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You are not logged in. [Log In] AppleCentral » Forums » Mods and Hacks » Laptop Mods » Hardware Mods » macbook/macbook pro isight
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#475074 - 03/26/08 01:33 AM macbook/macbook pro isight [Re: willwill258]
Rayford Booth Offline


Registered: 03/26/08
Posts: 6
Ok so here is what i want to do.

I need to get a isight from a macbook or macbook pro and wire it into a PC laptop.

Is there any special hardware i will need except for the isight?

Thanks

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#475075 - 03/26/08 01:43 AM Re: macbook/macbook pro isight [Re: willwill258]
Rayford Booth Offline


Registered: 03/26/08
Posts: 6
I know its not exactly a mac mod, but i have a macbook pro and i know how small those cameras are. So i want to use the same tech in a Panasonic Toughbook

Anyways any help would be greatly appreciated. I really just need to know if the connection on the end of the camera wire is a chopped down version of a USB 2.0 port which can be soldered onto the toughbooks mobo.

Thanks

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#475076 - 03/26/08 02:59 AM Re: macbook/macbook pro isight [Re: willwill258]
oojacoboo Offline


Registered: 03/01/04
Posts: 1468
I don't really know, but my guess is that you are looking at some sort of micro usb2 port. I am sure some soldering will be required, that thing is tiny... Im not sure anyone is going to have much feedback for you on this as those cameras are fairly new...

I would love to hear how everything goes. I would say just go for it!
_________________________
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#475077 - 03/26/08 03:08 AM Re: macbook/macbook pro isight [Re: willwill258]
Rayford Booth Offline


Registered: 03/26/08
Posts: 6
Originally Posted By: "oojacoboo"
I don't really know, but my guess is that you are looking at some sort of micro usb2 port. I am sure some soldering will be required, that thing is tiny... Im not sure anyone is going to have much feedback for you on this as those cameras are fairly new...

I would love to hear how everything goes. I would say just go for it!


Is there a service manual for the macbook what will tell me what it is?

I think its a mico USB connector. maybe a mini

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#475078 - 03/26/08 03:32 AM Re: macbook/macbook pro isight [Re: willwill258]
Rayford Booth Offline


Registered: 03/26/08
Posts: 6
Also is there a way to tell if its a USB or firewire connection?

Thanks

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#475079 - 03/26/08 03:34 AM Re: macbook/macbook pro isight [Re: willwill258]
Rayford Booth Offline


Registered: 03/26/08
Posts: 6
Ok ya its a USB

Took this right from the system profiler of my Macbook Pro under the USB tree

Built-in iSight:

Version: 1.84
Bus Power (mA): 500
Speed: Up to 480 Mb/sec
Manufacturer: Micron
Product ID: 0x8501
Vendor ID: 0x05ac (Apple Computer, Inc.)

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#475080 - 03/26/08 04:26 AM Re: macbook/macbook pro isight [Re: willwill258]
Rayford Booth Offline


Registered: 03/26/08
Posts: 6
Ya see the isight is on the same USB bus as the external USB ports (atleast the right side one, have not tried the left side). If you plug a external HD into the MPB and look at the system profiler. The isight and the External HD show up on the same bus. So what i am going to try is buy the macbook isight. but a normal USB and wire them together. Will most likely have to do a little trial and error to figure our which wires to connect to what part of the usb. But with a little luck i wont short anything out smile

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#475081 - 03/26/08 07:02 PM Re: macbook/macbook pro isight [Re: willwill258]
Waragainstsleep Offline


Registered: 02/13/05
Posts: 1723
That works with the cameras from the iMac G5. I believe it will work for the laptop ones too. I had one kicking about at one point.

In the MacBook, the cable is built into the same ribbon as the LVDS. It connects to the mobo on the same connector as the LVDS too, but it is USB so if you get the wires right it will be fine. You might need a MacBook LVDS cable so you can snip off the part of the cable which plugs into the camera board.

The camera in the MacBook Pro has its own connector on the board but I don't get to look inside the clamshells much on them since they are whole unit replacements from Apple.

The other trick will be the driver. Apple does write Windows drivers for the iSights, but whether you can extract them from a Leopard DVD in a way you can use them is another matter.

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#475082 - 05/18/08 07:03 AM Re: macbook/macbook pro isight [Re: willwill258]
markh Offline


Registered: 05/18/08
Posts: 1
did you work out the connections for the cable? wondering of the isight camera kit (board + cable) would work on a powerbook 12" G4???

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#475083 - 05/18/08 01:36 PM Re: macbook/macbook pro isight [Re: willwill258]
987687 Offline
Where's the cache?

Registered: 03/21/06
Posts: 248
Originally Posted By: "Waragainstsleep"
The other trick will be the driver. Apple does write Windows drivers for the iSights, but whether you can extract them from a Leopard DVD in a way you can use them is another matter.

What about when you run XP on a macbook (pro)? It must have the drivers for the iSight.

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