PowerBook in need of electronics expertise [COLUG]

[Jim]

Andrew Barr wrote:

> On Thu, 2007-04-05 at 01:38 +0000, Jim wrote:
> > Andrew Barr wrote:
> > 
> > > ... the flex cable ZIF sockets for the keyboard and
> > > touchpad are broken. The small swivel arm that holds the ribbon cable in
> > > place is not there any more, so the connection isn't held. 

> > I'm a bit surprised that the LIF connector broke, 
> > instead of the flexible cable. 

> http://www.oakcourt.dyndns.org/~andrew/pictures/powerbook/

Thanks. Your connector looks ordinary enough, 

For LIF/ZIF (low insertion force/zero insertion force) connectors, 
I expect a _sliding_ wedge/lock piece. 
Sometimes the lock is brown, sometimes it's the same color as 
the body of the connector. Here's a ZIF connector with beige 
body and brown locking piece: 

   http://www.colug.net/~jep/images/closeups/5.html

Are you missing a sliding lock piece to your connector? 

Connectors without a locking piece typically require much force 
to push the cable in. 

Although I've seen hinged locking arms on ZIF DIP sockets and 
big ZIF sockets for CPUs, I've never seen or heard of swivel arms 
involved with connectors for flexible cables. Is the swivel 
arm not actually part of the connector, but just holds the 
flexible cable somewhere away from the connector? 
Please describe that swivel arm more. 
Can you give me URLs of pictures that show such a swivel arm? 

At any rate, geek lunch would be a good time to look at your 
laptop's problem. 

Also, you show pictures of two different connectors. 
They look like they are of the same style of contruction. 
It looks like they both are missing the locking piece, 
or that they are both not ZIF (or LIF) connectors. 
Which connector(s) has(have) the problem? 

   http://www.oakcourt.dyndns.org/~andrew/pictures/powerbook/IMG_1834.JPG

The above picture hints that you might not have a ZIF(/LIF) 
connector, but a connector that requires much force. 

BTW, your pictures are good enough, but could be better. 
Brighter light and using highest quality setting might 
help reduce the graininess/blotchiness. 

> ... (Verizon)

Verizon or Verizon Wireless?