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45 Replies Last post: Jan 31, 2007 5:31 PM by Jason Snell   1 2 3 4 Previous Next
Click to view MW Forums's profile New Member
MW Forums
12,220 posts since
Aug 2, 2004
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Jan 25, 2007 10:30 AM

First Look: ModBook

A tablet Mac will soon hit the market -- but it won't come from Apple. Instead Axiotron and OWC have teamed up to make the ModBook, a MacBook laptop that's been reconfigured into a tablet computer. Jonathan Seff got his hands on a preproduction model and can share some thoughts on what to expect from the ModBook when it ships in April. more
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Click to view lhudd's profile Member
lhudd
323 posts since
Nov 16, 2004
1. Jan 25, 2007 2:18 PM in response to: MW Forums
Re: First Look: ModBook
Wow... very very cool. I could ALMOST picture myself getting one of these and hooking it up to a large monitor for desktop use, but maintaining ultimate portability. Also would be cool if the non-pro Macbook could drive the 30 cinema display. Very very cool.
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Click to view tony_d's profile New Member
tony_d
94 posts since
Jan 19, 2007
2. Jan 25, 2007 2:45 PM in response to: MW Forums
Re: First Look: ModBook
I'm wondering if they plan to do a MacBook Pro. Also some kind of cover for it would be nice even though a sleeve would be needed to throw it in a bag. Now if Apple decides to put that touch screen tecnology thats in the iPhone on a laptop.....
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Click to view heisetax's profile Member
heisetax
495 posts since
Oct 2, 2003
3. Jan 25, 2007 2:48 PM in response to: MW Forums
Re: First Look: ModBook
Just think of how great our Macs could be if Apple would open things up with their hardware cloning. This seemed to be the neatest Mac at this year's MacWorld. Or should we say the only Mac at this years MacWorld.

Just think how many more could be sold if they didn't have to start out with an Intel MacBook & add-on. We need to show our support for the many third party Mac developers. They were the only ones ready for MacWorld 2006.

Because of the extra costs that Axiotron and Other World Computing had to incur in building the ModBook may keep sales at too low of a level for them to make their needed profit.

This last MacWorld generated $150 in sales from me for Apple, but many times that for our great third party producers & suppliers. I wish that I was in the market for a ModBook. An Intel ModBook Pro would be very interesting. The added items in the Intel MacPro would help many of the short comings for some of the Intel MacBook ModBook. Things like the mentioned want & need to hook the ModBook up to Apple's or someone else's 30" display.

Bill the TaxMan
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Click to view PITBULL831's profile New Member
PITBULL831
58 posts since
Jan 18, 2007
4. Jan 25, 2007 3:03 PM in response to: MW Forums
Re: First Look: ModBook
I like it , and it looks great for some if not all Aps. , but after seeing the iPhone and there Mulity Touch Screen for the iPhone . I see Apple sometime this year bring out there Own MacTablet ... Something with the Mulity Touch and other stuff showen in that iPhone ..

Might be that Apple didnt bring iit out to promote the iPhone a Little mroe at this time ... COuld be at the next event Apple them selfs could have a few things that would really change out how you use your Apple Products ...

iPods - With the design of the iPhone , and some of the main features , like the Mulity Touch Screen and Widescreen stuff ... Lets hope the Memo recoder is installed in it as well , and a fw options that the iPhone had as well ...

MacTablets - This could be the best thing that Apple is working on right now ... Having everthing that a Macbook Pro has , but with out the Keyboards and mouse .. Instead using the Mulity Touch Screen and a few features that Apple could have been working on for a whiel now ... Could even see the MacTablets taking the Place of both the MacBooks and MacBook Pros ... making a MacTablet and MacTablet Pro ..

There is still alot of stuff that Apple and other companies are working on that could be set to come out later this year , and Apple jsut wants to keep it underwraps for right now ..
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Click to view jpmuk's profile New Member
jpmuk
77 posts since
Aug 10, 2006
5. Jan 25, 2007 3:05 PM in response to: tony_d
Re: First Look: ModBook
"I'm wondering if they plan to do a MacBook Pro"

Some people are just never happy. When they put it in the Pro you'll moan about the size of the hard drive or amount of standard ram...
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Click to view kresh's profile Member
kresh
155 posts since
Oct 11, 2005
6. Jan 25, 2007 3:14 PM in response to: MW Forums
Re: First Look: ModBook
I wonder how thin they could make it if they replaced the bottom shell as well? Remove the Optical drive, go with a 1.8" Hard Drive and maybe a custom battery.

For $500 more, could they make a Modbook that's just over a 1/2" thick?

I'm not complaining in the least. I am totally in love with what they have done.

I am a stranger in a strange land, waiting on my King to come and establish His Kingdom. Even so. Maranatha!
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Click to view tony_d's profile New Member
tony_d
94 posts since
Jan 19, 2007
7. Jan 25, 2007 3:18 PM in response to: jpmuk
Re: First Look: ModBook
I wasn't really complaining its just that I use the FW 800 (for an external HD where my iTunes live) and the express card is a nice option. Plus it drives the 30" display, right?
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Click to view SDH32's profile New Member
SDH32
4 posts since
Oct 21, 2006
8. Jan 25, 2007 3:31 PM in response to: tony_d
Re: First Look: ModBook
But...what about Front Row?
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Click to view lucentio's profile New Member
lucentio
86 posts since
Aug 28, 2004
9. Jan 25, 2007 3:45 PM in response to: MW Forums
Re: First Look: ModBook
Hard to tell from the video, but it seemed that the program - was that painter? - lagged behind the pen. I use a Wacom all the time with Photoshop and it becomes useless when there's lag. The program fills in fast strokes with straight lines, and you inevitably screw up because you can't see what you're doing. Whatever else, they have to be sure that the programs can keep up with the pen on the Core 2 Duo.
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Click to view kill953's profile New Member
kill953
96 posts since
Sep 29, 2006
10. Jan 25, 2007 3:50 PM in response to: lucentio
Re: First Look: ModBook
Quote:<hr />
Hard to tell from the video, but it seemed that the program - was that painter? - lagged behind the pen. I use a Wacom all the time with Photoshop and it becomes useless when there's lag. The program fills in fast strokes with straight lines, and you inevitably screw up because you can't see what you're doing. Whatever else, they have to be sure that the programs can keep up with the pen on the Core 2 Duo.

<hr />

It was Artrage 2. Very cool app with a freeware demo.
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Click to view azxplorer's profile New Member
azxplorer
4 posts since
Jan 22, 2007
11. Jan 25, 2007 4:42 PM in response to: MW Forums
Re: First Look: ModBook
Is there a way to hook up a external GPS antenna? I could see this being installed in a vehicle and used for GPS mapping applications.

In fact, there are numerous applications that this could facilitate. Just think what people have done with a mini in a vehicle. The MacPrius for example. This would be even more powerful.

Just need to install a roof mounted swing arm in the vehicle, then it could be used in any seat. Then anyone could perform any computing activity with it. Add an external wi-fi antenna...

Sheesh, the ideas just keep coming.
Johnny
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Click to view shoaf's profile New Member
shoaf
57 posts since
Jun 22, 2005
12. Jan 25, 2007 4:49 PM in response to: kill953
Re: First Look: ModBook
First, thank you to J.S. and Macworld for filling us in on this. I'm really intrigued by this product, and I'm giving it some consideration for purchase later this year.

In the video, I noticed the cursor still shows on-screen below the stylus point. Does this interfere with the natural feel of using the stylus?

Also, very much related to that, how is the parallax between stylus tip and screen pixels? Does it give the sense that you are working with the actual pixels, or does it feel more like you're still working on a surface floating considerably above the image?

(I've never had the oppty to use a Cintiq, so these questions would apply to that as well.)
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Click to view Jon Seff's profile Macworld Editorial
Jon Seff
741 posts since
Dec 13, 2000
13. Jan 25, 2007 4:59 PM in response to: shoaf
Re: First Look: ModBook
Quote:<hr />
First, thank you to J.S. and Macworld for filling us in on this. I'm really intrigued by this product, and I'm giving it some consideration for purchase later this year.

In the video, I noticed the cursor still shows on-screen below the stylus point. Does this interfere with the natural feel of using the stylus?

Also, very much related to that, how is the parallax between stylus tip and screen pixels? Does it give the sense that you are working with the actual pixels, or does it feel more like you're still working on a surface floating considerably above the image?

(I've never had the oppty to use a Cintiq, so these questions would apply to that as well.)

<hr />


It does feel a bit like you're working 'above' the image on not on it, but I think I'd get used to it in time.

Jon Seff - Senior News Editor, Macworld
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Click to view Maclectic's profile New Member
Maclectic
141 posts since
Aug 27, 2005
14. Jan 25, 2007 5:02 PM in response to: MW Forums
Re: First Look: ModBook
Maybe I'm just cheap, but are none of you folks looking at the price?

Standard white, bottom of the line MacBook: $1,099.00

Similar specs, ModBook: $2,279.00

That's MORE THAN DOUBLE the price! Is the touch screen and additional SW worth that much, so you can scribble?

Call me a grouch, but I couldn't justify that kind of price increase, especially if all the extras the author got to use during the first look weren't included.

I'd much rather have the bottom-line MacBook Pro (2.16GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 1440 x 900 pixels, 1GB memory, 120GB hard drive, ATI Mobility Radeon X1600 graphics w/128MB SDRAM) which you could buy for a mere $1799 at MacWorld and $1999 at the Apple Store.


- Maclectic
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