Mac Tablet from OWC

[ArchiMark]

FWIW, I don't think that the pricing for the ModBook is pricey as in 'expensive' or 'rip-off' given what they need to do to a MacBook to turn it into a tablet and as others have said this has gotta be a low-volume production operation at least at first.

However, I think that what many of us are reacting to price-wise is the fact that we know that the MacBook itself can be had for a lot less than the ModBook price and that even after it's been transformed into a ModBook, it's still a MacBook inside with a touchscreen on the outside and the keyboard disappeared....

It's too bad that they couldn't salvage the keyboard unit part of the MacBook and find a way to have it clip-on to the tablet when you want to still use a keyboard. This is what the HP TabletPC's did; they gave you the option to either use it as a pure tablet slate unit or clip-on the keyboard and use it as a laptop.....

Anyway, just my 2 cents...

 

[AtlantaGuy]

Wirelessly posted (Nokia6230/2.0 (05.24) Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1)

I've never seen anyone using a tablet. They can't be that popular. Who would want to handwrite documents anyway?

Signatures, not recreating entire documents.
http://www.joeann.com/PDF/TabletPCs.pdf
http://www.vreo.com/solutions/redtablet/videos.aspx

There are, as of today, 2,636,783 licensed real estate agents who are potential customers just in the US. Our only option up till now has been a Tablet PC.

 

[ShermDog]

I've never seen anyone using a tablet. They can't be that popular. Who would want to handwrite documents anyway?

There are also millions of doctors and nurses for whom a tablet would be a very useful tool. In fact, many hospitals already use a tablet PC or some variant of the Palm Pilot to order tests, prescribe medicine, etc.

I'm a college professor, and I'd say 2% of all my undergraduate students and 25% of all my graduate students use a tablet PC. It's a lot easier to takes notes of graphics and diagrams and especially equations.

 

[0007776]

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

Thanks;
-Joseph-

I wasn't actually there, but I found this video that someone put up on You Tube of it.

 

[7on]

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.

Doesn't look like it. Here's the customer support I received:

No. The ModBoook is a new computer. Can't upgrade an existing one.

Let me know if you have any questions about it. Or if you want to place a order. I can be reached at 1-800-275-4576 ext 131

Thank you

Shane Buehn
Account Manager
Educational & Corporate Sales

 

[ArchiMark]

The more I think about the ModBook and what I wrote up above...the more I think that it would have been great if they had figured out a way to keep the MacBook more intact and make a 'convertible TabletPC' out of it similar to the Fujitsu T4020 series like I use at work.

This would have avoided them throwing out half (keyboard...) of the MacBook, maintaining more of the original MacBook intact (less mods/parts = maybe lower price??) AND giving us, the users the choice/freedom to either use it as a tablet OR a laptop, so best of both worlds for me (I do realize that some may prefer to have a slate device...).

I do realize that doing a convertible presents a bit of an engineering challenge in creating a strong flexible hinge connection, but it has been done successfully by Fujitsu, HP, Acer, and several other manufacturers...

I wish they'd consulted me before they went to all the trouble to design/prototype the ModBook....

Anyway, just another thought....



PS. tnkgrl went to MacWorld and took some photos of the ModBook...check out the last 4 photos shown on this page:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tnkgrl/sets/72157594470070077/

Her blog is at:
http://tnkgrl.wordpress.com/

 

[fblack]

the weight?

Doesn't look like it. Here's the customer support I received:

Hmmm....then I guess their pdf is wrong.

A macbook is 5.2 Lbs, I wonder if it adds to the overall weight? The sahara is 3.1 lbs, it would be nice if the modbook shaved off a pound from the macbook by removing the keyboard etc....

 

[xPismo]

...many hospitals already use a tablet PC... It's a lot easier to takes notes of graphics and diagrams and especially equations.

Interesting its catching on with the grads. I spent some time listening to people and messing with the tablet myself yesterday. Its impressive, but I think its price point is way to high.

Plus there were problems. One tablet broke, another was 'slow' for unknown reasons. . . and the other was skipping when people used photoshop. Rosetta probably.

Sadly, I think its missing the 'apple touch' which would get it selling. Lots of interested people, but not a lot of people talking about buying one.

 

[kainjow]

AppleInsider also posted some nice photos:

http://forums.appleinsider.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=70438

 

[fblack]

another use for a tablet...

Just got back from local hyundai dealership, their service dept now has tablets when they go out to check you in, they also get you to sign on the tablet and wirelessly print out your order. They're just starting to train on them didn't get a chance to see what the manufacturer was, but they were all pretty excited.



They said one of the reasons for getting the tablets is that when they checked in your vehicle, they could also walk around it and make notations of any bumps, dents, scratches etc. They said they get alot of people accusing them of damaging their cars so they will input this stuff directly into the system using the tablets.

 

[true.intentions]

Mod Kit Will Be Coming Out

So seeing all the confusion about the modkit and everything, I decided to email the manufacters Axiotron where only 10 minutes later, I obtained a very satisfying reply. =) It IS very expensive to send in a macbook, and to have them mod it FOR you, but a DIY kit is not planned. =( Here is the email I sent in full:

On this information page of the modbook (http://eshop.macsales.com/Customized_Pages/modbook/ modbook_info_p1.html), it says that the ModBook kit will be availble.

I was wondering if there will a real kit coming out, and if there is one. How much will it cost? And if it would be possible to send in a macbook, and have you guys mod it. If we can send in a macbook, how much would that cost?

This information would be very helpful.
And GREAT job on the design, and overall look of the Modbook! If I hadn't bought a Macbook yet, I'd pre-order ASAP.

And here is their response:

Dear (I have removed my name),

Thank you for your interest and kind feedback.

Axiotron is providing the ModBook as a conversion kit to its Authorized
ModBook Solution Partners, who in turn sell the complete solution
(MacBook, ModBook kit, conversion service, plus 1 year warranty on the
complete solution) to you, the enduser. The list price for the ModBook
kit alone is currently $1,090.

In the US you can order our ModBook exclusively from our distributor
Other World Computing (OWC, www.macsales.com) who is offering
performance upgrades to the Mac community since 1988. They not only
offer you the complete solution custom built to your specifications
(hard drive, RAM, DVD, etc..) but also include a 1 year OWC warranty on
the whole solution, with an optional 2 year warranty extension
(Apple-Care-style).

Once Apple MacBooks in the field start to run out of warranty in May
(they had been introduced in May last year), OWC will begin evaluating
the possibility to offer a ModBook kit only solution (Kit + conversion
service) for MacBook owners later this year. A DIY solution is
currently not planned.

With kind regards,
Andreas Haas

(Andreas Haas is the president of their company.) So there you go! Hopefully the confusion will end and the kit will come out soon.

-crosses fingers-