Axiotron tweaks Modbook for better, stronger, faster performance

Axiotron has the upgrade bug again, and it's making a litany of small, useful improvements to its Modbook that add up to a seriously improved machine. For starters, the rig now has a new hardware controller board for improved sleep, battery and system performance. Moreover, a fresh bonding process for the AnyView LCD panel and paper-emulating ForceGlass screen cover results in a "better contrast ratio, a firmer etched drawing surface, and decreased parallax between pen tip and cursor." Also of note, the updated beast incorporates the company's QuadCoat process, which protects the top shell with a liquid metallic coating and decreases the weight to 5.3-pounds. The Modbook starts at $2,249 by itself, or users can convert their non-aluminum Core 2 Duo-based Macbook into one starting at $1,299.

[who? @ Dec 5th 2008 2:49AM]

If Apple doesn't make a tablet in the next two years, I'm getting this (or similar) for graduation.

BTW- anyone who replies 'there is one, it's called the iPhone!' or similar is getting smacked...

[Oli D @ Dec 5th 2008 2:59AM]

There is one, its called the G1

[who? @ Dec 5th 2008 3:17AM]

Apple makes the G1? The world is ending? Say wha...?

[Neophytos @ Dec 5th 2008 2:56AM]

There is one. It's called the iPhone. Steve Mobs told me about it in a dream right before he took my virginity.

[Rod @ Dec 5th 2008 2:57AM]

I have used two tablet PC's (Toshiba Portege M200 and IBM X41 tablet) and I currently use a MacBook Pro.
I switched to MBP because I couldn't deal with Vista, and it has been great except for note-taking.

I attend a lot of seminars and I have really missed taking notes on a tablet PC; taking notes on Word is just not the same, especially because OS X does not have a OneNote-like application (Word has a Notebook view but it's primarily a gimmick compared to OneNote).

Like the above poster says, I was hoping for Apple to come out with a tablet PC, but it doesn't look like they will.
And given current trends with irrational decisions designed to screw customers over, I am certain that it will have annoying quirks, as in making it only usable for note-taking or graphic work, or vice versa.
So it looks like I will have to buy a Tablet PC again, most likely a Lenovo or a Fujitsu.

Does anyone who has owned a tablet PC and used it for note-taking have suggestions?

It's really too bad Apple's target demographic is no longer professionals or academia (see glossy screens, for example- bad for photographers, bad for any serious work).
And it happened just after I switched!

[Elliot @ Dec 5th 2008 9:36AM]

For tablet recommendations:
I've got a toshiba m400 refurb 2 years ago. it's lacking in a few areas but overall i'm happy with it.
Those areas seem mostly patched up in the m700 which is a bit more rugged, has a inbuilt webcam, touch functionality, better graphics card, better screen, core 2 duo, longer battery life.
There's also an m750 out now, but i have no idea what the difference is between that and the m400.

The reviews of the dell tablet seem pretty shining, it seems to have everything and looks (i've never held one) to be light and portable.
The only issue is the processor speed is very low (i think the standard model comes with a core solo!)

That said, Lenevo seem to be the people to go with nowadays.

Also, quite a few people have got working hackintosh tablets (m400 included), so if you do want to get some mac on the go it's not out of the question. I've been able to get the tablet working on mine and most of the functionality (except wifi which is an arse)

[Van @ Dec 5th 2008 5:36AM]

@Rod
Was going through serious OneNote withdrawal for awhile after switching to a MBP, but started using Evernote two months ago and haven't looked back. There's even a direct import from OneNote, so transfered 3 years of info in 30 minutes. Now my notes are accessible online , on my Mac (great FF3 plugin), and if I had an iPhone, could access it there as well.

http://evernote.com/

Free version gives you 40MB of online sync space and unlimited unsynced notebooks.

[AlekZander @ Dec 5th 2008 7:53AM]

Journler is what I used to replace OneNote when I got my Mac, it's pretty good too. Supports attaching audio/video/images to note clips, tagging + search, etc.

[Kelmon @ Dec 5th 2008 3:03AM]

Odd, I thought the new MacBook's were going to be the death of the ModBook. Given that Axiotron are apparently still investing in their manufacturing process, I wonder if they have a deal with Apple whereby Apple will continue to produce the old MacBooks. You can still buy the old MacBook's from Apple but I rather thought that they were only continuing to be sold in order to run down existing inventory. Perhaps Apple really does intend to maintain 2 models of MacBook at the same time...

[who? @ Dec 5th 2008 3:20AM]

You've seen how many models other companies like Dell maintain at the same time, why would two models of MacBook be so impossible to maintain?

[Twist @ Dec 5th 2008 3:23AM]

Be nice to see a model using the new MacBook as the base. Or better yet a model based on the MacBook Pro. I guess while they are at it a super light model based on the Air would probably appeal to some people.

[kherge @ Dec 5th 2008 3:29AM]

Doesn't anybody actual have one in possession? I was under the impression that they're backed up with orders.

If that's not the case, I'm saving up cash to do this to my BlackBook, ASAP.

[dotAaron @ Dec 5th 2008 3:59AM]

These look pretty damn awesome :D

But, they will be 10 times better with the Alu Macbooks inside them, Get rid of the Intel x3100 graphics :)

[Uncontrol @ Dec 5th 2008 4:18AM]

Or you could just buy a Windows tablet PC. I love my MacBook, but there's such a thing as buying the right tool for the job and this isn't it. This is just shoehorned functionality.

[OCEAN 'CLAK' 20th LOL @ Dec 5th 2008 6:32AM]

apple lets axiotron use osx legally!

[Hamidxa @ Dec 5th 2008 6:54AM]

Microsoft lets Apple use tablet PC's legally!

[Aaquib @ Dec 5th 2008 8:00AM]

This ModBook alone rapes any Tablet POS that HP releases...

[Jay @ Dec 5th 2008 8:56AM]

How come apple lets these guys do it but not a company like pystar? Don't they both use 3rd party hardware?

[gonintendo @ Dec 5th 2008 5:08PM]

No, these are macbooks with the screen and keyboard removed and replace by the tablet.

[Dtofte @ Dec 5th 2008 9:14AM]

This company buys macs and puts in new tech and sells something to a market apple doesnt have any interest in.
Thats why this is ok.

psystar makes a copy of the mac hardware and run a legal version of osx ilegally patched to work with their hardware, this competes directly with apple and could create bugs in osx that wouldnt appear in apple hardware and give a wrong impression of the osx os.

this is the difference between psystar and axiotron.

[roach @ Dec 5th 2008 10:10AM]

That floating keyboard is there because Apple's character recognition sucks. XP runs circles around OSX 's ink feature and Vista runs circle around XP's ink feature. Until that's solved you wont see Apple releasing any tablet soon.

[adam @ Dec 5th 2008 10:36AM]

modbooks suck!
we have one at work... i never works , the pen never works right and its just a huge pain in the ass ... give me a reg old wacom tablet any day.

we sent the damn thing back three times ... still has issues.

die axiotron die!!!!

[Ken @ Dec 5th 2008 10:38AM]

Wait, so these don't have Wacoms built in???

[roach @ Dec 5th 2008 10:52AM]

It does... just like so many other PC tablets, but that's not enough to help it.

[AJ @ Dec 5th 2008 11:35AM]

I have one; was able to get work to purchase it. I've used both Mac & Windows systems for years, and have been consolidating around Mac laptops since the move to Intel. A few people at work regularly use InMotion or HP tablets for meetings and note taking, but I was looking to get something that would work more seamlessly with my MacBook Pro when in that mode. I ordered mine last October, and it finally arrived in May, with the minor spec update of the then current MacBooks.

Pros:
dual boot
integrated optical drive
screen is improved over OEM for MacBook -- is matte finish too!
writing surface feels good with stylus
pressure sensitive stylus
supposed to have the ability to mount to a stand (optional accessory - not seen)

Cons:
VERY glitchy stylus - seems to have an issue with the way the panel is connected (I think I read it has something to do with USB)
screen doesn't rotate under OS X so in that mode it is landscape only -- no fix in sight
heavier than other slate tablets
bottom is very smooth plastic so it's difficult to hold in hand
screen gets dirty - no surprise here, but a case or convertible top would be helpful
not much in the way of short cut buttons on the bezel - power, reset, gps
white/metal only -- the white stylus fits in the bezel and gets really dirty/scratched from rubbing on the inside of the metal bezel
screen rotate under Windows works, but there don't seem to be short cuts to get to it
problem with bluetooth - out of the box they tell you to disable it
intel integrated graphics - need I say more?
GPS should come bundled/preconfigured with some software - haven't gotten it to work yet - a world apart from the GPS on the iPhone
little to no accessories - cases/portfolios, docking stations

Tried XP tablet edition under VM Fusion which seemed to have issues. I read the support forums, and set it up with Bootcamp/ Vista. I'm not used to the interface so it's taking some getting used to. Logging in is a royal pain because the virtual keyboard doesn't always work right. Plugging in an external USB mouse/keyboard is glitchy too.

The damn glitch with the stylus is a real problem though. It wants to jump back to the home position in the upper left corner. It then opens windows/menus and reeks all sorts of havoc in use. I have gotten so frustrated I wanted to toss it across the room. When I get the time I'll be contacting Axiotron support for repair.

My favorite app to run on it is Art Rage for sketching designs. In that respect it is awesome; when the stylus isn't freaking out. Writing on the surface your image appears on, rather than on a typical Wacom drawing tablet (Bamboo, etc.) is just an amazing experience. I work in higher ed technology and would love to see Apple or even Axiotron do this right. I bought Circus Ponies Notebook for OS X, but Vista's note taking app is pretty sweet. I don't need to have it do handwriting recognition, I just like the idea that I can save all my handwritten notes in electronic format versus piles of legal/sketch pads.

Apple is missing the boat on designers, medical apps, etc. by not doing tablets. Why they can't see their way clear to even making a convertible laptop is beyond me. The Air was not what I had been waiting for, the MacBook Pro is plenty light for me. As usual, Apple's minimalist design aesthetic trumps additional function. As an aside, it always amuses/saddens me to see a sleek Apple product cluttered up with all sorts of dongles, hubs, etc. to work around the functions that were engineered out of the design.

The rig may be good for someone who doesn't mind tinkering with it all the time, but my geek skills are weak due to lack of use for years. I just don't have the time. I've had it for several months and haven't used it that much, for all the time spent troubleshooting, reconfiguring it. Axiotron has a long way to go.

[AJ @ Dec 5th 2008 11:37AM]

wreaks all sorts of havoc. hadn't finished my coffee yet.

[David @ Dec 5th 2008 9:00PM]

I can only hope they have fixed their support issues with these "fixes" to the modbook, this can be hardly called an upgrade since the old one just doesn't work well. Very much a beta! Buyer beware. If anyone is interested I highly recommend they read the General Support Forum at Axiotron.com

[RavenADSL @ Dec 6th 2008 6:28AM]

have a look at the I440D from tablet kiosk http://www.tabletkiosk.com/products/sahara/i400s_pp.asp

its brillent i got my dual core 2gb ddr2 80gb hdd touch and digitizer for 800GBP
never failed me its brillent

[Ryan @ Dec 6th 2008 6:32PM]

Buy mine on eBay...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=230312727325

First things first, why am I selling this unique piece of Apple hardware? Well,
I simply don't use it enough. It met all my needs, was fun to have around the
house, but it belongs in the hands of someone who will use it more than me.

That said, please be aware that this machine is MAXED OUT. By that I mean
I paid extra for a 320GB hard drive and 4 GB of RAM. In addition, it will be
shipped in it's original box, come with all the original hardware and software and
include two other cool accessories. Those being a Booq Vyper hard shell case
[great for backpacks] and an iRizer table top stand that works great for the Modbook.