You can buy a tablet mac today.
Yes, you heard me right: forget the MacBookAir, the product that a lot of us have been hoping and dreaming for does exist. But it’s not made by Apple.
The ModBook, made by Axiotron, is a very nicely modded MacBook with integrated Wacom technology to make what looks like a fantastic product. As well as top quality glass and aluminium skinning, it boasts built-in GPS and more levels of pressure sensitivity than standard tablet PCs (the full 512), and still weighs the same as the macbook it was hacked from.
According to the Modbook page on wikipedia, the modbook won best in show for the 2007 Macworld Conference & Expo, but it must have been overshadowed by the iPhone hype: that and the fact that the actual release has been delayed since then. However, you can the Axiotron show anything more than the standard ‘tablet mode’ landscape layout: you might guess is that there’s a custom screen and hinge on a MacBook body, and that the screen fully articulates to reveal the standard mac keyboard underneath. You’d be wrong, according to this article. Also, there’s a reason none of the shots seem to be in portrait mode: it looks like it’s not supported. Modding the MacBook means that ModBooks invalidate Applecare Warranties, but Axiotronic offer their own: possibly more of an issue for us non-americans. Also to go in the con column is the price: starting at $2,279 and with the probability of high international shipping fees, it might be cheaper to buy a MacBook and a separate tablet…
So the conclusion: it’s really nice to see someone actually using the excellent Apple Inkwell technology that’s currently massively underused in OS X (yes, if you run OS X you have inkwell. Check out your system prefs). Unfortunately those of us who need to be able to type as well as draw will find the lack of a keyboard a big handicap. Additionally, replacing paper with a ModBook would, I imagine, be impaired by the lack of a portrait mode. However, for GPS shenanigans, mobile DVD playback and creative arty types, it certainly fulfils the geekasm quotient.
Talking of geekasm, here’s one final video to make you gooey: