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As other reviewers point out, the light is very bright, but it is focused on such a tiny area of my keyboard that it is difficult to see the keys around the outside edges.But that is the least of this notebook light's problems. The least bit of vibration causes it to sag out of shape bit-by-bit, to the point that it is no longer aimed where it was needed - so annoying. When I plug the light into my Mac iBook's USB port, it is impossible to get a good, solid fit, and that alone causes quite a bit of unwanted give. Adding to this problem, the arm is very flimsy and unstable. Good luck using this thing on an airplane with any turbulence (one of the primary reasons I bought it).In my experience, this is a poorly made product that is not worth the hassle of constant adjustment. Would never purchase again.
So it might be ok in a notebook context (I have the luxury of a lighted keyboard on my MacBook so don't have that problem). I was hoping to use this product to illuminate my desktop keyboard, which I use at night. Unfortunately I can't get the beam to cover the entire keyboard, and even where it does cover it's not bright enough for me to read the keycaps.I know it's advertised for notebook, so it's my own fault - notebooks have smaller keyboard and also the low light trades off against low battery draw. Meanwhile I'm still looking for a good solution for my nighttime problem. Sigh.
It's a handy light to have in your backpack.Pros:Bright light, solid constructionCons:no on/off switch
For the price, it's a good buy. I use it on my old 12 inch Ibook and it illuminates most of the keyboard. It may not be as useful for larger notebooks.
I suspect the problems I cite here are probably endemic to all of these units. The end result is a difficult to position, unstable device that is frustrating to deal with.
It is adequate for short-term use, which is pretty much what lamps like this are intended for. The big problem with this unit is the gooseneck.
The light output of this single LED lamp is bright, but concentrated as you might expect in a relatively narrow beam. Worse, the USB socket allows the entire assembly to wobble.
It looks strong with its metal jacket, but in fact is very difficult to work with. The gooseneck, while easy to bend, does not keep the shape you bend it into.
In the end, the unit is inexpensive and, after considerable fooling around, you can get the light to shine where you want it - for a few seconds anyway. Doubtful that you're going to find anything approaching perfection here.Jerry
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