Welcome to the MacNN Forums.

If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.

You are here: MacNN Forums > Enthusiast Zone > Hardware Hacking > MacBook backlit keyboard?

MacBook backlit keyboard?
Thread Tools
drnkn_stylz
Senior User
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Canada.
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Apr 26, 2007, 05:45 PM
 
There was a mod you could do to iBooks to give them a backlit keyboard. Some company made a string of LEDs that you wire under the keyboard, then they can be lit up whatever color LEDs you want.

Could this be done with the MB?
..13" MacBook Pro | 2.53gHz | 4gb RAM | 320gb Seagate Momentus XT | OSX.6.6.. // iPhone 4 32gb
     
brokenjago
Mac Elite
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Los Angeles, California
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Apr 27, 2007, 12:31 AM
 
Well, the iBooks keys were semi transparent, and they keyboard was also removable.

I'd have to give this question a solid 'No'

Sorry
Linkinus is king.
     
drnkn_stylz  (op)
Senior User
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Canada.
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
Apr 30, 2007, 03:48 PM
 
Ah well...
..13" MacBook Pro | 2.53gHz | 4gb RAM | 320gb Seagate Momentus XT | OSX.6.6.. // iPhone 4 32gb
     
JonoMarshall
Senior User
Join Date: Feb 2007
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
May 1, 2007, 04:15 AM
 
Don't give up.. get out your dremmel..!
     
papadopolis
Forum Regular
Join Date: Mar 2007
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
May 2, 2007, 04:44 PM
 
ya the Mac books keyboard is good and bad good that each key is attached sepratly and bad that you cant remove it in any way (that i know of but then again i dont own one)
     
drnkn_stylz  (op)
Senior User
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Canada.
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
May 14, 2007, 01:59 AM
 
Heh I don't like the idea of taking a dremel to my lovely MacBook!
..13" MacBook Pro | 2.53gHz | 4gb RAM | 320gb Seagate Momentus XT | OSX.6.6.. // iPhone 4 32gb
     
hadocon
Mac Elite
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Internet
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
May 14, 2007, 11:37 AM
 
...
20+ year MacNN forum member. MacBook Air 11" 1.6Ghz 4GB 128GB Backlit Keyboard, 4S, iPad Mini
     
sdilley14
Mac Elite
Join Date: May 2005
Location: La Crosse, WI
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
May 14, 2007, 04:49 PM
 
Why is it that there's one person on here who claims to have a MacBook w/backlit keyboard but refuses to show any pictures or explain how it was done? What is the point in that?
2.3 GHz Intel i5 MacBook Pro
iPhone 4 - 16 GB - Black
8gb iPod Nano
     
post_break
Forum Regular
Join Date: Mar 2007
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
May 17, 2007, 12:36 PM
 
I will figure out how to do this eventually. But first I need to get my hands on a spare top cover for my macbook. I think a sheet of elwire would be able to do the job.

I could tear that out of this keyboard and transplant it under the macbook keyboard somehow.

     
hadocon
Mac Elite
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Internet
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
May 17, 2007, 11:04 PM
 
Originally Posted by post_break View Post
I will figure out how to do this eventually.
I bet $5 that you don't.
20+ year MacNN forum member. MacBook Air 11" 1.6Ghz 4GB 128GB Backlit Keyboard, 4S, iPad Mini
     
post_break
Forum Regular
Join Date: Mar 2007
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
May 17, 2007, 11:55 PM
 
Well after poking around I came up with this (with some help). I can use an LED and some fiber optic cable to light up the keys. Or very tiny leds such as these...

0603, 0606, & 0805 Profile Surface Mount SurfLED� LEDs

Care to give us a hint?
     
CharlesS
Posting Junkie
Join Date: Dec 2000
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
May 17, 2007, 11:58 PM
 
Originally Posted by hadocon View Post
I bet $5 that you don't.
However, you'll never be able to collect on that bet, since he can always just say "I'm still working on it." The only way you could conceivably collect would be if you show up while he's on his deathbed, and even then I doubt he'd honor it.

Ticking sound coming from a .pkg package? Don't let the .bom go off! Inspect it first with Pacifist. Macworld - five mice!
     
hadocon
Mac Elite
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Internet
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
May 18, 2007, 12:16 AM
 
Originally Posted by CharlesS View Post
However, you'll never be able to collect on that bet, since he can always just say "I'm still working on it." The only way you could conceivably collect would be if you show up while he's on his deathbed, and even then I doubt he'd honor it.
Thanx for the tip Mr. Fappinator. I like your sig Mr. Fapfap.

Boom!
20+ year MacNN forum member. MacBook Air 11" 1.6Ghz 4GB 128GB Backlit Keyboard, 4S, iPad Mini
     
sdilley14
Mac Elite
Join Date: May 2005
Location: La Crosse, WI
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
May 22, 2007, 04:06 AM
 
Originally Posted by hadocon View Post
I bet $5 that you don't.
Show us pictures of your MacBook with backlit keyboard. I've never seen it. You seem VERY proud to have it and equally as proud to be the only one that has one. I don't believe it at all and I want to see it.
2.3 GHz Intel i5 MacBook Pro
iPhone 4 - 16 GB - Black
8gb iPod Nano
     
turntabletux
Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: NY
Status: Offline
Reply With Quote
May 22, 2007, 02:58 PM
 
Originally Posted by drnkn_stylz View Post
Heh I don't like the idea of taking a dremel to my lovely MacBook!
lol agreed!

MacBook Core 2 Duo 2GHZ 1GB of RAM
     
   
 
Forum Links
Forum Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Top
Privacy Policy
All times are GMT -4. The time now is 09:24 PM.
All contents of these forums © 1995-2017 MacNN. All rights reserved.
Branding + Design: www.gesamtbild.com
vBulletin v.3.8.8 © 2000-2017, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.,