backlit keyboard on mb pro 15"

[neterhet]

where is the sensor that senses the ambient light to turn on the backlit keyboard? is it the isight?

and, why does the backlighting shut off while i am using it?

i'll be typing away with it set where i want it, and it will go dim... i'll have to use the "key" (f something or other) to take it back to where it was because now it's on the lowest setting... so i'll put it back to where i want it.. but then it will go back to the lowest setting again... then, it will shut off. i'll hit the "key" to brighten it and get a "minus" sign... then later, it will turn back on...

mind you, this happens while i am using it... so it's not the "turn off after so many minutes on non use" thing. (i think)

 

[bmcgrath]

The sensors are in the speakers. The reason yer keyboard could be going off is because the light has changed and the os changes it's lighting level

 

[jamesarm97]

I have this same problem. I use the laptop in the livingroom at night on the couch. It sits on a end table and because of the height of it I cannot see the letters. The key's backlights come on, but not at full brightness so I cannot see the letters. I think the backlight of the lcd also shines enough that it causes the levels to dim down a little. I have tried labtick, but it seems to just turn them on or off (and allow manual control). The way I would like it to work is:

Have the ambient light sensor turn the backlight on / off, but to a preset level (full in my case). Don't try and be smart and adjust the dim level of the keys. A simple full On / Off depending level of the light in the room.

Is there a way to do this? Does labtick do it and I am just missing something?

Thanks,
James

 

[pianodude123]

I don't completely understand how OS X manages the backlit keyboard. For example. I would like my screen to get dimmer and my keyboard to get brighter as the light in the room goes down. How can I do that?

 

[thejadedmonkey]

That's a very good question. I'm hoping Leopard will iron some of this out... but I'm not betting on it.

On a normal PC, when it's plugged in, the display is on full. When it's on battery, it goes dim. Wall power and battery power each have their own settings... This this MBP, the light sensors throw everything off, it's weird

 

[iBookG4user]

I suggest trying lab tick, it gives you complete control over the brightness of the backlit keyboard.

 

[Vegeta-san]

I have this same problem. I use the laptop in the livingroom at night on the couch. It sits on a end table and because of the height of it I cannot see the letters. The key's backlights come on, but not at full brightness so I cannot see the letters. I think the backlight of the lcd also shines enough that it causes the levels to dim down a little. I have tried labtick, but it seems to just turn them on or off (and allow manual control). The way I would like it to work is:

Have the ambient light sensor turn the backlight on / off, but to a preset level (full in my case). Don't try and be smart and adjust the dim level of the keys. A simple full On / Off depending level of the light in the room.

Is there a way to do this? Does labtick do it and I am just missing something?

Thanks,
James

I am at work right now on a Windows PC where I cannot reference what I am telling you with the glory of my MBP, but if my memory serves me correctly, if you open up System Preferences, and click Keyboard/Mouse settings there is a checkbox at the bottom that lets you turn on or off the automatic ambient light changes. I don't have that turned off, but I think that if you do, you can set your keyboard to whatever you want it to be and it'll stay that way regardless of ambient light conditions.

 

[pacmania1982]

Re: Backlit Keyboard

I use an app called Lab Tick to manually control the backlight on my MBP. Its a little app that lives in the menu bar and has a control slider that allows you to manually set the brightness.

You can find it here: http://labtick.proculo.de/ and best of all its free!

pac