I just acquired a Pismo that was headed for retirement from a friend, and am in the process of doing all of the usual updates -- ram, drive, G4 processor...
It'd be nice to add slick case mod at the same time, just to set it apart a little from it's stock G3 past...
Anyone have any ideas or seen anything slick? The translucent keyboard is just crying out for a lighted keyboard mod, but I'm not sure just where to start...
Here is a good write up of how to do an illuminated KB mod to an iBook, its going to be pretty much the same on a Pismo. You'll have to probe around with a multimeter on your own but there are several places you can tap the voltage. A USB port is good for 5 volts. If you want to use that you'll want to add a switch (lights off when you plug something in), otherwise you could overdraw the USB bus and break something. The logo mod is also pretty easy to do on Pismos, especially if you use a transparency
While this mod is impressive, it's not the one I was hoping for. It's not a fiber string that should illuminate the keyboard. These can be uneven, and if I'm not mistaken from something else I've read, they can easily shift, providing uneven light.
I believe that the alum powerbooks are lit through fiber optics. Also, if you check out the "blue ibook mod" he used a different technique of making the light shine through so its very consistant and professional looking.
Mangus - be creative. old computers are awesome cuz you can expiratment and have fun without worrying about messing up valuable equipment. I'm about to get a 520c to mod up. That should b fun
As for the AlBooks, yes they're fiber optics. A friend of mine did a green key mod to his 17" PB and had it online for a couple weeks, but its not there anymore :'(
Registered: 06/07/04
Posts: 1266
Loc: Stoughton, WI USA
I love the brushed metal look on anything. I'd also think about spraying down a strong clear gloss that is built to last on your painted parts to give it that extra shine. The pismo's scratch pretty easy. Also of note: try to get some iBook keys, because I had seen that checkerboard mod. That would be something to work around with (different coloured keys). The Aluminum PB Pismo look would rock though.
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