Filed under: Macworld, Portables, Mods, MacBook
ModBook Unveiling Gallery: First Looks
OWC this afternoon unveiled its answer to a Macintosh tablet. Going by the moniker of ModBook, the device was specially engineered by OWC and Axitron (a company created just for this purpose). When all is said and done, the ModBook is essentially a MacBook with a Wacom Graphire digitizing tablet built over the screen, a few select shareware titles to better the tablet experience, and for some reason foreign to this blogger, integrated GPS. The ModBook is available in multiple configurations starting at a special Macworld Expo discount of US$2199.
Check out the gallery for more pics.
![TUAW [Cafepress]](http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.tuaw.com/media/tuaw-cafepress-promo.png)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Harish said 8:34PM on 1-09-2007
Pilots frequently use Tablet PCs as Electronic Flight Bags to condense maps, charts, flight logs, and other material into an accessible area. Often times a GPS is added to make it a true all in one.
You'll find quite a few companies that resell tablets with software for management of all the paperwork and GPS hook ups if you search around.
Harish
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Allan W. said 8:39PM on 1-09-2007
The iPhone *is* the new Apple Tablet Mac. It's running OS X, flat, and needs no stylus.
I don't see docs using this anytime soon - too expensive, not hi enough resolution - but it could be a great general-purpose tablet in some form someday.
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jbelkin said 9:07PM on 1-09-2007
okay, I could see pilots wanting GPS (of course, shouldn't that be in the plane already?) but what is this obsession with GPS? If you're in a city, how is that different than walking to a street corner - if you're out in the woods, can you get cell phone reception to tell people you're in grid 41? I understand it for those driving direction things but why are a certain number of people insistent on it for a cell phone?
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kvn said 9:09PM on 1-09-2007
i totally agree with Allan, the iPhone /IS/ the iTablet
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Thoughtspitter said 10:05PM on 1-09-2007
to everyone who things that the iphone is the mac tablet is missing the point. Most people who want the mac tablet are like me, either a graphic artist or illustrator who would utilize the tablet as a digital pad. It is far easier to draw on a tablet computer than it is to draw using a tablet separate from the monitor. The iphone is more like a pda then a true mac tablet. I think the iphone is great for what it is, but not for the use I and others like me would like an apple tablet for.
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Harish said 10:06PM on 1-09-2007
Not all pilots use GPS's. Not all planes have inbuilt GPS's. In fact, most planes have pilots who have handheld ones.
Oh, the GPS feature is also something that just makes you think hey, it has GPS! The other one doesn't! Get it! Even though you know you're never going to use it in your life.
People like having special things.
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eldt said 11:28PM on 1-09-2007
A bit off subject here, but why doesn't the iPhone have built in GPS? Google maps is great, but with GPS it could be a lot more powerful. Steve's keynote today pointing out landmarks was pretty useless. With a lot of new phones offering GPS directions I'm surprised and disappointed Apple has left it out.
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Allen said 1:41AM on 1-10-2007
Ah, there's the mention :)
Thoughtspitter's hit the nail. I'm a designer and illustrator. I've owned a Wacom Cintiq and was in love with the ability to draw directly onto the screen, but the lack of real portability eventually killed it for me. My whole workflow is PowerBook based these days and I'm addicted to the mobility of it. A real, working Mac Tablet solution would be a godsend for me - even superior to the PowerBook/drawing tablet combination I have now because of the ease of use and form factor. And not having to deal with Windows in a tabletPC...
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russdogg said 2:19AM on 1-10-2007
GPS is just "one more thing" to suck batteries from this phone. They can only have so many radios and still have an hour or two of battery.
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Kasper said 5:42AM on 1-10-2007
to Allen
ModBook's Sensitive is 256 pressure levels vs Wacom Cintiq 1024 pressure levels! I worry about it and about virtual keyboard- it's sucks. And the Axiotron Pen looks terrible - can I use any Wacom pen -how you think?
(sorry for my english)
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Donald Burr said 5:31PM on 1-10-2007
Perhaps the iPhone already has GPS? IIRC, don't all cell phones manufactured recently (like within the past few years or so) are required to have "E911" technology to assist 911 dispatchers in locating you when you call for help? The E911 chip in these phones use some sort of GPS or positioning technology to do the locating, if memory serves.
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