Gigabyte M912X hack makes a smarter, cheaper Modbook

A fellow named Stuart Lowe installed Leopard on his Gigabyte M912X netbook / tablet hybrid, and we like the results. Though this isn't the first Mac tablet hack, it's a tightly wrapped little package: the interface seems smooth with either fingers or a stylus, and Inkwell's onscreen keyboard allows complete functionality when the computer is folded into its slate configuration. Much of the necessary software functionality existed in Leopard already, and since installing OS X on something other than a Mac isn't the challenge it used to be, we're envisioning a pretty smooth ride for other would-be-hackers. We've embedded a video on the other side of the jump -- take a look, and then cast your vote on what to call this niche category of netbook-like tablets.

[Via Slashgear]

Gigabyte M912: What's this thing called?

NettabNetletTabbookTabnetNetvertibleVote

[Bob @ Oct 8th 2008 10:10PM]

Netvertible!

[dandaman @ Oct 8th 2008 11:04PM]

My fav. name choice:

Mine!

Srsly, i want this - flippy screen and keyboard for term papers and pen input for class notes, this is a mac loving student's dream computer. I don't think the modbook works well for me and other students because writing a 10 page term paper by clicking on an on screen keyboard would be a bit hard.

[Benson @ Oct 9th 2008 12:12AM]

Well, there are these wonders known as USB keyboards, should you chance to find yourself at a table....

Not that this isn't a better option, though.

[eiki @ Oct 9th 2008 6:58PM]

for some reason i read it 'netvertebrate'

[Decoy @ Oct 8th 2008 10:12PM]

Linkbait!

[John H. @ Oct 8th 2008 10:18PM]

Someone set us up the bomb.

[Jhongerkong @ Oct 8th 2008 11:55PM]

WHAT YOU SAY !!

[Benson @ Oct 9th 2008 12:15AM]

YOU HAVE NO CHANCE TO SURVIVE MAKE YOUR TIME.

[Benson @ Oct 9th 2008 12:15AM]

HA HA HA HA ....

[TheLostVikings @ Oct 8th 2008 10:25PM]

Uhh, try comparing the specs of the original Tablets with these "Netbooks" and you'll find that they are the exact same thing ...

No need for another gimmicky name.

[Andrew Chung @ Oct 8th 2008 10:33PM]

What's wrong with "tablet netbook"?

[)ROFL( @ Oct 8th 2008 10:37PM]

That smile..

[mayq @ Oct 8th 2008 10:34PM]

netlet :)

[digitallysick @ Oct 8th 2008 10:40PM]

Nice apple cant even produce a tablet computer but this is perfect and works really well. I don't see why apple wont make such a product, people would buy it, maybe create a few special tabelet art type apps and its a sure sell

[saunajunkie @ Oct 8th 2008 10:54PM]

They probably will at some point, but apple will most likely spend a lot of time expanding and integrating cocoa touch into OSX. I would bet that apple already has a tablet well under way, and is only waiting for the most opportune moment for a sensationalized release.

[Kamokazi @ Oct 8th 2008 10:54PM]

Duh...you can't etch that out of an aluminum brick. Aluminum doesn't swivel!

[dannyboy414 @ Oct 8th 2008 10:55PM]

Sweet and that's cool hackintosh netbook/tablet. Is there no one at Apple to consider even producing a tablet or a applet :P ?

[thomas @ Oct 8th 2008 11:11PM]

uh... the real question is.... how do i get one???

[K-Canuck @ Oct 8th 2008 11:17PM]

iCabrio

[roach @ Oct 8th 2008 11:17PM]

Apple's tablet function is sad. Good thing that tablet has a keyboard or it would be me useless gadget.

[BigD145 @ Oct 8th 2008 11:20PM]

How about: None of the above. It's a f*ing tablet. Do you need to make names up for every little thing? People b!tch about the naming schemes of Nvidia and Asus and then invent names for what is nothing more than a 9" Tablet PC.

[thomas @ Oct 8th 2008 11:41PM]

someone forgot to change their tampon.....

[allislost @ Oct 9th 2008 12:04AM]

...and their butt plug.

[BigD145 @ Oct 9th 2008 11:54AM]

Aw, how cute. A PMS and a gay joke on the internet. Very original. Shouldn't you be over at youtube?

[specialsyco @ Oct 8th 2008 11:32PM]

right click?

[specialsyco @ Oct 8th 2008 11:34PM]

i mean "secondary"

[K-Canuck @ Oct 8th 2008 11:49PM]

To access the right-click feature, please turn the tablet pc 180 degrees in a clockwise motion, then press the trackpad button. Do not try to force the tablet counter-clockwise, because we designed it to go in only one direction to save costs.

This feature is also accessible on other full-feature Apple products such as the iPhone and MacBook

[ssrat_ @ Oct 9th 2008 12:17AM]

This is "almost" what I want, even at the higher price.,the "improvements" for me would be..

1)A 6cell battery (only has a 4 right now-seriously "we don't have a measly 3? we have a 4cell??")
2)I don't NEED a 10" but I truly wish they would have that option as well as the 8.9"
3)It could probably be done as a DIY but there needs to be SOMETHING done about the heat output under the key ESPECIALLY
when it is placed in tablet mode (100F I think was what I read in a couple of reviews) maybe some heat resistant fabric under the
keyboard?

If they did that and to cut costs decided to slice the HDD in half and still go with the price I would pick it up in a heart beat

It would need a SDHD so it could read the 8G card I have

[Cone @ Oct 9th 2008 12:17AM]

Dude, it's totally "Nablet".

[Sean @ Oct 9th 2008 10:04AM]

YEah, but can it run Crisis?

[zmjjmz @ Oct 9th 2008 1:35AM]

Does OS X have an Onscreen Keyboard?
Because if it didn't it would kind of suck.

[john @ Oct 9th 2008 2:47AM]

The engadget article you just replied to says: "and Inkwell's onscreen keyboard allows"

And the video shows it being used. So, yes, it does :-)

[pmcd @ Oct 9th 2008 2:55AM]

I love tablets. Have a really nice one from HP (2710p). I'd prefer one from Apple but they don't make one and are unlikely to in the near future. The problem is that tablets are simply a very niche product. Few people still handwrite and most seem to prefer typing. Sad but true. That leaves a very specialized market ( forms, areas where typing simply is not ideal, such as many scientific areas). It's reached the point that few PC makers call their products tablets. They are convertible laptops.

The real question at this point is whether or not handwriting is still important. Is it still taught in schools more that a few minutes a day? Can you had in handwritten projects?

Perhaps multi-touch inputting will change things but that is still very limited. Interesting though. Would Apple even include a stylus option?

Typing is not appealing for some, but I suspect it's a very small minority.

The Gigabyte product is not available in North America, which is odd and interesting. Seems neat though.

pmcd

[whiskey @ Oct 9th 2008 2:14AM]

neTABertible

[john @ Oct 9th 2008 2:55AM]

I really wish Apple would release something in this form factor (Convertible Tablet/Netbook), or the Samsung Q1 Ultra's form factor. Or maybe if Modbook were to license Apple hardware for those purposes (I bet the macbook air could be made to fit into a Q1 Ultra's shell, and still have lots of room to spare).

A Convertible-Tablet/Netbook in the 7", 8.9", and/or 10" sizes
A 7" tablet with split qwerty thumb keyboard

Both with 3G options, multi-touch screens, accelerometers and rotatable screens, SSD options, and perhaps with the ability to run iPod Touch apps via emulation.

[huh @ Oct 9th 2008 10:02AM]

have you actually tried the split keyboard of a q1 ultra?

I've used:

full pc
fujitsu b-series (small notebook with touch screen)
standard notebook
convertible tablet
slate (no keyboard)
q1ultra

The convertible tablet is by far the best compromise for general purpose computer use, until we find something to replace keyboards.

[bomber @ Oct 9th 2008 3:48AM]

I have one of these (XP version) and it's great. It's long been clear that this sort of device is very feasible, I'm a little surprised that it's taken so long to come to market, but I suppose UMPC makers have been busy bleeding the early adopters (I so wanted an OQO but not at the price they were asking)

Wishlist for the M913;

bundled tablet software ... at least an onscreen keyboard.
extend the screen to the edges of the hardware, 10" should be possible in the existing case
dump the touchpad and put in an IBM style stick and bigger keys. I don't have fat fingers and I struggle with the keys. I know I may be in a minority of one there, but there you go.
6 cell battery

[conCERN @ Oct 9th 2008 4:17AM]

NETVERTIBLE?? 30% of you guys voted for that? Sounds like some cheap manufactured in Mexico sold at Wal_Mart POS. You people people voted for hubert humphrey, and you killed jesus.

[Joe H @ Oct 9th 2008 9:35AM]

The problem with the Gigabyte as a tablet is that its only a touchscreen and not an active digitizer. You might be able to use handwriting decently around the edges of the screen using the bezel as a palmrest, but when writing in the middle of the screen it'll be difficult because you'll have to keep your palm from touching the screen or else it'll sense that as a touch.

This isn't really a tablet netbook, its just a touch netbook.

[Joe H @ Oct 9th 2008 9:38AM]

I should add that if you really want a tablet on the cheap, you'd be better off with Ebay for slightly older models, or a Dell XT refurbished (only around $800), or the HP tx2500 series I think is around a thousand. Not only will they be more powerful, but they'll be better to ink with.

[Bayard @ Oct 9th 2008 11:33AM]

loose the hardware keyboard and make the tablet presure sensitive. A simple brick, write, draw, type.... press and hold for right click menu...
simple, functional. Realy need a keyboard when at home, plug in a usb keyboard.
Simple.
Please someone make this, I have been waiting paitiently for 14 years now...

[Joe H @ Oct 9th 2008 7:54PM]

There's a ton of tablets like this. Its called the slate form factor. Most tablets use a Wacom digitizer for pen input (in addition to a passive resistive touchscreen for finger input) and the Wacom digitizers are pressure sensitive. The Modbook referenced in the title of this thread for example is one of those. Fujitsu, MotionComputing, and TabletKiosk also make the same thing.

Unless you're talking about something in the price range of the Gigabyte that is a slate. I don't think there's anything like that yet.