Over the course of years, most LCD screens will start to get dim. The light for LCD displays usually comes from a cold cathode fluorescent lamp, (CCFL,) which produces less light over time. You may lose as much as 50% of your screen brightness in a year! With some care, good soldering skills, and nimble fingers, in many cases this can be repaired. The lamps are often 1 mm or 2 mm in diameter, like a strand of dry spagetti.

The biggest challenge is finding a source for the lamp. Here are a few sources I have dealt with.

• ccfldirect.com
• Digi-Key.com
• JKL Components Corporation, available through Digi-Key ad Mouser
• LCD_Parts / Moniserv INC, sells pre-wired LCDs, this is a big help.  http://stores.ebay.com/MoniServ-Inc-LCD-Part

iBook Clamshell (12" display)

• JKL item BF22258-25B, through Digi-Key. (Digi-Key part # 289-1059-ND, about $11.) Here is one man's how-to, circa 2003.
• size 2.22mm x 258mm from CCFLDirect.com ($9.95)

PowerBook G3 (Pismo, Lombard, Wallstreet, 14" displays)

• JKL part number BF20292-24B, which is Digi-Key 289-1108-ND at $13.

PowerBook 540c

• size 3.0mm x 220mm from CCFLDirect.com ($9.95)

PowerBook 3400c

size tbd