Adding backlight to 8790 keyboard

Any thoughts on how this could be done? There isn't much room for LEDs or anything under there, although I don't know what's available out there. It doesn't look like I would be able to get light to come through the actual characters, but maybe around the keys, in the spaces between them? I often find myself in dark studios where a work light wouldn't be feasible or desirable. I could also put something like a thin cold cathode directly above the function keys, and mask the top and back of it so the light is directed downwards. But then would there be enough room for the lid to close? Hmm... any ideas?

Yeah, I just got one off eBay: $.01 + $5.99 shipping. I still wanna figure out the backlit keyboard though...

Here's the pic from the auction. The model number is UA02b.

Here's a thought: Maybe I could paint the keyboard characters with a phosphorescent ink that glows after exposure to light. OR, a fluorescent treatment that responds to UV (blacklight)...

I would only paint the characters, not the entire key.

I found an illuminated keyboard with low profile laptop style keys. The light "comes from a thin sheet of Electron Luminescence film that is located under the keys". I could replace my own keys with these, installing the luminescent film underneath and finding a way to get power from the USB port. But the rub is that this keyboard only has 91 keys--the 8790 has 99.

I received the above mentioned USB light in the mail yesterday and I'm somewhat disappointed. I didn't do much research--it was kind of a snap decision because I'm on this job on a movie set and have to set up my rig in a dark area. I was repaid for my impulsiveness by having to wait 12 days for the thing to arrive from Hong Kong. But how much can you complain about something that cost $.01 + $5.99 shipping?



In the picture posted earlier in this thread the neck looks black, but it is in fact silver. Besides the color, the exposed metal just exacerbates my paranoia about static discharges and scratches on the surface of my laptop.

Something else I didn't realize is that the light comes out of the end of the LED housing. A longer opening along the length of the housing would have been better for three reasons: it would be much easier to direct the light downward towards the keyboard instead of having to bring the neck up and then curve it down; there would be more coverage; and there would be no spillover into my eyes ruining my low light sensitivity. Maybe it would have necessitated a larger more expensive LED, but it's a much better solution ergonomically speaking.

It would also have been nice to be able to turn the light off without unplugging it from the USB port. There is no off switch.

The flexible neck does a pretty good job of staying in place. That's the only good thing I can say about it. And I can see my keyboard, so I suppose it does what it says on the package. Since I got it I've seen better solutions for around $15. This one will do for this job. After that I'll transfer it to my desktop for use as a work/reading light and look for something a little more deserving of being plugged into my 8790.