by Rob Kohr

Axiotron and Other World Computing have teamed up to make the first ever Mac Tablet PC dubbed the ModBook. ModBook is basically a modded MacBook that is purchased from apple, the screen and keyboard are removed, then a Wacom Penable tablet screen in place on time making this machine a slate tablet pc, er um mac. Its available in all the MacBook configurations and also retains the iSight camera that is built into the cover.

Having a tablet PC myself (Motion Computing’s M1400) and seeing this in action, I have a few thoughts. First I tend you use quick access buttons a lot especially one that will mimic the space bar. This is a necessity if you want to move around in Photoshop or Alias Sketchbook. On my Motion Computing machine I have 4 buttons which I can assign any number of key board commands. Ones I also find useful include buttons that allow me to skip forward and back frame by frame in Flash. The ModBook does not have this.

On the plus side the ModBook actually has an eraser on its pen. This might sound surprising, but since most tablet PCs are not geared to artists, they tend to neglect what the artist needs. Unlike my Wacom Cintiq the M1400 tablet PC seems more geared to the mobile business type. In fact the first tablet PC I owned was a Compaq, which didn’t even have pressure sensitivity!

The other issue that I have is that this computer seems like it will be extremely heavy. Typical slate PCs range in the 2 - 3 lbs. range, this looks like its almost 5 lbs. That and most tablets run Intel ULV CPU’s for ultra portables. The reason is that even with a 1 gHz CPU in my M1400 it gets really hot. Now if you have an Intel Core 2 Dou in the ModBook, the heat output is sure to be much more.

Apparently there will be more accessories released for this machine in the coming months. Though one that they should include with it is some sory of cover to protect the screen, otherwise scratches will ruin it.

Over all though I think this is an interesting development, its not exactly the “Mac Tablet” I have been dreaming about for 3 years but I guess it will do for some. For me though I think I am going to hang on to my engineered tablet and my Wacom Cintiq. Perhaps though this might force Apple to release their own version in the coming year.

Click here to buy from [ OWC ].

Here is a quick YouTube demo of how this new machine will work:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XIPkWaR7jDw