Mac Tablet from OWC

[photomaniac]

Um, they buy MacBooks.

Then MOD them.

Duh.

Why must people post ridiculous questions without even TRYING to think about them for half a second?

I don't think that's a dumb question... I was also thinking the same thing... I understand that companies make 3rd party stand alone hardware and parts for macs (ie intel motherboards, processors, ram, etc)... but I can't recall when another company branded their own machine using a mac and osx... other than the clones that were out back in the day.

 

[matticus008]

[...]but I can't recall when another company branded their own machine using a mac and osx... other than the clones that were out back in the day.

This thread features at least three current examples of this...not to mention the inescapable analogies to products in other industries.

 

[aberracus]

Handwritte recognition

Handrwitte recognition isnt so important, if you writte something for your own use, like class notes, meetings notes, diagram acompaning text, u dont need handrwitte recognition cause you can recognize it yourself and that is prett enough (liek taking notes in paper).

As a Graphic artist i will buy a mac tablet Apple or not.

lets hope its good then...

 

[ajprice]

Axiotron.com has its own image of the ModBook.

CD drive slot is definitely there on the top of the right hand edge, so in the same position as a MacBook. Its also funny that OWC are trying to play the suspense card with an image of the red sheet over the tablet, and Axiotron show it on their homepage (even if it is slightly hidden by the fabric).

 

[DavoMrMac]

This could be a good mod, and if OWC are doing it with Apple's knowledge, maybe this will allow Apple to concentrate their efforts into more mainstream products.

A tablet Mac would be nice, but would not sell in the millions, so a mod may be the way to go.

 

[macnews]

I would like to see a mac tablet. Granted, a few years ago I can't see the need. The rest of the pieces just were not in place. No we have larger hard drives, better wireless capabilities in both bluetooth and 802.11g and maybe n, better OS (10.4 kicks 10.2), not to mention how everything has shrunk. A 13" tablet (basically a modified macbook) would be great and perfect in many instances. My wife does mental health counseling and wants a mac laptop. I have been waiting to see if something like this might mature as she would take notes much faster if it could be done on screen vs typing in.

I have seen some other health officials use PC tablets like this, including one great setup where he hooks up an external flat screen monitor so you can see what he is writing, look at medical charts, xrays, etc. It is great and I think would save a ton of time.

 

[jbrannan]

Release Today?

Was anyone able to go see this product release? Any pictures or comments on it?

Thanks;
-Joseph-

 

[mkrishnan]

Do any of the pages say anything about how much it weighs? It looks fairly nice, although the outside casing is a bit clunky.

 

[Grimace]

yeah, where the heck is this thing? Lots of graphic designers are waiting to buy...

 

[Bregalad]

I think it looks good, but $1100 to turn the screen around and add a pen input seems rather steep. I realize there's a lot of labour involved and probably not sweatshop labour, but that's still a major price premium to get MacBook performance.

 

[dllavaneras]

I'd prefer an Apple tablet to a modded MacBook. Don't know why, but I just do

 

[mkrishnan]

I think it looks good, but $1100 to turn the screen around and add a pen input seems rather steep. I realize there's a lot of labour involved and probably not sweatshop labour, but that's still a major price premium to get MacBook performance.

Yeah, true... it does seem rather steep. I think the biggest problem is that they are probably super low volume. One might hope that if they see some success, they could streamline and lower prices?

P.S. This thread would be remiss without inclusion of the phrase, "put my thing down flip it and reverse it."

 

[hamholio]

yeah, where the heck is this thing? Lots of graphic designers are waiting to buy...

The link on the first page now has details.

$2200 - $2700, as special "pre-release" pricing.

 

[Grimace]

P.S. This thread would be remiss without inclusion of the phrase, "put my thing down flip it and reverse it."

Two points: mkrishnan.

 

[aiongiant]

hmm i dunno i love this thing the idea of it anyways
and it does seem kinda steep but resonable for what you get i guess

anyone know if you can even still use the keyboard on this thing???
flipable lcd or something?

 

[ShermDog]

Was anyone able to go see this product release? Any pictures or comments on it?

Anybody? I checked out both the OWC and Axiotron websites, and there's some information/pictures of the Modbook, but no information about weight or dimensions.

 

[bousozoku]

well i sure never expected a company other than Apple to release a Mac Tablet.....i can't imagine as many people would buy it (more would buy from Apple i think)

It was the same way with the first portable Mac. A third party took a 512 KB Mac and put it in a portable case and sold it. It was also more expensive, of course. After a while, Apple finished thinking about it and started making the 14 pound Mac Portable.

 

[macEfan]

doesn't seem to have the brilliant apple design.... and its wayy to pricy....


however, the GPS thing does look decent, and I know apple is making a lot of money on these things...

I think OWC should include at least 1gb ram with every model... If your paying $2200 you should at least get 1gb ram and a superdrive

 

[matticus008]

Yeah, true... it does seem rather steep. I think the biggest problem is that they are probably super low volume. One might hope that if they see some success, they could streamline and lower prices?

The low volume makes it hard to recoup costs for tooling and fabrication, but the Intuos tablets that the pen interface is based upon go for $500 (obviously with some added extras), which is no small potatoes when it comes to mods. It would be inconceivable to pull something like this off for less than $1000, especially when you consider that this company basically has to double-charge for some of the overhead (Apple's own pricing plus their own support/service/marketing/etc.).

 

[magriver]

I think the pricing here is fare. Looking at other tablets and also the WACOM technology. The market for these is a smaller one, and mass production from Apple isn't very likely. Looking at products lately from Apple like the iPod and now the iTV and the iPhone, these are designed for the masses. If these tablets can fill a niche in a market that obviously needs it that is great. I would love one my self, but have no real need for it. I'm and apple junky and been one since the early 90's. I have 2 Newtons around here somewhere, but they just didn't make it. Apple can obviously help with the development and the price, but today a company’s income comes from mass production unless they can overprice it. There is the difference between real need and want, and then there is marketing to create an artificial need.

 

[mkrishnan]

It would be inconceivable to pull something like this off for less than $1000, especially when you consider that this company basically has to double-charge for some of the overhead (Apple's own pricing plus their own support/service/marketing/etc.).

Well, that's where the volume comes in. Particularly if they had volume sales agreements with Intuos just for the components they needed....

But anyways, that's interesting. I didn't know who made the digitizer.

Related question... they advertise it as having this "touchglass" cover or something like that? What is it?

 

[7on]

I'm investigating as to whether they allow people to send in their Macbooks and have them mod it into a ModBook for a fee.

I'll see what their customer support has to say.

I am interested... a Cintiq tablet costs upwards of $2500 and this Modbook just means I'll get a computer for free

 

[matticus008]

Well, that's where the volume comes in. Particularly if they had volume sales agreements with Intuos just for the components they needed....

Right. My sense of the people talking about this at MWSF, though, is that while it's generally regarded as cool, most people would just buy a Macbook (or two!) at the end of the day. It's hard for most people to justify spending that amount of money, even if they know the asking price is justified.

I'd imagine that any bulk-order discounts wouldn't happen until they had proven high demand, which would give them leverage. For now, I wouldn't be surprised if they only received, at best, a modest distributor discount or wholesale price.

Related question... they advertise it as having this "touchglass" cover or something like that? What is it?

You know, I'm not sure. I think they're just referring to the touchscreen, but using the word "glass" to imply strength and rigidity?

 

[fblack]

Lets compare it to the Sahara Touch-iT Tablet

Yeah, true... it does seem rather steep. I think the biggest problem is that they are probably super low volume. One might hope that if they see some success, they could streamline and lower prices?

P.S. This thread would be remiss without inclusion of the phrase, "put my thing down flip it and reverse it."

I agree it is pricey, but maybe we should compare it to what's out there? Chef Medeski had a link in another thread to the sahara tablet that uses touch screen or stylus. Its a 12" 3.1lb and priced about $2395, do you think they are comparable or one offers better value than the other?

http://www.tabletkiosk.com/tkstore/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=17&idproduct=121

 

[fblack]

Maybe...

I'm investigating as to whether they allow people to send in their Macbooks and have them mod it into a ModBook for a fee.

I'll see what their customer support has to say.

I am interested... a Cintiq tablet costs upwards of $2500 and this Modbook just means I'll get a computer for free

Their pdf on their more info link says:
Mod-kit for MacBooksTM
convert your standard Macbook into a tablet computer.

That would be interesting if they actually sold a kit for modding your macbook.