HP Now Offering 1080p Screens on Pavilion Notebooks Discussion

[lovelaptops]

Yes, a backlit keyboard option is missing ... it would be a worthwhile option. It's a feature more people care about than manufacturer's realize.

Great thread, Charles. BTW, has anyone seen the new HP consumer 1080p screens? Are they as good as the screens used on models past (Envy 13 and 14, DV8), and present (Envy 17)?

I couldn't agree more about the backlit keyboards and better displays being the two features most wanted and least supplied until recent trends!B acklit keyboards are so, so valuable and they only cost $20 or so when optional, so just make it standard on every notebook over, say, $600. HP is especially strange in the way they offer backlit keyboards in some lower priced models (dm3, dm4) but not in dv6 and dv7 models, not even as an option.

IMO, same thing goes for: 1)high res, 2) matte finish and, 3) higher spec (brightness, contrast, color gamut) displays. These need to be extra cost options due to their cost, but based on recent pricing of high end screens on consumer models, they are not as expensive as the market wanted you to believe until now (see more on this, below).

Don't these companies do any market research before they design new products??!!

One last observation: ironically, these two trends, backlit keyboards and better displays, seem to be more prevalent in consumer notebooks than business class eg, Lenovo X220 (better quality screen but still low res, no backlit kb); HP Eltebooks, Dell Precision (no backlt option until just-released models, extremely high price for great displays) are really all behind the curve compared to their own consumer branded products. And if these mfrs can sell the kind of displays as in the HP Envy 17 3D, Dell XPS 15 in consumer notebooks starting at $1,000 price point, it shouldn't cost $400-$700 to add it to a business class product. Kind of puts to shame the theory that HP had to discontinue the infamous "Radiance" screens because they were too expensive to make.

Opinions?

[lovelaptops]

Yes, a backlit keyboard option is missing ... it would be a worthwhile option. It's a feature more people care about than manufacturer's realize.

I couldn't agree more! I and many of we enlightened souls of NBR have known this for years, but backlit keyboards are so, so valuable and they only cost $20 or so when optional, so just make it standard on every notebook over, say, $600. HP is especially strange in the way they offer backlit keyboards in some lower priced models (dm3, dm4) but not in dv6 and dv7 models, not even as an option.

IMO, same thing goes for: 1)high res, 2) matte finish and, 3) higher spec (brightness, contrast, color gamut) displays. These need to be extra cost options due to the cost of providing them (whereas backlit keyboards are cheap enough to make "standard" over a certain price point).

Don't these companies do any market research before they design new products??!!

One last observation: these two trends, backlit keyboards and better displays, surprisingly seem to be more prevalent in consumer notebooks than business class - eg, Lenovo X220 (better quality screen but still low res); HP Eltebooks, Dell Precision (no backlt option until just-released models, extremely high price for great displays) are really all behind the curve. And if these mfrs can sell the kind of displays as in the Dell XPS 15 B+RG and Envy 17 3D consumer notebooks starting at $1,200 price point, it shouldn't cost $400-$700 to add a premium screen to a business class product.

Finally, this really puts to shame the theory that HP had to discontinue the infamous "Radiance" screens (or equiv.) because they were too expensive to make.

[MidnightSun]

To be fair, I've never felt the need for a backlit keyboard on my laptops, and given a $20+ option, I wouldn't add it. In fact, the only times I've really used the ThinkLight on my T500 except just for fun were to read a small, quick, note when I couldn't turn on the lights in the room (ie, lights turned off in room for a presentation).

I do think it is something manufacturers would be wise to consider implementing as standard, however, since many users link it to the perceived quality of the laptop. I, however, would much rather have a non-backlit keyboard that had excellent feedback, pitch, and feel than a backlit keyboard with small sacrifices in those departments.

[lovelaptops]

To be fair, I've never felt the need for a backlit keyboard on my laptops, and given a $20+ option, I wouldn't add it. In fact, the only times I've really used the ThinkLight on my T500 except just for fun were to read a small, quick, note when I couldn't turn on the lights in the room (ie, lights turned off in room for a presentation).

I do think it is something manufacturers would be wise to consider implementing as standard, however, since many users link it to the perceived quality of the laptop. I, however, would much rather have a non-backlit keyboard that had excellent feedback, pitch, and feel than a backlit keyboard with small sacrifices in those departments.

You must be under 40. For those of us with aging eyes (and 40 isn't exactly old!) the lighted keyboard is of most often of use in rooms that are just not well lit - not dark ones - and it's almost always helpful to have that sharp lighting to make especially the non-uniform special purpose keys (not always same size and place) pop out at you.

I love a nicely designed and built keyboard as well, but if the choice is between back lighting (or, less usefully, "think lighting") vs. a more comfortable keyboard, I go with the lighting, because it can raise my typing speed by 10-15 wpm and reduce errors by maybe 50%. If you don't need it now just wait; you will.

[Charles P. Jefferies]

My 8740w came with a backlit keyboard standard but I replaced it with a non-backlit one since it has superior tactile feedback by a wide margin.