A handy tool to type by
Written: Apr 24 '03
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Sturdy, stays in place, nice glow
Cons: None really
The Bottom Line: If you need one, this light is perfect.
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| scoundrel's Full Review: Manhattan USB Flex Notebook Light 431644 |
If you're like me, you use your laptop from a variety of positions and in a variety of places. The glow from the screen doesn't always cast enough light to see the keys, and since I'm rarely in a formal sitting position with the keyboard on a level surface, my fingers can't seem to find the keys on their own. Our laptop is a Sony VAIO, which has soft grey/lavender keys and thin white letters/symbols printed on them -- so there's very little contrast to help see. Also, since it's an 85 key laptop keyboard, the buttons don't quite stand out or follow the same layout as a traditional keyboard. So we bought the light to help see in those times when there isn't much ambient light.
Functionality
The light attaches to a USB port and snakes around to almost any position over your keyboard thanks to a metal neck similar to the ones you used to see on desk lamps. It has enough length to reach around even if your port is in the back. It stays in the position you put it in, but wobbles slightly when you move your laptop around because its only attachment/anchor is to the USB port. The light it casts is a soft blue, strong enough to light the keyboard even if you extend the light as far above it as it can reach. The light is not bright enough to cast much light elsewhere, which makes it discrete (on airplanes or in bed next to your partner) but doesn't let you use it as a desk lamp if that's all the light you have.
It claims it only uses 90 seconds of battery time for every hour of use, and although I can't confirm that claim I can say that there has been no appreciable drain on the battery so far (unlike our wireless network card that gobbles up juice!).
My only concern is that it is attached to the USB port and has no other "anchor" -- if you move it around a lot or let it "bounce" a lot, it could *theoretically* damage the port connector. Compared to another light I've seen that was plastic and lighter, the Flex Light is a little heavy and so it puts more pressure on the USB port. Also, if the attachment were loose it could wiggle its way off with enough "bouncing."
Specs
The USB Flex Light is 16" long (end to end), weighs a little over an ounce, and has a matte silver finish to the metal. It runs off the USB port (any version) and claims to draw 90 seconds of battery time for every hour it is used thanks to a small energy efficient LED (rather than a bulb) that has an advertised 100,000 hour lifetime. It has no on/off switch, turning on as soon as you plug it into the port (if your laptop is turned on).
Looks
It's made of a flexible metal neck and has a certain 1950s office look to it that isn't quite art d'eco and isn't quite modern. It is sleek and simple in design, with a head like a small penlight. The entire thing is finished in a matte silver. It goes well with our gray/lavender VAIO, but might clash with a traditional black laptop (if these things matter to you!). The light is a soft blue glow, not too bright but very easy to see by.
Conclusion
It's another accessory to pack with your laptop, and only helpful when you're typing in the dark. But if you do get frustrated finding the keys, this light is an inexpensive (I got it from TigerDirect for $7.99) and simple solution.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
scoundrel
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Member: Chris Aldridge
Location: Ohio
Reviews written: 24
Trusted by: 8 members
About Me:
The world is complex. Simple answers are for simple people.
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