Is there an adjustment for the keyboard backlight on the 8700 Mine goes on when wake it from a dark screen and stays on for I guess about 30 seconds even if I'm still typing?

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-MrKyoo

Whether it stays on depends upon ambient light. There is no keyboard backlight override if you are using the Automatic Backlight feature. This is one place where RIM could improve the software.
The alternative is to turn the Automatic Backlight system off (Options, Screen/Keyboard) and set the Backlight Brightness to about 60 which you can boost when necessary with the Power key. This will leave the keyboard backlight on at all times. Battery consumption will increase.

that adjustment is under screen/keyboard settings

options>Settings>screen/keyboard

Thanks for the help. What a great forum.