Thinkpads Forum

I'm trying to figure out which are the LiteOn Backlit US International keyboards for the X230. I understand from some other threads here, that these are the best ones.

I've downloaded two parts list pdfs from the Lenovo site, one of 13 pages and one of 24 pages. And while I see LiteOn Keyboards, none of them seem to indicate whether they are backlit or not, while several of the CHY and SRX keyboards are listed as backlit.

I then checked these LiteOn P.N.s on Ebay or elsewhere, but none indicated backlit and some clearly indicated NOT backlit. Perhaps they are mistaken, but I'd like to ensure I order the right one.

The LiteOn part FRUs:
04W3204
04X1307
04Y0595

Are these the only LiteOn FRUs and does anyone know which are backlit?

For the X230 you have these choices:
04X1251 B/L KBD FRA CHY
04X1364 B/L KBD FRA SRX
no B/L from LiteOn, only standard

You can also use these from a T430/T530:
04W3074 CS12 B/L KBD FRA CHY
04W3148 CS12 B/L KBD FRA SRX
04Y0539 CS12 B/L KBD FRA CHY
04Y0650 CS12 B/L KBD FRA SRX
Again no B/L from LiteOn, only standard.

Don't know the difference between Primary and Secondary (don't care either).
For me personally, anything Tx30/Wx30/Xx30 and upward is dead because of rotten layout and bad quality.

See here for the latest FRU_BOM lists: https://support.lenovo.com/us/en/documents/tpad-fru-kr

Thank you RealBlack Stuff. I was afraid of that, but that makes things more complicated.

I've been vacillating between buying an X230 or an X220. I figured that the X230 had a year less wear, USB 3.0, more memory expansion, slightly thinner (at the front), and the backlit keyboard option. Used prices for them are in the same range.

The X220 has only the keyboard advantage. Although I like the classic keyboard, I'm not opposed to a new keyboard design and don't use special keys much. Mind you, I got used to typing on my smartphone and tablet, despite hating typing on screen.

From my classic keyboard experience, I remember the variation in types - NMB, ALPS, Chicony, in order of preference. So now my decision will be whether to go for backlight OR LiteOn (if I can't have both). Then to re-consider whether those X230 differences are significant enough. I ruled out the X240 and X250 due to expense and the difficulty in changing keyboards, which will be inevitable since I'm currently overseas.

If you get an X220 or X220T with i7 CPU, you'll also get one USB3.0 port (blue plastic [black for i3/i5], left side rear)

RealBlackStuff wrote:If you get an X220 or X220T with i7 CPU, you'll also get one USB3.0 port (blue plastic [black for i3/i5], left side rear)

Yes, I realize that. But those i7 units seem rare on Ebay and that restricts the units I can choose from. As a result, the price increases considerably, often beyond the cost of an X230 with a better processor.

So if the 6 row keyboard layout doesn't bother me (I rarely use special keys), and the keyboard "feel" of the X230 is acceptable, I figured, why not. I'm not a traditionalist, so the key color, etc. while not as nice, is not a deal breaker for me. Is there any other reason to NOT go for the X230?

And if one does, do keyboard types make as big a difference as with the classic keyboards? I imagine that the order is LiteOn (but no backlight), SRX, then Chicony. IS the SRX with backlight a significantly different "feel" than the LiteOn? (I realize that the backlit keyboards have a different texture and transparency to let light through.) I find the ThinkLight pretty useless for typing and the backlit keyboard seemed like an advantage.