Anyway to force keyboard backlight to come on?

[inlimbo]

Is there anyway to force my PB's keyboard backlight to come on?

Im currently sitting in my bedroom and trying to get the backlight to come on (F10) but it obviously isn't dark enough yet. But I would like the backlight on because it makes the keyboard easier to see. Is there anyway I can force the backlight to come on?

Its that annoying part of the evening where it is not quite full light but not yet dark. 4.30pm to be exact.

 

[Makosuke]

If you're asking if there's a way to just "turn it on" in software, I don't think so--only off. The light sensor (actually sensors--mine appears to have two) is under the speaker grille, near the screen. Covering that part of the speaker up (I seemed to need to cover both sides on my 17", although I thought there was only one sensor) will usually make it dark enough to kick in the sensor, but I wouldn't recommend doing it on any kind of a regular basis, as the speakers might also serve as cooling vents.

 

[gammamonk]

I think the keyboard light makes it HARDER to see when it's not super dark. At least on the Powerbooks. My friend's MacBook Pro 17" has an insane keyboard glow. +7 Impact by the look of it.

 

[steve_hill4]

I didn't used to like the backlit keyboard, but have grown to like it, but only when at a maximum of 50%.

There does appear to be two sensors too. If you place your hands completely over the top inch of each of the speakers, it will activate any setting changes, (i.e. lower display, increase backlight on keyboard). You can change these while in this state. Cover sensors with middle and forth fingers and pivot the thumb round to the display and keyboard keys. When you take the fingers off though, it's back to normal settings though. I merely use this method to set up the keyboard ready for later on if I fall asleep, it gets dark and I wake up not being able to see which keys are which.

My suggestion is getting some electrical tape over those sensors and manually changing the settings throughout the day. Alternatively, search around to see if there is any third party freeware that allows you to use it without low-light. I'm sure terminal or such would be able to overcome this too.

 

[Abstract]

Yeah man, problem solving skills. Just cover up the speakers with an opaque tape, or tape some paper over the speaker grills. That ought to do it.

 

[Makosuke]

Yeah man, problem solving skills. Just cover up the speakers with an opaque tape, or tape some paper over the speaker grills. That ought to do it.

Again, though this would work, there's some risk of the decreased airflow causing heat issues. Maybe--I don't know how much convection is intended to take place through the speaker grilles--maybe none, for all I know.

If you're going to cover the sensors, cracking it open and doing it more directly would be the safer, if harder to reverse, route. Would also look rather better than a taped-up 'Book.

 

[ThePiratess]

Actually, you can just use Lab Tick to manually turn on the backlit keyboard: http://www.macupdate.com/info.php/id/22151