http://rhombus-tech.net/community_ideas/laptop_15in/news/
okaaay! so the main and the EC pcbs arrived from eurocircuits, they're all silver because they're prototype-ready, covered entirely in solder, no markings or masks at all. i experimented with the USB connectors, and the results can be seen above. heating up the boards took longer than i expected (even with an 800 watt ceramic bed and a 200 watt overhead lamp) but it got there in the end, the solder melted happily on the pins of the USB connector and we're good.
i can do this :)
l.