I like the lit keyboard myself a lot.
As for buying, I recommend staying away from HP/Compaq. What field service and warranty work comes my way usually has one of those two in the work order.
I like Dell (am a Dell tech sometimes) but maybe Acer, Sony or Toshiba. Maybe IBM Lenovo.
The past couple of years, the droid handles 95% of what I need for travel purposes so I may be on my last laptop. I go weeks and not even turn it on.
A Gateway w/ intel 5 chip and lit keys covers every base