Hi jimwg,

Thanks for posting.

While it may physically be possible to switch the two keyboards, the circuitry and wiring may not be in the computer unless it was ordered that way from the factory.  Therefore it probably won't work.  To answer your question, there is a difference, the backlit keyboard model has different circuitry and software power the lights in the keyboard.

Thanks for the reply! We'll find out for sure in three weeks when my new keyboard finally arrives from China!