, T43, X41T, T60, T41P, T42, T410, X301, T430s, T450, T460
It works okay for me. Not spectacular, but well enough that I don't need to plug in the Flylight I had bought for use with my Gateway.
I didn't know my T23 had it when I purchased it, so it was a pleasant surprise.
I didn't know my T23 had it when I purchased it, so it was a pleasant surprise.
T23 2647-4MU ... RIP 
PIII-M 1.13GHz (512KB)
1024MB RAM
120GB HDD
14.1 XGA (1024x768) TFT LCD
8x-3.3x DVD-ROM
Win2000
PIII-M 1.13GHz (512KB)
1024MB RAM
120GB HDD
14.1 XGA (1024x768) TFT LCD
8x-3.3x DVD-ROM
Win2000
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linux_inside v2
- Posts: 24
- Joined: Thu Jan 19, 2006 7:41 pm
i find mine a bit useful, could be brighter but i can clearly see my keyboard.
mine is a thinkpad t21 and i've used the light while in pitch black at home, plus i always have the screen brightness turned a bit down to save battery life.
could be worse lol, i remember the older ones had orange leds in them because white ones werent available at the time
mine is a thinkpad t21 and i've used the light while in pitch black at home, plus i always have the screen brightness turned a bit down to save battery life.
could be worse lol, i remember the older ones had orange leds in them because white ones werent available at the time
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