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Jugger Grimrodd · 11-27-2007

Alright - this is a new one for me. I have a little green light under the keyboard (between the F5 and F6 keys) on my MBP. I have never seen it illuminated before. Should I be freaking out? Houltmac? HELP!

I just got it back from that ill advised and expensive RAM upgrade. Take it back to the shop?

AIEEEEEE!

**Raven** · 11-27-2007

It's the numlock key. Hit F6 again and it should go away. (If it doesn't, then maybe consider panic.

)

Jugger Grimrodd · 11-27-2007

HAHA - I just read about it in the user manual. I am an idiot - thanks! I just never use numlock I guess.

**Raven** · 11-27-2007

I never do either - I was a bit confused one day when all my letter keys stopped working...

**Yuiichi** · 11-28-2007

Is it not labeled on the MBP keyboard? On my Macbook keyboard, the actual key has the light in it with num lock clearly beside it.

Jugger Grimrodd · 11-28-2007

Well - it isn't like a little light on the key - I would describe it as being under the keyboard, spanning several keys. It is labeled, but it illuminates the F5 and F6 keys. I still feel like a knob.

I am banning myself from any stupid questions for at least two weeks.

**Yuiichi** · 11-28-2007

Hmm... poor design choice by Apple, perhaps?

Anyways - I don't think it was a stupid question! I'd probably freak out too if there was a weird green light from under my keyboard after some work had been done to it!

houltmac · 11-29-2007

This doesn't sound quite right, is there any way for you to post a picture of it?

The difference is in the way the keyboards are designed, and how the newer keyboards (MacBook, Apple Keyboard and Apple Wireless Keyboard) have sepcific illumination sections. The MacBook Pro keyboard, like the PowerBook keyboard before them are designed to be backlit and thus the text on the keys allows light to shine through. It's possible that the light is somehow misaligned with the key and that's making it look odd.

There is no fix for this (officially) and if this is the case then an Apple Store or AASP should replace the keyboard for you. That said, if you aren't going to use it then it shouldn't be a problem and it's up to whether or not to raise the issue.

Don't feel stupid for asking questions though man, you raised another good point. If your keyboard ever "stops working" then first thing is to check the numlock key; 90% of the time that's the issue. There is no such thing as a stupid question when something doesn't seem right.

**Raven** · 11-29-2007

The light's not aligned immediately under the key on either of the two MBP's that I can get to. I think it's more that the light is very bright and the keys are semi-transparent.
Here's a picture: http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2324/...c1bb24.jpg?v=0

houltmac · 11-30-2007

While the light is bright and there is always some "leakage", I don't think I'd be happy with something that looked that far out. Tough call, but I'd have someone take a look at it if it were mine.

11-27-2007	#1 (permalink)
Jugger Grimrodd Personal Shopping Specialist Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Milton, Ontario, Canada Posts: 286	Alright - this is a new one for me. I have a little green light under the keyboard (between the F5 and F6 keys) on my MBP. I have never seen it illuminated before. Should I be freaking out? Houltmac? HELP! I just got it back from that ill advised and expensive RAM upgrade. Take it back to the shop? AIEEEEEE! __________________ 24" iMac 2.4GHz C2D, 4GB RAM, 256MB VRAM, 320GB HDD 32GB iPod Touch - 160GB iPod Classic

11-27-2007	#2 (permalink)
Raven TAB Author Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Greater Bostonia Posts: 521	It's the numlock key. Hit F6 again and it should go away. (If it doesn't, then maybe consider panic. ) __________________ PowerMac DualG5 2 Ghz, 4GB RAM, 820 GB hard drives 15'' MacBook Pro, 2.16 Ghz, 2 GB RAM - oh, and the Apple IIe

11-27-2007	#3 (permalink)
Jugger Grimrodd Personal Shopping Specialist Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Milton, Ontario, Canada Posts: 286	HAHA - I just read about it in the user manual. I am an idiot - thanks! I just never use numlock I guess. __________________ 24" iMac 2.4GHz C2D, 4GB RAM, 256MB VRAM, 320GB HDD 32GB iPod Touch - 160GB iPod Classic

11-27-2007	#4 (permalink)
Raven TAB Author Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Greater Bostonia Posts: 521	I never do either - I was a bit confused one day when all my letter keys stopped working... __________________ PowerMac DualG5 2 Ghz, 4GB RAM, 820 GB hard drives 15'' MacBook Pro, 2.16 Ghz, 2 GB RAM - oh, and the Apple IIe

11-28-2007	#5 (permalink)
Yuiichi Assistant Store Manager Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,975	Is it not labeled on the MBP keyboard? On my Macbook keyboard, the actual key has the light in it with num lock clearly beside it. __________________ My Mac(s): MacBook, white - 2.0 GHz, 2 GB RAM, 80 GB HDD Cake for you? The Macversity - Mac + School = Love.

11-28-2007	#6 (permalink)
Jugger Grimrodd Personal Shopping Specialist Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Milton, Ontario, Canada Posts: 286	Well - it isn't like a little light on the key - I would describe it as being under the keyboard, spanning several keys. It is labeled, but it illuminates the F5 and F6 keys. I still feel like a knob. I am banning myself from any stupid questions for at least two weeks. __________________ 24" iMac 2.4GHz C2D, 4GB RAM, 256MB VRAM, 320GB HDD 32GB iPod Touch - 160GB iPod Classic

11-28-2007	#7 (permalink)
Yuiichi Assistant Store Manager Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,975	Hmm... poor design choice by Apple, perhaps? Anyways - I don't think it was a stupid question! I'd probably freak out too if there was a weird green light from under my keyboard after some work had been done to it! __________________ My Mac(s): MacBook, white - 2.0 GHz, 2 GB RAM, 80 GB HDD Cake for you? The Macversity - Mac + School = Love.

11-29-2007	#8 (permalink)
houltmac Mac Genius Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 1,080	This doesn't sound quite right, is there any way for you to post a picture of it? The difference is in the way the keyboards are designed, and how the newer keyboards (MacBook, Apple Keyboard and Apple Wireless Keyboard) have sepcific illumination sections. The MacBook Pro keyboard, like the PowerBook keyboard before them are designed to be backlit and thus the text on the keys allows light to shine through. It's possible that the light is somehow misaligned with the key and that's making it look odd. There is no fix for this (officially) and if this is the case then an Apple Store or AASP should replace the keyboard for you. That said, if you aren't going to use it then it shouldn't be a problem and it's up to whether or not to raise the issue. Don't feel stupid for asking questions though man, you raised another good point. If your keyboard ever "stops working" then first thing is to check the numlock key; 90% of the time that's the issue. There is no such thing as a stupid question when something doesn't seem right. __________________ MacBook Pro 15" Glossy, 2.6GHz, 4GB RAM, 320B HD \| iPhone 3G 16GB (Black)

11-29-2007	#9 (permalink)
Raven TAB Author Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Greater Bostonia Posts: 521	The light's not aligned immediately under the key on either of the two MBP's that I can get to. I think it's more that the light is very bright and the keys are semi-transparent. Here's a picture: http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2324/...c1bb24.jpg?v=0 __________________ PowerMac DualG5 2 Ghz, 4GB RAM, 820 GB hard drives 15'' MacBook Pro, 2.16 Ghz, 2 GB RAM - oh, and the Apple IIe Last edited by Raven; 11-29-2007 at 07:26 PM.

11-30-2007	#10 (permalink)
houltmac Mac Genius Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 1,080	While the light is bright and there is always some "leakage", I don't think I'd be happy with something that looked that far out. Tough call, but I'd have someone take a look at it if it were mine. __________________ MacBook Pro 15" Glossy, 2.6GHz, 4GB RAM, 320B HD \| iPhone 3G 16GB (Black)

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