ModBook gets free upgrades for pre-orderers, to ship soon

The modders behind the ModBook -- the first Mac tablet -- certainly know how to satisfy their customers. In an email to let those that pre-ordered know that their machine could be shipping to them by the end of June, the OWC guys announced that they've upped the sensitivity of the tablet's screen to 512 levels, from 256. We're not artists (IANAA?), so we're not sure if it'll make the ModBook viable as a replacement for your Wacom, but it can't hurt. They're also including the option of replacing the optical drive with a second hard disk for up to 500GB of storage, and the option of selecting an addition gig of RAM for up to 3GB built-to-order. The extra memory option ain't that impressive -- it'll deny the machine the benefits of dual rate speed that comes from matched pairs -- but the 500GB will no doubt make the torrent junkies happy. Alongside these build to order options, the ModBook now comes with specs identical to the recent MacBook updates, so you'll get an extra 160MHz, some more RAM, and some more disk space, free of charge. Not bad for a tablet that isn't even out yet.

[NightWind @ May 27th 2007 5:00PM]

finally I can show apple my finger

[michael @ May 27th 2007 5:30PM]

The problem with this is, was OS X made for tablet functioning? The menu bar at the top seems to small to touch, and many of the icons are usually so small on OS X. Plus, is there any more use of using OSX on a tablet, that you couldn't do on a Windows machine? Most of the time, I only use my MacBookPro just to work with my media software. I don't think tablets were made to do media work on the go like that. Plus, I use Vista on a tablet, and it works fine. I just use it to jot down notes, web surfing, and some tasks that don't require using a mouse or keyboard. To me, the mac tablet doesn't seem like a good idea. Compared to what we have right now, it doesn't seem to float at the top at all. It's just too mediocre.

[noisia @ May 27th 2007 5:41PM]

michael, did you know that tablet functions are integrated in osx?

ah no, you didn't. sry...

[XGM @ May 27th 2007 6:00PM]

Well referring to Micheals comment here, the ModBook does come with a pen for input. Also that OS X has had 128x128 icon for ever (well actually 5 years, witch is when it was released). Also the dock would make starting apps much easier then navigating the start menu in vista/xp

The only thing that i find the mod book is missing is the option for the Radeon X1600 that the MBP sports, then i would have reserved one a long time ago.

[Ignacio @ May 27th 2007 6:04PM]

"The problem with this is, was OS X made for tablet functioning?"

http://www.apple.com/macosx/features/inkwell/

[Austin Kaak @ May 27th 2007 6:16PM]

Apple used its tablet/writing technology developed in the Newton for OS X. It also based the Dock in OS X off of the one found in the Newton and NEXt computers.

[Mr Lizard @ May 27th 2007 6:17PM]

"FYI, the 3GB of RAM would be a greater performance boost than 2GB Dual Channel RAM offers."

Mitch, I suggest you do some research:

http://arstechnica.com/journals/apple.ars/2007/05/18/is-3gb-better-than-2gb-of-ram-in-a-macbook-yes-and-no

Things aren't always what they seem!

[BatteryAcid @ May 29th 2007 4:31PM]

Dont forget Leopard. It should solve ay tablet problems.

[Mitch R. @ May 27th 2007 5:34PM]

FYI, the 3GB of RAM would be a greater performance boost than 2GB Dual Channel RAM offers.

[Mitch R. @ May 27th 2007 8:55PM]

Mr. Lizard, did you even read that link?

"While they do admit that the matched pairs are better for some tests, they find that for the most part, 3GB of RAM is more beneficial."

;)

[FundsZine @ May 27th 2007 9:01PM]

Same thing as for PC - a 32-bit OS cannot even get the full of 4Gb of RAM, because it's the maximum addressable space, where BIOS and Video memory have to fit as well.

[trev @ May 27th 2007 7:44PM]

I think its worth pointing out that Wacom recently updated all of its sensor boards (used in the mod book and nearly every other tablet) so pretty much any new tablet will have 512 levels of pressure sensitivity. 512 is on par with Graphire tablets, but only half the sensitivity of wacoms pro Intuos tablets - However there is the bonus of being able to draw directly onto the screen so it comes down to the users personal preference.

Now if only some one would make a decent 14" tablet with more than a handful of custom buttons...http://www.trevorwhite.co.uk/tab.jpg

;)

[tek @ May 27th 2007 11:16PM]

This is SO not the first mac tablet.

I made one out of a PowerBook 170 a few years ago, consisting of a gutted screen and a wacom tablet. It worked perfectly, with a pen and everything. Someone else made one out of an iBook.

So perhaps they mean it's the first "commercially produced" mac tablet!

[dfdfgdfg @ May 27th 2007 11:41PM]

And once again Apple steals from Microsoft!

[sean.boots @ May 28th 2007 2:28AM]

@trev
Holy cow. That is a *wicked* tablet design. Did you draw that, or is that an actual product?

Either way, very sweet. I definitely agree that more custom buttons would be really handy. My love for keyboard shortcuts would suffer if I had a tablet. ;-)

[trev @ May 28th 2007 8:08AM]

Nope it doesnt exist, but I did draw it :)

[josh @ May 28th 2007 5:42AM]

wow its great to see apple do something new and inovative that microsoft has never done before....o wait, never mind

[RJM @ May 28th 2007 9:05AM]

I know one customer (a friend with a disability) who wouldn't agree with the notion that Axiotron "certainly know how to satisfy their customers". This latest announcement is the third of a string of broken promises about when the ModBook will ship (the original date having come and gone).

[HamiltonGuy @ May 28th 2007 10:21AM]

To dfdfgdfg & josh...

Nice try but since you apparently can't read or comprehend (which negates this post as well)...

this is not created by or even (as far as I know) officially endorsed by Apple.

This is a 3rd party that has decided to create a "Mac"-based tablet.

Though it could change it's mind, Apple has said in the past it saw little reason (ie, "no market") for such a tablet form factor.

The MS/Windows based ones you boast about are not exactly burning up the sales figures.

But keep throwing out the jealous/envious digs at Apple... one day you might actually hit something substantial.

...

[muncha @ May 28th 2007 10:22AM]

oh man wow!! when did apple start making these? i can't find them on their website. just goes to show you how far ahead of the game apple is, that thing is gorgeous compared to any thing else out there.

[trev @ May 28th 2007 11:28AM]

Apple don't make these at all. Axiotron make them, basically they take apart a mac book, get rid of the keyboard and attach a wacom digitiser. Apple are in no way "ahead of the game" with regards to tablets.

[paul hanes @ May 28th 2007 12:32PM]

test

[sean.boots @ May 28th 2007 12:29PM]

@trev
Whoa. Seriously, that rocks. That would be an awesome design for a tablet. The larger bars on each side would be scroll-sensitive, right? And then all the buttons could be customizable based on what app you're using at the time. Throw in some bluetooth for a keyboard when you need it, and you're set, eh? But back to the design - it's wicked. Nicely done.

Let me know when Apple or Alienware picks you up as an industrial designer! :-)

[trev @ May 28th 2007 4:12PM]

Yup! The bars would be scroll sensitive, but as some one pointed out they would keep getting used accidentally by the base of your hand when you are using the tablet (doh!), however one way around this would be to make them only accept pen input - which is an option on the intuos 3 tablets wacom makes.

For those that are interested here is an early doodle with option to swap all of the ports and bays around. Forgive my terrible handwriting and the botched perspective.

http://www.trevorwhite.co.uk/tab1.jpg

[Ben Schiendelman @ May 28th 2007 12:44PM]

I run a MacBook with 3GB (actually, running Vista using Boot Camp). The performance increase I see from 2GB is dramatic - using RAM instead of thrashing on the hard disk is *always* faster. If you run enough apps to use >2GB (in any OS), you're much better off with 3GB.

[nicco @ May 29th 2007 12:53PM]

@sean.boots

Do you guys have any taste for good design? You're obviously ignorant PC users. I mean what do you know about good design, or ease of use. right? You guys don't really care about that kind of stuff.

[trev @ May 29th 2007 1:55PM]

nicco - Your a typical apple snob. Why not have a stab at some constructive critacism for a change? Point out your issues without resorting to insults for the sake of cheap shot.

I use both PC and Mac and both have flaws which bug me and features which I think are fantastic, neither are perfect.

[nicco @ May 29th 2007 10:06PM]

You're right and I apologize, that was out of line. As far as constructive critiques go... maybe it's personal preference, but I prefer my hardware to be very simple. Leave it to the software to do the fancy stuff (to an extent). I think people complain about Apple's stubborness when it comes to adding hardware features and things, when in my opinion there's deffinately an art to what features get scrapped and make the cut. Aesthetics are important to some and not to others. I don't need to impress my views on others, think what you think.

[sean.boots @ May 28th 2007 5:23PM]

Coolness.
I see what you mean about the scrollbars - my only question about the other design was how you would hold it with the other hand, without pushing the buttons. The pen-sensitivity would work fine. But how do you actually hold a tablet PC?! Or do people just always find a table to draw on? I would guess you could cradle it with one arm, like a clipboard. In that case, an option to quickly change from "portrait" to "landscape" would be handy - maybe an automatic orientation sensor? Except that changing resolution/display things usually takes so long that it would be annoying if it happened by accident a lot.

The ports modules are genius. That would be perfect - customizing it for every trip on the road. Hopefully you could still squeeze BT into the tablet somewhere too, though! Drawing direct on the screen would be a dream for artists and designers. But any ideas about fingerprint protection? For the pen silo, you could make it magnetic so that once you started sliding the pen in, it would suck it in all the way, then by pushing on the pen end it would spring-load back out and magnetically push it all the way out (like newer SD card slots in cameras, but magnetically amplified). I'm not sure if that would work in real life, of course.

It's been pretty fun thinking about better tablet PC designs all day. Thanks for showing me your sweet illustrations. As the design expert that I am (read: a clueless high school student!) I can say without a doubt that you rock at electronics design. This has serious potential.

Anyway, thanks! It's been fun. Engadget definitely was not set up for these kinds of discussions. If you ever have some new tech ideas/illustrations, I would love to see them. Keep up the sweetness! Trev, you are a very talented designer. I'm jealous. :-)

Take care! Have a nice day.


(sorry, Engadget. Offtopic = excellent...)

[Tyler @ May 29th 2007 12:44AM]

Being as innovative as Apple is, I honestly expected something a little better looking.

[nicco @ May 29th 2007 12:57PM]

its not made by Apple, please read.

[Tyler @ May 30th 2007 12:59AM]

May not be made by Apple, but seeing as how innovative they are,

I would have expected something better.


Think please =)

[Sapo @ May 29th 2007 10:39AM]

who you type with that thing? gotta be not very confrotable

[GDog @ Jun 7th 2007 4:19PM]

There seems to be some misunderstanding about the tablet market. There is actually a significant demand for a tablet form factor in various contexts. Doctors, Artists, Writers, Editors, Students, Photographers, and anyone else who needs to input data while on the go, or produce drawings would find the tablet form factor preferable to a clamshell laptop. Windows's based tablet PC's (XP Tablet or Vista) are the first to be adopted by any significant number of users because they work with the programs that people are already using and mortally tied to in traditional business environments. The problem is that Microsoft has never marketed their tablets toward people who actually know how to use a pen to communicate… the designers and artists! If you have a device that uses a different OS to operate it, there has to be a syncing program in order to sync the device to another base system (desktop, laptop). In the end, what you do on the portable device has to be reworked when you get it into the base station OS. So why a tablet Mac? Hmmmmm… Let’s see, Wacom sells a disproportionate amount of it’s graphic tablets to Mac users because these people draw with their computers. A good majority of those people will not touch a Window’s PC. Those are the people that Axiotron are trying to cater to. There are some die hard Mac users that have attempted to modify their laptops into tablets and I'm sure they will tell you that what they ended up with was far from a mass production unit. Axiotron saw a need and took the initiative, for that I praise them.

[didthedash @ Jun 18th 2007 9:45AM]

I've been waiting for my pre ordered modbook to ship since late april. Now it's apparently not shipping till late July. Something's going on here. Smells somewhat fishy.

I found this discussion site about modbook if anyone's interested, filled with disgruntled customers...goto...

http://groups.google.com/group/modbook/topics

... I read the comments and realise that I'm not the only angry bastard.