Brightness randomly dims on its own... scroll pad is jumpy

[erandall38]

This is a pretty new MBP (check signature for specifics)

I have noticed while using it that the brightness will randomly dim sometimes only one bar sometimes 3 or 4 bars. This is while it is plugged in and charging, not sure if it does it not plugged in.

Also, I mentioned this on another thread but when I am scrolling sometimes it gets extremely jumpy. For example if I scroll down it will jump back up and then down as if I were quickly scrolling my fingers up and down on the track pad... it is quite annoying.


Anyone know what the heck is up with this?
The other thing I noticed is that sometimes when I change the brightness it will jump by two bars on one tap every now and then. I reset the pRam and that stopped, but still jumpy scrolling and still random dimness... am I missing some setting I need to turn off?

 

[polycat33]

For the brightness changing, go into System Preferences/Displays and uncheck the box about automatically adjusting brightness. There's a sensor in your computer (I think it's under the left speaker area) that senses the ambient light, and it changes the brightness accordingly... like if it gets dark your screen will dim because a super bright screen in the dark is hard to look at. I noticed that mine would change when nothing changed about the light in the room (and I didn't put my hand over the sensor to make it appear dark to the comp) so it doesn't seem to always do exactly as it should and I'm happier with it off.

 

[erandall38]

Thanks, that definitly took care of my problem, I figured I was missing some preference.

Now, does anyone know whats up with the track pad? Or is this something that should be taken to Apple, the problem is it is hard to re-enact. I am going back to school end up September, so I would like to take care of it before then.

 

[Jimmni]

Now, does anyone know whats up with the track pad? Or is this something that should be taken to Apple, the problem is it is hard to re-enact. I am going back to school end up September, so I would like to take care of it before then.

My MacBook Pro would always run a tad hot, and I figured that that was probably the cause of the jumping trackpad and the airport dropout I always got. As it turned out my MacBook Pro was overheating pretty badly. I don't have it back from repair yet, but I'm hoping those two problems will have been fixed by the new logic board.

 

[erandall38]

My MacBook Pro would always run a tad hot, and I figured that that was probably the cause of the jumping trackpad and the airport dropout I always got. As it turned out my MacBook Pro was overheating pretty badly. I don't have it back from repair yet, but I'm hoping those two problems will have been fixed by the new logic board.

Thanks Jimmni, Do you know how I can see if mine is overheating. I know it burns my legs if its on for a while. But I figured this was normal since everyone said these things ran hot.

 

[Jimmni]

I'm not sure how you can tell - I had been ignoring how hot mine was getting until I had to send it in for a screen repair and mentioned it was running hot. The repair guys said it was overheating badly, and that it needed a new logic board. After intensive use it would be too hot to touch, and there was no way I could have it on my lap without it frying my testicles. I ended up buying a spare pillow to put on my lap when I was using it.