CST Laser Trackballs Discussions | Drop

Mar 7, 2018

Just got my trackball, thanks MD. Fedex spent 3 days shuffling it around CA, I love those guys. Anyway, if anyone is interested, I ordered the non-glow model. It's possible to flash the glow firmware onto this one and add LEDs. I just confirmed it today by re-flashing mine and then testing the diode spots with a multimeter. Works great. Now just to pick some LEDs and get a translucent trackball.

Mar 7, 2018

yanfaliThat's very helpful! I was going to jump onto the simple black on black set, but I don't want to have regrets in the future that I should've gotten the glow one. Thank you for making this known! :)

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Mar 8, 2018

aikilinkYeah, this is actually my 2nd. I already had the red glow model, which I've modded to purple. In a month or so, funds permitting I'll probably get a green translucent ball and then mod this into a borg ball.

Mar 9, 2018

yanfaliThat would be pretty neat! What do you think of the glowiness? I've never been a big fan of 'bling', but some subtle glow could be pretty nice for sure! :)

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Mar 9, 2018

aikilinkI actually think it works for the CST. The red one is very tastefully done. I've been enjoying modding mine. It's a very nice platform for experiments.

Mar 9, 2018

yanfaliThat's great. I wish more electronics these days were mod-able. Everything is getting so compact that you can't do anything with it. Thinkpads are the last laptops that you could really do much with, and those pretty much ended 6-7 years ago. On that note, did I spy a T430 in that photo with the purple mod? :D

Mar 9, 2018

aikilinkYes, it's been modded of course with an upgraded LCD panel, RAM and solid state drives. I picked it up for a couple hundred refurbished and am very happy with it.

Mar 9, 2018

yanfaliNice! I was trying to get an IPS LCD for one of my x220s, but couldn't locate any of the actual correct ones. I reached out to several sellers who seemed to have the right one, but they all confirmed that it was the one that had ghosting issues. :( I'm typing on my T420 right now! Are the IPS panels easier to find for the T430? If so, I might have to get one of them, and put the older keyboard in it. :)

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Mar 9, 2018

aikilinkUnfortunately I couldn't get IPS. I got a high quality TN from Alienware and I've been happy with the viewing angles compared to the awful stock. This laptop had the low res screen so I had to source the HD cable to use the higher rate panel.

Mar 9, 2018

yanfaliThat's unfortunate. I'm surprised IPS panels aren't more prominent yet. Once you have one, it's so hard to go back.

Mar 9, 2018

aikilinkI actually did the same upgrade on my T420 too. It was the same panel for both laptops. Ended up costing me 42USD per machine. 1600x900 ALIENWARE M14X R2 is the one I used, and it was a big step up from stock for me. If you hear of an IPS one, let me know.

Mar 12, 2018

yanfaliThank you! I might have to do the same. I really love IPS, but stock Thinkpad ones were pretty sad in that era, so any upgrade could be nice.
I have a dock I use with my x220s, but sometimes it's nice to be mobile.

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Spexx

Apr 7, 2018

yanfaliSo how do add a different color LED with the glow models? Can it be done just using software to do you actually have to install a different LED bulb? If it's take electrical work to mod in a new LED I'd rather just go with a non glow as I don't know much about installing new lights and what not.

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Apr 8, 2018

SpexxYeah, you will need basic soldering skills. There are 3 LEDs in every glow model. I also bought a non glow one and with a firmware upgrade these can become glow too. They have empty spots on the PCB where new LEDs can be installed.

Ughh

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May 26, 2018

yanfaliDo I just buy 5mm purple LED diodes?

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