Filed under: Macworld, Hardware
Show floor video: Axiotron's Modbook wows the crowd
Who said there can only be one big portable computer announcement at Macworld Expo? The long-awaited Axiotron Modbook -- a FrankenMac adaptation of the MacBook into a surprisingly sleek and functional tablet machine -- was originally shown at last year's Macworld Expo and has finally reached shipping status (available starting at $2290). Does the lure of a touchscreen outweigh the siren call of a MacBook Air? Can you get real work done with Ink gesture recognition?We got a quick demo at the Axiotron booth (video after the jump). For mobile artists, storyboard work or architectural annotations, the Modbook might be just the thing.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Zipples said 12:31PM on 1-25-2008
I ordered this last week, I am expecting it Feb 22nd, Don't hate on this machine, for an artist it is very good.
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Caleb said 11:35PM on 1-29-2008
People, you keep complaining that it isn't multitouch and doesn't look pretty enough blahblahblah.
It was designed for graphic artists, and is an amazing achievement. It is much better than plugging in an external tablet, and having to look up at the screen as you draw on an external device.
The iPhone was given to the average consumers who want multitouch. This is for the artists that want something better than windows. A pen-based input is much, much better than a multitouch input. You can lean your hand on the screen this way in a more natural position when working in photoshop, and not interfere with your workspace.
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crazypenguin said 8:59PM on 1-20-2008
much rather have one of these than a ug, mac book air. personally, i think its a disgusting computer, and love my macbook ten times more, but the modbook is pretty kewl.
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Jerrett said 9:03PM on 1-20-2008
Meh. I will wait until Apple hopefully does a tablet right with multi-touch and a keyboard similar to the iphones.
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emtp6811 said 9:36PM on 1-20-2008
I agree!! That's exactly what I was hoping the MacBook Air rumors would turn out to be.
Duncan said 9:19PM on 1-20-2008
Eeeew...
Doesn't look very intuitive or attractive... Wait until Apple does it properly!
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Ed said 10:00PM on 1-20-2008
Yeah, I especially don't like that the hardware is half metal and half MacBook white.
Pete said 9:32AM on 1-21-2008
Yes and the lag between dragging the stylus across the screen and a line appearing is fairly poor. Also note the tiny onscreen keyboard (very fiddly) and the trouble he has opening menus...
timothyjaycolburn said 9:50PM on 1-20-2008
While I think that it is a neat computer, I think that the price is a little steep for the processor. I really think that the base price should have contained the 2.2 GHz ICD2. My 2 biggest complaints are: 1) I think that the power cord being at the top would get annoying (being that it is a tablet). I think that it should have been rotated to be at the bottom right (it could have been done very easily by placing the screen the other direction). 2) I don't like the fact that the top is silver and the bottom is white. Why? It looks retarded that way. The bottom should have been painted a matching silver (the bottom had to come off anyways to remove the internal display and internal keyboard) or the top bezel should have been white. It's neat, but I wouldn't get one.
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ben c said 9:59PM on 1-20-2008
Uh, is it just me, or did he just use his fancy expensive computer to draw a crude penis?
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south said 6:07PM on 1-21-2008
sometimes, ben c, a scribble is just a scribble. you have to ask yourself why you thought of a penis first ;-)
Jacques Lema said 4:35PM on 1-30-2008
It's a butterfly! If you say otherwise they'll put you in a house with people like you.
Russell said 10:15PM on 1-20-2008
Its an excellent concept, infinitely more useful than a thinner more expensive Macbook, but I would want to spend some time with one in person before I would buy it.
I wish Apple would do one themselves though, Apple stuff doesn't seem especially conducive to modding.
The GPS is definitely a cool touch though. Wish there was an option to get those integrated in Apple laptops, and maybe an option to keep it out of the Modbook for a slight price decrease.
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Scott Spencer said 11:04PM on 1-20-2008
I actually bought one of these, just got it a few days ago. I dove into it when it was first announced. It kept getting pushed back, I'd get emails updating me, and then a final one giving me the chance to upgrade the unit to latest technology.
It's literally a Macbook with a screen in place of a keyboard. It's quick, comfortable and mostly something that would driven toward graphics and drawing.
I do think it's a great tool, but could slow you down if you need to do a lot of typing and have traditional computer needs.
Still, if you think about it - it's a tablet Mac. That in itself is cool.
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Truegod said 11:06PM on 1-20-2008
that is some corny intro music.
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Sam Kennedy said 11:20PM on 1-20-2008
Looks really great, but I have to ask... what about the software?
On Windows TabletPC there's at least some software (OneNote, Journal, etc...). What about software is out there for Mac tablets?
If Apple never makes their own tablet, will there ever be software for this machine? If Apple does make their own tablet, why should I get this one instead of waiting for the real deal?
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Will said 11:35PM on 1-20-2008
I think Mage Software's inkBook is probably the main tablet oriented program for mac. But Ink does give you a few built in options. For example, you can draw in the ink palette and click a button to put your sketch in an ichat or mail message, or anywhere else that supports pictures for that matter. It's nice for signing emails or explaining things that are hard to grasp from just writing.
I wish someone had a collaborative sketching program that gave you a digital paper and let multiple people draw on it over the internet. That would be kickass.
numberz said 12:33AM on 1-21-2008
If I'm not mistaken, Apple already has Ink software integrated into the OS. You just need a touch screen to see that preference pane in System Preferences. Though other software never hurts...
Andy said 1:51AM on 1-21-2008
Yeah, the ink software is a complete port of Newton Technology and works great though it is rather limited.
And Will, the collaborative drawing program already exists. I use it all the time with my friends. Check it out. http://www.imagination3.com/FrameSet
I just wish I could get ahold of that Axiotron keyboard software for my Cintiq.
starkruzr said 11:54PM on 1-20-2008
If it was a convertible rather than a slate, then maybe we'd be having a conversation.
I really don't understand what utility slates have for anyone at all.
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