Keyboard backlight: maintenance and reliability for a notebook PC

[the_servicer]

What failures can one expect to occur over the years in a backlit keyboard? Will it get dimmer over time? Will the fading occur evenly or in spots? Can a failure potentially affect other aspects of a notebook PC? Does it make sense to disable backlighting most of the time in order to preserve it for the long term?

I am interested in owning an HP Folio 1020 G1 and trying to keep the device in good shape for many years and possibly decades.

 

[Decibel]

Decades?

Seriously though, the LEDs used in the backlights have estimated lifespans of tens of thousands of hours. I'd be more worried about the screen dimming than the keyboard.

 

[cyclone3d]

I have never seen a backlight go bad in a laptop keyboard.

This is only with Dell laptops up to about 7 years old though. I don't have experience with other brands.

 

[the_servicer]

Thanks for making me realize there may be other more important concerns. I may be crazy, but I have heard of some portable computers from the 90s still working fine when plugged in to a wall. Someone on this forum once said one should not outlive one's hardware. My intent is to find a good ultrabook for permanent offline usage.