ThinkLight
| Company type | Product feature |
|---|---|
| Industry | Computer hardware |
| Predecessor | IBM |
| Founded | 2005 |
| Founder | IBM |
| Defunct | 2013 |
| Fate | Discontinued in favor of backlit keyboard technology |
| Successor | Backlit keyboard technology on ThinkPads |
| Parent | Lenovo (manufacturer from 2005) |
ThinkLight was an illumination feature integrated into numerous earlier ThinkPad laptop models.
Initially created by IBM and manufactured by Lenovo starting in 2005, the ThinkLight was eventually phased out in favor of backlit keyboard technology on subsequent ThinkPads and discontinued by Lenovo in 2013.
Description
Positioned along the top bezel of the screen, a white or amber LED (model-dependent) provided lighting for the keyboard in dim environments. Users could turn it on using the Fn-PgUp key combination, which was later updated to Fn-Space on more recent models. In some ThinkPads equipped with both ThinkLight and backlit keyboards, the Fn-Space shortcut controls both lighting systems, accompanied by on-screen indicators to show their status. The ThinkLight functions whether the display is active or turned off but does not operate when the laptop is shut down.
For cost-saving purposes, certain lines such as the Z and R series utilized an amber LED, whereas others like the T series preferred a white LED. The G and SL series did not include the ThinkLight feature at all. Premium models, including the 17-inch W700 and W701, incorporated two white LEDs to provide stronger keyboard illumination.
Alternatives
HP’s EliteBook lineup offers a comparable keyboard light named HP Night Light, which is activated via a dedicated physical button instead of a keyboard shortcut. Additionally, aftermarket LED lighting options existed for devices such as the HP 200LX palmtop during the late 1990s.
Dell’s Latitude ATG series featured red LEDs operated in a manner similar to the ThinkLight to light up their keyboards.
Although many manufacturers have transitioned to backlit keyboards, select ThinkPad models (for example, T530, T430, X230) combined both ThinkLight and backlit options to provide versatile lighting solutions.