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MacB · Oct 13, 2003, 10:29 PM

I have the 15" superdrive and love it, absolutely love it! The only concern I have is that when the keyboard lights up, it is very very uneven. In other words....the entire F-row does not light up, neither do the arrow keys. The keys that spell out words, ie. "enter" or "space", the "s" will light up great and the "c", but the "p", "a", and "e" will not. It is mostly the perimiter keys.

I sent it back for repair and they replaced the keyboard, however it was not much better. I called again and they said that their repairs basically go to a "assembly line" of techies either in TN or TX that simply replaced the keyboard, boxed it up and shipped it out, probably without testing it, for quick turnaround. Not that I am opposed to a quick turnaround, but it would be nice if they return the problem solved. They put me through to a master tech guy and he said he will take this info to the engineers to determine if this is an across the board problem.

I think the lighted keyboard is a great feature, and if they are going to have that feature, I think it should work as it is meant to. In other words, I doubt they added this option to the 15", took it in a dark room and saw what I saw when I took mine in a dark room and determined..."ahh, those keys are lit up enough." I imagine ALL the keys should light up.

I wonder if any of the old or new 17" powerbook users had similar problems or what the deal is with their back lit keyboard......

nagromme · Oct 13, 2003, 11:00 PM

Get it fixed--it's not a common problem as near as I can tell, but you're not the first. That's NOT how it's supposed to look.

After one failed attempt, I'd say you can push (politely but firmly) for a different kind of resolution--maybe not a machine swap, but a new keyboard put in on the spot and tested. If that's an option. Where did you get your 'Book?

MacB · Oct 13, 2003, 11:03 PM

I got mine direct from Apple....it is currently at my local auth apple dealer for the repair...we will see....

cing2x · Oct 13, 2003, 11:34 PM

noticed the same problem on mine. i don't really use the backlit keyboard but hey, if i paid for it. it better be perfect. also i have a 2nd occurence of the white spot problem so they might as well kill 2 birds with one stone while they're at it. i think i should be pissier than i am...

merlin · Oct 13, 2003, 11:45 PM

After I got my 17" rev A keyboard repaired for the bottom right corner being 'loose', it returned to me with a new keyboard after being fixed at the store. All seemed well until I noticed some number keys not lighting up at all. What a dissapointment. I brought it back to my local Apple store and they shipped it out to get repaired. After about a week it came back fully functional. It still feels like some portions of the keyboard are not fully adhered to the frame, but I hear this is not uncommon and at least my backlight is working.

In my situation, the number keys were totally out, not uneven. The rest of the keys were fine. I suspect your keyboard needs to be replaced. I'd recommend you take it in to your local Apple store to have them check it out.

mdewberry · Oct 14, 2003, 08:35 AM

Originally posted by merlin:
In my situation, the number keys were totally out, not uneven. The rest of the keys were fine. I suspect your keyboard needs to be replaced. I'd recommend you take it in to your local Apple store to have them check it out.

Hi all,

Unfortunately, this appears to be the norm. My new 15" Albook had the same problem (I started a post here and on the Support page of Apple's website).

I had the Apple Genius look at the keyboard - my number and letter keys looked great, however the function keys and page up/down keys were barely lit at all. We tested some of the units in the store and they did the same thing. I also had the keyboard replaced by Apple Care, and it is the same. Apple did a very poor job with the keyboard on the 15" - I have sent it back three times for too much flex in the keyboard (on the right side), and lighting does not completely cover the entire keyboard. I am extremely dissapointed in the poor quality of the 15" keyboard.

nobitacu · Oct 14, 2003, 08:43 AM

They did a bad job with the keyboard light for the 17" as well. Coming from Apple, I thought better of them. I love everything about my 17", but the keyboard is one of the things I didn't like. It's like they got lazy and forgot to put in some lights on some of the keyboards. Oh well... Hope that the new Powerbooks for next year will have it all fixed. If the Powerbook is G5, than I'll be switching, if not, than I'll keep this thing for another year.

Ming

Drakino · Oct 14, 2003, 04:03 PM

Turn off your display backlight then look at the keys. My F row seems dim as well, just because the backlight from the screen is overpoering the light, and also the smaller text lets less light through. The arrow keys are also much smaller, thus, less light.

I am fine with this, because It still works well enough, and is unlikely to be fixed.

MacB · Oct 14, 2003, 06:43 PM

Originally posted by Drakino:
Turn off your display backlight then look at the keys. My F row seems dim as well, just because the backlight from the screen is overpoering the light, and also the smaller text lets less light through. The arrow keys are also much smaller, thus, less light.

I am fine with this, because It still works well enough, and is unlikely to be fixed.

Then why even have this in the computer? Why add a "feature" if the feature only looks like it was done half-assed?

mdewberry · Oct 14, 2003, 09:32 PM

Originally posted by MacB:
Then why even have this in the computer? Why add a "feature" if the feature only looks like it was done half-assed?

Exactly! Nicely stated..

mike one · Oct 14, 2003, 09:50 PM

hey can someone post a link or a pic of what the keyboard really looks like in nightglow� action?

google turns up nadda.

tia.