[holo]

the keyboard has a light sensor so it doesn't turn on when you're in a well-lit envinronment - I find this very annoying as the light sensor is far too sensitive....

there is hope though, it can be turned off and then the keyboard will always light up when the backlight is on and the keyboard is out....

go to settings and then to "buttons" - click on the "backlight" tab and there is an option "Enable keyboard backlight auto sensor" - turning this off will cause the keyboard backlight to come on whenever the backlight is on and the keyboard is extended regardless of the light sensor....

as for the weird behavior some of you have pointed out - you are probably unknowingly covering up the light sensor - it is that little silver circle to the left of the right softkey on the keyboard - it checks it pretty much every time you hit a button from what I can tell...