Filed under: Hardware, Cult of Mac
Pictures of the ModBook Mac Tablet in the wild
We got a tip that some pics of the ModBook, the Macbook-based tablet product from OWC and Axiotron, have surfaced on the MacResource Forums. How convenient for us!
Just one pic that I can find and it's a rendering, not an actual product shot. From the looks of it, it's a "clamshell" mod that essentially flips the display over on the MacBook/MacBook Pro. I'm thinking it won't come cheap, but I bet many people will probably still salivate over it.
Now pardon me while I go wipe the drool off my chin...
![TUAW [Cafepress]](http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.tuaw.com/media/tuaw-cafepress-promo.png)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Leonard Nimrod said 1:38PM on 1-05-2007
I know it's a rendering, but that actually looks pretty slick. I hope they found away to switch the screen view from landscape to portrait.
Reply
jon stieglitz said 1:47PM on 1-05-2007
will there be a keyboard?
Reply
Luke said 1:55PM on 1-05-2007
I don't think dear old Stevie J would ever let anything looking like out with Apple's name on it. I know it's just a render, but still, that is ugly.
I don't think Apple is too much into the tablet arena anyway.
Reply
Chris said 2:38PM on 1-05-2007
I dig it! I'm a web designer and do all of my work on my Gual G5, but, am in need of a small-ish laptop that I can take with me to show my clients my progress on their projects. I refuse to buy a Windows tabket, so I'm anxiously awaiting an Apple product. I'd definately be an early adopter of this!
Reply
Phil said 2:38PM on 1-05-2007
It's a nice fake and all, but the Modbook site clearly says it's 'slate-style,' as does your earlier post. The whole meaning of the 'slate-style' Tablet PC form factor is that it doesn't have a keyboard.
Meaning, then, that the thing that looks like a latch on a MacBook Pro is pretty much a dead giveaway that this is a little fake (despite the OP's claims on that forum).
Reply
Austin said 2:59PM on 1-05-2007
Luke: It's not Apple's product, it's OWCs. Read first, comment second, young one.
Reply
Matt B said 3:08PM on 1-05-2007
"You're gonna so want one."
Reply
Tom Stukel said 3:10PM on 1-05-2007
The bezel is so thick. I hope the actual product looks better
Reply
Luke said 3:51PM on 1-05-2007
oh, my bad.
Reply
seanzo said 4:22PM on 1-05-2007
The mod also moves the superdrive slot from front to side and removes a bunch of ports? Either a shoddy fake or a poorly thought-out mod. Either way, I'm not buying it.
Reply
cbattle said 5:08PM on 1-05-2007
Does anyone remeber the "iTablet"? That one wound up never happening...
Reply
James Dehnert said 5:38PM on 1-05-2007
Since tables are selling like "crazy mad" of course Apple's gonna get into the market! Why, I cant walk 10 feet without tripping over yet another tablet based system, and I'm sure all you folks see them EVERYWHERE too!
Reply
Mr Lizard said 8:12PM on 1-05-2007
Help me guys, I'm confused!
I know OS X isn't licensed to anyone else
Therefore, is this simply a MacBook in a sort of contorted shell, or is it a new piece of hardware entirely?
Reply
SZ said 9:49AM on 1-06-2007
i don't get it - what functions do tablets offer over a laptop? i've never seen anyone using one, or known anyone who owned them, so i'm completely in the dark as to why they're supposedly so exciting.
Reply
Chris said 1:30PM on 1-06-2007
Think about the education market. As a tech guy at a school, I've seen lots of schools switching from Apples to XP-based machines because they can get the tablets. It's easier to use in a classroom setting. It's also good for graphics, etc. These are two of Apple's biggest markets, why wouldn't they offer a product for these people? I know it's a long shot, but I'm hoping a tablet is the "One More Thing..." this time.
Reply
excitedVulcan said 12:38AM on 1-07-2007
I'm salivating for a tablet too. They really are quite handy, moreso for the non tech guys. Say a financial planner. having a laptop open during a meeting seems to make clients nervous, but a tablet, not so. (who knows why, but it's true!). works great for forcing non-tech salespeople to integrate into an organization (handwriting recognition, etc). also can encourage non techs to actually keep their calendar updated. i've seen many doctor's offices using them as well.
Reply
D. Misner said 8:28PM on 1-07-2007
ya know I think if they refined its looks a little it would be really interesting. I kinda like it. the iSight that it appears to have in this mock up isn't practical unless theres a stand or something. I'm still going off on the theory that obs is using this to probe the apple tablet fan market to see how well this does, then if it turns out good Apple will officially pick this up. It sounds far fetched at first but then again I REALLY cant picture Jobs letting this thing go without at least TRYING to fight it.
Reply