Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

MacBook Pro Backlite Keyboard

D

dmdeans

macrumors newbie
Original poster
May 16, 2006
3
0
I just purchased a MacBook Pro and find the backlite keyboard almost useless. It cycles off and on with minor changes in illumination and there seems to be no way to turn the feature "full on."

Apple needs to give the user the option to leave it on (should they elect) and if the battery only lasts 30 minutes...so be it.

Does anyone know how to disable the sensors so I can leave it on when I want to?

Thanks!!
 
KD7IWP said:
Nope. Same with Powerbooks. I wish I could turn my keyboard on whenever I want, but I can't. You can force it off, or have it come on by sensors, rather silly I say.
Click to expand...
I don't have a MBP or a PB.
But according the manual you can.
Here is a pic.
 
Unorthodox said:
I don't have a MBP or a PB.
But according the manual you can.
Here is a pic.
Click to expand...

yup - those keys are there;

BUT

they don't work. You get a sign on the screen like restricted access (/) and nothing else happens
 
Those keys only work if it's dark enough for the keyboard lights to come on. So you can dim the lights or switch them off, but you can't switch them on when it's too light.
 
andrew050703 said:
yup - those keys are there;

BUT

they don't work. You get a sign on the screen like restricted access (/) and nothing else happens
Click to expand...
Yeah. I read about that somewhere.....
Did you try going into Energy Saver preference pane.
Im almost positive there are some options in there.
Like the ability to turn off the light sensor; and do it manually.

But I could have misinterpreted what I read....
 
it's in the keyboard and mouse preferance pane under keyboard down at the bottom. drag slider to far right and there's 'never'. wow. what a feature. doesn't change the fact that it's not gonna work when it's bright
 
MacBook Pro Keyboard Backlite

Maybe if enough unhappy people complain to Apple they will provide the option to turn this feature on.
I have pen in hand.
P.S.
If someone could figure were the light sensors are perhaps they could be masked off fooling the keyboard into thinking that it is totally dark. I have tried various ways to mask the keyboard but Apple seems to have multi light sensors and if "it" thinks an override is in process the keyboard lights go off even when it's totally covered!!
Has anyone ever looked at a keyboard that is dissembled to see where the light sensors are hidden?
 
King A said:
it's in the keyboard and mouse preferance pane under keyboard down at the bottom. drag slider to far right and there's 'never'. wow. what a feature. doesn't change the fact that it's not gonna work when it's bright
Click to expand...
Ah. Of course. In the Keyboard and Mouse pane. Duh!
When you drag the slider to "Never" do the buttons on the keyboard do anything?


dmdeans said:
If someone could figure were the light sensors are perhaps they could be masked off fooling the keyboard into thinking that it is totally dark. I have tried various ways to mask the keyboard but Apple seems to have multi light sensors and if "it" thinks an override is in process the keyboard lights go off even when it's totally covered!!
Has anyone ever looked at a keyboard that is dissembled to see where the light sensors are hidden?
Click to expand...
Apple is doing this to personally annoy you. :p
Just kidding.
Im pretty sure the sensors are in one or both of the speaker grills.
 
Unorthodox said:
Ah. Of course. In the Keyboard and Mouse pane. Duh!
When you drag the slider to "Never" do the buttons on the keyboard do anything?
Click to expand...

yeah they glow! and they don't turn off.
 
As suggested by "Unorthodox" I tried masking off the speaker grills and YES...it works great!!!!! (both need to be covered)
I have covered the speaker grills with black felt so I can still "hear the music" and by tapping "F8" can now turn my keyboard backlite off or on when I (not Apple) see fit to do so.
Many thanks for the useful suggestions!!!
 
Steve Jobs doesn't allow people to use backlit keyboards unless they are in the dark. Duh. You're wrong and Steve is right. Simplicity of design. The backlight goes on when it is dark. It goes off when there is light. :eek:

No seriously. The backlight is meant to be used only in the dark. There's no way that I know of around it.
 
King A said:
yeah they glow! and they don't turn off.
Click to expand...
Thats good; I think... Now what happens when you push F8?

_Matt said:
Steve Jobs doesn't allow people to use backlit keyboards unless they are in the dark. Duh. You're wrong and Steve is right. Simplicity of design. The backlight goes on when it is dark. It goes off when there is light. :eek:

No seriously. The backlight is meant to be used only in the dark. There's no way that I know of around it.
Click to expand...
But you can't show off to all your peecee peers with your cool blue glowing keyboard. :cool:
 
dmdeans said:
Maybe if enough unhappy people complain to Apple they will provide the option to turn this feature on.
I have pen in hand.
P.S.
If someone could figure were the light sensors are perhaps they could be masked off fooling the keyboard into thinking that it is totally dark. I have tried various ways to mask the keyboard but Apple seems to have multi light sensors and if "it" thinks an override is in process the keyboard lights go off even when it's totally covered!!
Has anyone ever looked at a keyboard that is dissembled to see where the light sensors are hidden?
Click to expand...

One on each side of the keyboard under the speaker grill. Cover the area by the power switch and the same on the other side.
 
You can turn them off completely, or you can allow it to turn on when dark enough, but you can't have them on permanently. Also, to those saying the screen is bright enough to wash out the backlight of the keys, try dimming the screen. :rolleyes:
 
Counterfit said:
Also, to those saying the screen is bright enough to wash out the backlight of the keys, try dimming the screen. :rolleyes:
Click to expand...
And to dim the screen you have to cover the trackpad and Apple logo.
But you can't just cover them. You have to cover, then uncover, then cover, then uncover. Repeat. The fast you cover and uncover the dimmer the screen will get.
 
Unorthodox said:
And to dim the screen you have to cover the trackpad and Apple logo.
But you can't just cover them. You have to cover, then uncover, then cover, then uncover. Repeat. The fast you cover and uncover the dimmer the screen will get.
Click to expand...
Uh, my screen dims when I cover the speaker grilles. Maybe the light sensors on your PB are in the wrong place. :confused:
 
Counterfit said:
Uh, my screen dims when I cover the speaker grilles. Maybe the light sensors on your PB are in the wrong place. :confused:
Click to expand...

I think he needed a :rolleyes: or two in there. I considered doing it just to see how silly I'd look...
 
Counterfit said:
Uh, my screen dims when I cover the speaker grilles. Maybe the light sensors on your PB are in the wrong place. :confused:
Click to expand...
Sorry I meant to say:
"To dim the screen you have to cover the trackpad and Apple logo.
But you can't just cover them. You have to cover, then uncover, then cover, then uncover. Repeat. The fast you cover and uncover the dimmer the screen will get." :rolleyes: ;) :D

WildCowboy said:
I think he needed a :rolleyes: or two in there. I considered doing it just to see how silly I'd look...
Click to expand...
You only look silly if your off beat. You have to keep a steady tempo.
One and two and three and four AND...
cover and uncover and cover and uncover and cover and uncover and cover and uncover and cover.....
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back