No Backlit keyboard on HP ProBook 440 G11

[JanizzH]

I bought this laptop at my local electronics shop and in their sales announcement it said that the laptop has backlit keyboard only to realize afterwards that it doesn't. I've tried contacting HP support, they said they couldn't do much and referred me back to the local shop that sold it to me. They offered me to change the laptop for another one, but that's a hassle. 

Do any of you guys know if the HP ProBook 440 G11 supports backlit keyboard? According to the technical specifications, it says that backlit keyboard is an optional feature, hence why F2 and F5 buttons are blank on my keyboard. Is it possible to replace the keyboard and find one that supports backlight if so where? 

Thanks for any relevant input!

[resistencia · Accepted solution]

Hi @JanizzH 

Sold with or without blackit keyboard. If your notebook is under warranty change the keyboard loses the warranty, The keyboard is sold with the upper casing which makes it very expensive (approx. $ 300) I recommend if you were offered to change the product to do so, and you must pay the difference.

See service manual, to identify the keyboard part number and make a search on the internet.

Maintenance and Service Guide HP ProBook 440 14 inch G11 Notebook PC

[JanizzH]

Hi,

Thank you for your input. I will talk with the shop and see what agreement we will come to.

I really like this laptop, it's lightweight, quite and fast just what I was looking for. Can't imagine why HP wouldn't put

backlight keyboard on such great laptops. I'm trying to convince myself not to replace the keyboard myself, but as you mentioned the warranty will be void...

[resistencia]

You're welcome, the business models laptop HP, it is the sellers who select which features the laptop will have, because if you put all the available features the price is very high, then according to the market they ask HP what the laptop must have.

[JanizzH]

I see, that makes sense. Thanks for the clarification.

I will probably switch to an older Gen EliteBook that has backlit keyboard, that should be good enough.

[resistencia]

G11 is ,much better than a G10, if it is very important for you the keyboard, you can change I in particular would not do it, I have a laptop Zbook power with illuminated keyboard and I think it is used the illuminated keyboard only about 5 times in 2 years.  I don't have very good vision.

[JanizzH]

Yeah G11 is more powerful than G10 for sure. Having backlit keyboard is a good feature to have just in case, without it I feel like something is missing. Maybe I will try to replace it myself, I have good technical skills and know laptop/PC hardware, we will see. Although in your case I totally understand it is not a must have feature