I've noticed that a little. Seems the keys among the outer perimeter (the F keys, the tab, shift lock, command, control, arrow keys, shift, return) don't glow as strongly as all the letter and number keys in the center of the keyboard area.
They certainly glow, just not as bright and crisp. But it doesn't bother me. I can still see them fine in a dark room.
As for "illuminated keyboard everywhere", I think this is one of those "yeah, do it!!!" features because once you get past the initial "hey, cute gimmick..." reaction to it, you realize how nice and useful it is.
It would be cool if their standalone keyboards did this, as well as the next-generation/revision iBook (and, of course, the 12" PowerBook).
Those that didn't want or need it don't have to turn it on, but man...it makes all the difference in the world, typing late at night with the lights down low or off!
Hmm... well, mine isn't quite so perfect after all. I realise now that my battery is giving me about an hour and a half tops.
Still, I rang Apple and they're replacing it, no questions asked. And frankly, if this is the worst thing to ever go wrong with this beauty I'll be very happy indeed.
so as I was posting before my school iMac fried in mid post:
It seems Apple made some changes recently in the 15"s. I hear reports of the nwere ones being more solid and having less problems. A second batch perhaps, or a .5 rev?
I shipped my Powerbook off to Apple on Tuesday afternoon and got it back today at noon...VERY impressive in terms of speed. No white spots on my screen of course and not really expecting them...the bottom of my baby was scuffed up kinda bad, but nothing some buffing couldn't fix.
the bottom of my baby was scuffed up kinda bad, but nothing some buffing couldn't fix.
This made me wonder if anyone has actually polished the ally case all shiny yet or at last the top and bottom? anyone seen a piccy or brave enuf to take the buffing machine to theirs
?Is it a problem if my powercord is REALLY loose and just a little bump can make it not charge anymore? When it is charging just moving the computer the slightest makes a different amber color that looks like a mix between green and orange I guess.
?I'll post a picture in a second, but I've noticed small dots appearing where my left hand lays. But not where my right lays. Is this a problem or is it just because of sweat from my hand corroding that part? I mean is that even possible?
Too small for my camera to get, but it looks like somone went to town with a pin poking tons of minute holes.
I posted this in genius bar....I cannot get mine to recongnize my snow base station at school. Another computer in the same room does. Tried restarting both the book and the station...nothing!
WTF?
OH...it works fine at home with the same snow-type station btw.
im sorry to revive this thread 2 months later, but i thought maybe someone would find this info helpful.
finally took my powerbook into the apple store for a keyboard replacement. i also got a chance to see how the detached keyboard looks like and how it it attached to the powerbook. it is actually pretty flimsy, and the backlighting lamp sits underneath it but is not part of the keypad. the keyboard has two sided tape on the bottom, and it basically is just taped down and it has one relay to connect it. the sound that a lot of people hear that sounds like tape being unstuck-- thats what it really is! if the keyboard is not taped down exactly flat, it will sink in a little or make that sticky sound. the first attempt at replacing the keyboard by the tech was all wrong, and i had them re-do it. i wanted to test the backlighting, but it was too bright in the store and it was bright daylight outside. when i got it home and tried the keyboard in the dark, i found that several keys no longer lighted up. i was told there is only one backlight lamp, so maybe something behind the new keyboard is obstructing the light. they will have to take it apart to find out. the keyboard replacement job isnt so great overall, and i am possibly regretting ever taking it in. <sigh>
I am really sorry to hear of your troubles Mac's Girl. I'm still going strong with my 15" and aside from a little scuffing on one corner where my watch band snagged it, all is going well. I absolutely love the dimming and so far so good on the keyboard, which I really like. I admit, though, that one of my G4^3 is now sitting idle as I have the PB hooked up to my 22" Cinema display when I'm at home and I don't have to do anything but plug in two cords to make everything work like a charm, open or closed.
The one trouble I've had was with my OfficeJet G55 printer, but that was more of a OSX.4 issue but now resolved.
I was wondering about the "white spot" issue people spoke of. Is that still out there and what should I do about that.
Again MG, I'm really sorry to hear of your trouble. My original flat-panel iMac 15" is still going strong at school and I'm burning DVDs/CDs and watching great stuff. Now if I could just figure out how to transfer my iPod's music to my PB (lost my original HD in a mega-crash, but that is a different story) I could feel content.
the keyboard has two sided tape on the bottom, and it basically is just taped down and it has one relay to connect it. the sound that a lot of people hear that sounds like tape being unstuck-- thats what it really is! if the keyboard is not taped down exactly flat, it will sink in a little or make that sticky sound.
Oh my gosh, you're serious? Apple's using double-sided TAPE in a PowerBook? What the heck, budget problems? You can't just flick down two tabs to open the keyboard anymore?
Reading this thread and others like it elsewhere I have to wonder:
Am I the only one who bought a PowerBook last September that hasn't had to send it in for repair? My PB has been flawless (knock on wood) since day 1! The only functionality I haven't tried is FW800 & bluetooth.
Oh my gosh, you're serious? Apple's using double-sided TAPE in a PowerBook? What the heck, budget problems? You can't just flick down two tabs to open the keyboard anymore?
Not on the backlit ones, no. They have to be a little bit more definitively positioned than the latched ones, as I understand it.
Well, I'm sending my 15"PBG4 AlBook in for the screen leprosy repair next week - anything I should have them check along with it? The lid latch seems a bit looser than it first was, and I have this weird crackling noise at times that seems to happen when the top 1" of my screen has a lot of white in it. No, really. Also, the SuperDrive goes Ka-KLUNK when I insert a disc in it.
Not on the backlit ones, no. They have to be a little bit more definitively positioned than the latched ones, as I understand it.
Well, I'm sending my 15"PBG4 AlBook in for the screen leprosy repair next week - anything I should have them check along with it? The lid latch seems a bit looser than it first was, and I have this weird crackling noise at times that seems to happen when the top 1" of my screen has a lot of white in it. No, really. Also, the SuperDrive goes Ka-KLUNK when I insert a disc in it.
Any *OTHER* known issues? :}
I have an optical drive and I also get the "Ka-KLUNK" sound like it just swallowed it and you aren't getting the media back
I have to send it in for the screen repair (spots, uneven backlight) and I'm going to ask if they replace my battery as it's capacity is only 3200 and most peoples are 4000 or so. I also have some minute holes (like somone attacked my PBook with a pin) under where my left hand rests, hopefully I can get them to give me a new case.
Is there a way to backup just your home folder? Also do techs REALLY care about warez?
You guys and gals are starting to get to me. Could someone explain the "white spot phenomenon" here [again, I know!]. I am beginning to see spots and blotches before my eyes. I, for one, never saw those dreaded "cracks" on the G4^3s I have. I believe you all that white spots or blotches do exist, but think that I may still be lucky enough not to have them.
They seemed to be dime-sized areas of white (or lighter areas) on the screens of the new 15" PowerBooks. Some say multiple ones, perhaps arranged in a diamond sort of pattern (pertaining to some internal structure cue?).
Mine never seemed to develop them, but they do indeed exist (or did) because I saw a guy in a nearby Subway one day with one and we struck up a conversation. I asked him about the white spots and he spun his PowerBook around and grinned and said "yeah, I got 'em...". Sure enough. Obvious white "blotches", about three of them. They kinda were arranged in a bit of a "baseball diamond" layout (minus third base). He was preparing to ship it off to Apple in a few days, so I'm sure he got it taken care of. That was around Thanksgiving.
The complaints definitely seem to have died down a bit, compared to November.
Comments
They certainly glow, just not as bright and crisp. But it doesn't bother me. I can still see them fine in a dark room.
As for "illuminated keyboard everywhere", I think this is one of those "yeah, do it!!!" features because once you get past the initial "hey, cute gimmick..." reaction to it, you realize how nice and useful it is.
It would be cool if their standalone keyboards did this, as well as the next-generation/revision iBook (and, of course, the 12" PowerBook).
Those that didn't want or need it don't have to turn it on, but man...it makes all the difference in the world, typing late at night with the lights down low or off!
Would be cool to see it product-wide someday...
Still, I rang Apple and they're replacing it, no questions asked. And frankly, if this is the worst thing to ever go wrong with this beauty I'll be very happy indeed.
Did I mention the flawless screen.... :-)
Socrates
It seems Apple made some changes recently in the 15"s. I hear reports of the nwere ones being more solid and having less problems. A second batch perhaps, or a .5 rev?
I shipped my Powerbook off to Apple on Tuesday afternoon and got it back today at noon...VERY impressive in terms of speed. No white spots on my screen of course and not really expecting them...the bottom of my baby was scuffed up kinda bad, but nothing some buffing couldn't fix.
Originally posted by filmmaker2002
the bottom of my baby was scuffed up kinda bad, but nothing some buffing couldn't fix.
This made me wonder if anyone has actually polished the ally case all shiny yet or at last the top and bottom? anyone seen a piccy or brave enuf to take the buffing machine to theirs
What I am sending it back for:
?White Spots
?Uneven Backlighting
?Latch
?Is it a problem if my powercord is REALLY loose and just a little bump can make it not charge anymore? When it is charging just moving the computer the slightest makes a different amber color that looks like a mix between green and orange I guess.
?I'll post a picture in a second, but I've noticed small dots appearing where my left hand lays. But not where my right lays. Is this a problem or is it just because of sweat from my hand corroding that part? I mean is that even possible?
Too small for my camera to get, but it looks like somone went to town with a pin poking tons of minute holes.
WTF?
OH...it works fine at home with the same snow-type station btw.
finally took my powerbook into the apple store for a keyboard replacement. i also got a chance to see how the detached keyboard looks like and how it it attached to the powerbook. it is actually pretty flimsy, and the backlighting lamp sits underneath it but is not part of the keypad. the keyboard has two sided tape on the bottom, and it basically is just taped down and it has one relay to connect it. the sound that a lot of people hear that sounds like tape being unstuck-- thats what it really is! if the keyboard is not taped down exactly flat, it will sink in a little or make that sticky sound. the first attempt at replacing the keyboard by the tech was all wrong, and i had them re-do it. i wanted to test the backlighting, but it was too bright in the store and it was bright daylight outside. when i got it home and tried the keyboard in the dark, i found that several keys no longer lighted up. i was told there is only one backlight lamp, so maybe something behind the new keyboard is obstructing the light. they will have to take it apart to find out. the keyboard replacement job isnt so great overall, and i am possibly regretting ever taking it in. <sigh>
The one trouble I've had was with my OfficeJet G55 printer, but that was more of a OSX.4 issue but now resolved.
I was wondering about the "white spot" issue people spoke of. Is that still out there and what should I do about that.
Again MG, I'm really sorry to hear of your trouble. My original flat-panel iMac 15" is still going strong at school and I'm burning DVDs/CDs and watching great stuff. Now if I could just figure out how to transfer my iPod's music to my PB (lost my original HD in a mega-crash, but that is a different story) I could feel content.
Originally posted by pscates
That's pretty cool.
You've outdone yourself!
Originally posted by mac's girl
the keyboard has two sided tape on the bottom, and it basically is just taped down and it has one relay to connect it. the sound that a lot of people hear that sounds like tape being unstuck-- thats what it really is! if the keyboard is not taped down exactly flat, it will sink in a little or make that sticky sound.
Oh my gosh, you're serious? Apple's using double-sided TAPE in a PowerBook? What the heck, budget problems? You can't just flick down two tabs to open the keyboard anymore?
Am I the only one who bought a PowerBook last September that hasn't had to send it in for repair?
Originally posted by fred_lj
Oh my gosh, you're serious? Apple's using double-sided TAPE in a PowerBook? What the heck, budget problems? You can't just flick down two tabs to open the keyboard anymore?
Not on the backlit ones, no. They have to be a little bit more definitively positioned than the latched ones, as I understand it.
Well, I'm sending my 15"PBG4 AlBook in for the screen leprosy repair next week - anything I should have them check along with it? The lid latch seems a bit looser than it first was, and I have this weird crackling noise at times that seems to happen when the top 1" of my screen has a lot of white in it. No, really. Also, the SuperDrive goes Ka-KLUNK when I insert a disc in it.
Any *OTHER* known issues? :}
Originally posted by Kickaha
Not on the backlit ones, no. They have to be a little bit more definitively positioned than the latched ones, as I understand it.
Well, I'm sending my 15"PBG4 AlBook in for the screen leprosy repair next week - anything I should have them check along with it? The lid latch seems a bit looser than it first was, and I have this weird crackling noise at times that seems to happen when the top 1" of my screen has a lot of white in it. No, really. Also, the SuperDrive goes Ka-KLUNK when I insert a disc in it.
Any *OTHER* known issues? :}
I have an optical drive and I also get the "Ka-KLUNK" sound like it just swallowed it and you aren't getting the media back
I have to send it in for the screen repair (spots, uneven backlight) and I'm going to ask if they replace my battery as it's capacity is only 3200 and most peoples are 4000 or so. I also have some minute holes (like somone attacked my PBook with a pin) under where my left hand rests, hopefully I can get them to give me a new case.
Is there a way to backup just your home folder? Also do techs REALLY care about warez?
Mine never seemed to develop them, but they do indeed exist (or did) because I saw a guy in a nearby Subway one day with one and we struck up a conversation. I asked him about the white spots and he spun his PowerBook around and grinned and said "yeah, I got 'em...". Sure enough. Obvious white "blotches", about three of them. They kinda were arranged in a bit of a "baseball diamond" layout (minus third base). He was preparing to ship it off to Apple in a few days, so I'm sure he got it taken care of. That was around Thanksgiving.
The complaints definitely seem to have died down a bit, compared to November.