quick question about illuminated keyboard

[Darkroom]

so i`ve never used the unibody macbooks before and i`m curious about the illuminated keyboard:

1. do the icon on the F5 and F6 keys represent toggling of the illuminated keyboard? if so, is it simply on and off, or can you turn up the light like you can turn up brightness of the screen?

2. what color is the light for the illuminated keyboard? is it white or is it bluish white? i`ve seen images of both but can`t figure out what it is.

[GfulDedFan]

1) Yes. Graduated like volume or screen brightness.

2) White but muted by shining through and around keys.

The keys are illuminated by a light sensor. Once they're on, you can adjust them with the function keys. -GDF

[Darkroom]

cool... thanks :)

[vilim12]

So the Keyboard can only be toggled by the light sensor, not an actual button itself?

[MooneyFlyer]

So the Keyboard can only be toggled by the light sensor, not an actual button itself?

If the ambient light is bright enough the buttons are (backlight is) not available. You get a "circle with line though it" icon when you try to turn the brightness up. Once it is dark enough the sensor trips and the buttons can control the brightness from off to high brightness.

[GfulDedFan]

So the Keyboard can only be toggled by the light sensor, not an actual button itself?

I don't know if you call it a toggle but there is a way to turn it off in System Preferences/Keyboard. Also you can set a sleep of the illumination from a slide setting. And when you dim it down completely it's off. So correct...no button. Just a checkbox, slidebar or function keys.

[Psychmike]

I think there has been the odd time when I've wanted the backlit keyboard to turn on but my computer didn't think it was dark enough. I believe that the ambient light sensor is above the screen and there are times when light will selectively shine there but not on the keyboard. I wish they'd let you turn it on when YOU want it and not just when they think it's needed.

Mike

[vilim12]

I think there has been the odd time when I've wanted the backlit keyboard to turn on but my computer didn't think it was dark enough. I believe that the ambient light sensor is above the screen and there are times when light will selectively shine there but not on the keyboard. I wish they'd let you turn it on when YOU want it and not just when they think it's needed.

Mike

Thats what I was asking, if I could just turn in on in the middle of the sunniest day just because I wanted to. Sucks I cant

[ux4all]

1. There should be hack out there to control it. I am lazy and did not google for you. sorry :)

That being said, one imagines that covering the light sensor (if you can) would eliminate this problem but disable the 'auto' abilities at a MINIMUM.

[GfulDedFan]

Thats what I was asking, if I could just turn in on in the middle of the sunniest day just because I wanted to. Sucks I cant

The sensor is located next to the iSight. If you want to, you could devise a cover of some sort like a folded piece of paper to block the sun or lighting and it will make the backlit keys illuminate. Perhaps market it as an iBlock.

[WildCowboy]

Lab Tick (http://labtick.proculo.de/) allows you to force it to come on.