Did you say $4k? [checks calendar]... Nop, it's not April 1st!?
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'Modbook Pro X' Tablet Based on 15-Inch Retina MacBook Pro Debuts on Kickstarter
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According to ModBook, they are upgrading the RAM themselves. The question this raises for me isif ModBook is able to upgrade the RAM to 32GB, and the full 32GB is actually accessible to the CPU, then why is this option not available from Apple?
"We use a state-of-the-art facility to upgrade the RAM on the logic board beyond Apple's stated maximum of 16GB. Since we replace the Apple warranty with our own when we build the system, the logic board along with all the other system components are fully warranted by us for one year (with a two-year extension available)."
I don't see how this is any different to selling Hackintoshes and Apple don't seem to be happy about anyone doing that.
WTF is this ! 2,000 USD for conversion or 4,000 USD for a new one !!! this is hilariousApple should ban this ! and who uses a pen-based tablet nowadays anymore ! it's just a rip-off.
While the pricing is pretty crazy, your second point is just insulting to a lot of people. Who uses a pen tablet? Artists, mathematicians, engineers... there are plenty of people who need a more precise input tool than a finger or capacitive stylus.
For many professional designers and artists even Wacom's Penabled tech isn't accurate enough and they have no choice but to go to an actual Cintiq just to get sufficient linearity. It looks like this device incorporates a current-Gen Wacom digitizer (2048 pressure levels), probably from an Intuos. If the integration is done well it could be an amazing piece of hardware for a certain type of user.
My point is that just because something doesn't seem useful to you or to a majority of users doesn't mean there aren't people out there who want or need it.
The difference is that with "Hackintosh" machines you're breaking the license of OSX by installing it on non-Apple hardware (you can't actually buy a license to install on a new machine with OSX anyway, at least not in a consumer context).
This is just a warranty-destroying case mod, more or less. There's nothing illegal about opening up your MBP, jamming an Intuos digitizer in there and duct taping it back together. It just means you no longer get support from Apple.
If you later decided to sell that monstrosity to a 3rd party that's your business. And that's all that's going on here, except the modifications are being made in a more professional (I'd hope) manner.
The issue with wireless is that even if you can manage to get really good quality at 60fps (not realistic yet) you'll be introducing more lag into the chain. Wacom's EMR tech is already laggy compared to traditional inputs (mouse, capacitive digitizer) and adding another ~40ms (encoding, network, decoding) isn't going to help the experience at all. I'm sure it'll happen eventually, but I wouldn't stand around waiting for it.
The closest option at the moment for what you're describing is the Companion Hybrid, which is an ARM tablet that also works as a Cintiq when connected to a computer. Because it has a battery you only need to connect the HDMI and USB, it can power itself from battery. Still not super convenient but at least it can operate with a laptop and no power plugs.
As far as I know Wacom does not sell their current-gen (2048 pressure levels and the pen shown) digitizer tech to any 3rd party. I was assuming that they strip the digitizer out of a large Intuos, but I suppose Wacom could be involved. A $4000 machine doesn't exactly directly compete with their $2000 Companion line.
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Opinionated Philistines...
http://store.apple.com/us/buy-mac/macbook-pro?product=MGXA2LL/A&step=config
+
https://store.wacom.com/us/en/product/DTH2400/
vs.
$4000 for an untethered, portable, all in one, with a retina-resolution display? The Modbook's a steal, and a heck of a lot more convenient.
As for Apple, they've granted Axiotron permission to offer their parts & service since 2007. You can stop speculating on what you think Apple will think about this. It's not new. You're just late to the party.
http://store.apple.com/us/buy-mac/macbook-pro?product=MGXA2LL/A&step=config
+
https://store.wacom.com/us/en/product/DTH2400/
vs.
$4000 for an untethered, portable, all in one, with a retina-resolution display? The Modbook's a steal, and a heck of a lot more convenient.
As for Apple, they've granted Axiotron permission to offer their parts & service since 2007. You can stop speculating on what you think Apple will think about this. It's not new. You're just late to the party.
Hackintoshes steal Mac sales from Apple. Modbooks require a Mac to start with so it promotes Mac sales.
if I buy a macbook I can do whatever the hell I want with it and so can they. they are using original internals and buying from apple, they aren't using their OS with pc hardware. it's not the same at all.
Anyway I work in the vfx industry and I always wanted one of these. they've been doing mod books since the plastic macbook days but the price is too much.
I would like to have a tablet like the Cintiq companion but I deeply despise windows, I just won't touch it. much less for my every day sculpting/painting tablet. I'll just wait till they can fully hackingtosh the cintiq companion.
Am I the only person who thinks this is stupid?
Why wouldn't you just buy a MacBook air? Or even a regular 15 incher...
I MUST be missing the point here.
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This. This. This.
Why wouldn't you just buy a MacBook air? Or even a regular 15 incher...
I MUST be missing the point here.
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This. This. This.
*facepalm* it's not about having a tablet. I guess for normal people like you a tablet is simply a place you watch youtube and fb in.
For us artist when we hear tablet, it's a screen or a surface we can paint on with a pressure sensitive, accurate pen. as it says in the article their mod even has pen tilt and rotation just as a wacom tablet.
you are not getting who they are targeting this tablet to at all.
Because Hackintosh means using OSX to run on a non apple bought computer without paying apple for the hardware or software.
This is a bought macbook pro. With OSX license, with software support and everything. Only stripped down and reassembled by someone else.
Perfectly legal.
WTF is this ! 2,000 USD for conversion or 4,000 USD for a new one !!! this is hilarious
Before you go all "ban!!!" or "WTF!!!" or "hilarious!!!", there are countless of users who use a mac and some sort of a pen tablet like the wacom or trust for editing, for drawing, for designing.
Getting a fully functioning macbook pro with quality screen and all the ability of drawing tablets into one, can be extremely valuable to editors or designers on the go.
I would not buy this personally because I don't need one and I think the design is a bit lacking and they promise a few things I'm not 100% they will be able to deliver in terms of performance.
But I do see more than enough people who would want something like this (powerful tablet with good quality drawing which does not exist atm fully in current tablets compared to drawing boards).
At least if the price is right for them (which is a bit high, but I understand why because of the fabrications and soldering needed).
Wow there is a lot of misunderstanding here as to what the Modbook is. It's a creative "pro" work machine. It's not a tablet, and it's NOT meant for the "consumer". To be clear, it's this
Image
plus this
Image
combined.
If you don't know what the second device is, it's a Cintiq. It's a pen-abled screen meant for professional digital artists. It is widely used and indispensable to most digital artists' workflow. It's meant to be used in conjunction with desktop computers and creative desktop applications such as Photoshop, Illustrator, Storyboard Pro, etc.--again, it is not intended (nor able) to be used with mobile OSes and apps.
As indispensable as they are to digital artists, the downside to relying on Cintiqs is that they pose a problem for artists whose job requires a lot of moving around. They have a 13" version that is technically portable, but having to carry and set up an external monitor in addition to your laptop greatly diminishes portability value.
PC-based artists have for a long time had a vast number of options for an ALL-IN-ONE pen-abled laptop solution (Surface Pro, Wacom Companion, many various tablet-PCs and hybrids), while Mac-based artists have had absolutely zero options (until the Modbook came along), since Apple is the only company to make Mac and OS X, and they have never shown interest in digital pens.
So just to reiterate--if you are not a person who makes a living from drawing on a Mac (or a rich hobbyist), then this product is completely irrelevant to you. So don't be confused as to why you don't see its utility. But for Mac-based professional artists (myself included), this is an unquestionable dream machine. Albeit, a very expensive dream. But since for me it would be an investment that would definitely see return, I will be buying one as soon my pocketbook allows.
And I'm pretty sure Apple does not have a problem with the Modbook, because all it can do is promote more Mac sales, since you need a Macbook in order to make a Modbook. What I wonder is how Axiom is able to use Wacom pen technology, since the Modbook seems to compete directly with the Wacom Companion. Maybe because it's a different OS Wacom allows it.
Finally. 4 pages, 80-something responses and only 3 or 4 people that actually think long enough to get it. I have the Cintiq 13HD and if you are doing anything like drawing, design or photo work, after you try a pen display once, you will not want to give it back. It is so much better, easier, more precise and quicker than mucking around with a touch pad or a mouse or even just a regular pen tablet. If anyone even for a second thinks you can be as precise and efficient with a finger, a touch pad or a mouse instead of a pen drawing directly on your work like you would be on paper, you are, not to insult anyone, but clueless.
I disagree. When I had my iPad I mainly used it for Splashtop to remote into my mac. This was a good 80-90% of my use. I felt it was nearly perfect for day to day use. I didnt like how there was an ability to zoom in and out of the screen, that was just weird to me.
Granted, as you say the native version of OSX (like the one going into this modbook) may not be the same. I wonder how one would type if they are using it in tablet mode.
That is an excellent point I didn't think about. It comes across as a little bit risky, though. What if Apple do not offer that option in the next models? After all, it would be much better PR for them to announce "hey, you can get this with 32 GB of RAM now" instead of "well, looks like we won't be able to offer that promised 32 GB of RAM after all".
People who think having a stylus or a full PC in a tablet form factor is simply a novelty, haven't tried it, or don't have a use case for it in their own lives/career.
For those of us who do - especially designers, artists, engineers, or even students, etc. - it is pretty great. I absolutely love my Surface Pro 3. While I don't have $4k to spend on Modbook :-O, the idea of it is pretty good. It probably weighs a bit more than I'm comfortable with, having had a 15" rMBP previous to the Surface Pro. And if you need OS X, or can't stand Windows - this is your only option.
If you have the $$$, and like it - why not?
For those of us who do - especially designers, artists, engineers, or even students, etc. - it is pretty great. I absolutely love my Surface Pro 3. While I don't have $4k to spend on Modbook :-O, the idea of it is pretty good. It probably weighs a bit more than I'm comfortable with, having had a 15" rMBP previous to the Surface Pro. And if you need OS X, or can't stand Windows - this is your only option.
If you have the $$$, and like it - why not?
Running a full version of OS. The perfect tablet! If the software was tweaked to better support the touch.
I think the issue is that people just spot this device, assume that it's aimed at them and immediately get angry when they find out how expensive it is. I get that not everyone is an artist or working in a field that needs pen input, but can't we have a few specialized devices that are for productivity instead of just watching movies? Consumers literally have every mobile device ever made, just let us have this one.
read the thread or do some research dude. they upgrade the ram themselves.
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well theres the Wacom Cintiq Companion and it's hella cheap compared to a mod book. but you have a choice of windows 8 or android. they are stand alone but can also be used as a second screen for your computer.
the specs aren't that bad either and it's not grossly expensive.
(OSX works on it but I don't think they've gotten graphics acceleration to work. pen and touch input work perfectly however)
Good thing you clarified which Bruce Wayne you were referring to; however, I don't get what you're on about.
This looks clunky and ugly. I also do not get the references to OSX not being great for touch screen.
Agreed, just like the nMP, this is not a tool that one should buy simply for its novelty, especially give its cost and very specific toolset. This is a tablet computer for someone that likes the experience of the Companion, but can't stand the experience of the Windows environment; indeed this is what the Companion could've been if they'd had the sense to get in bed with Apple.
Depending on how the fundraising goes over the next 40 days, I'll likely be reserving an ultimate. If so, the Cintiq is happily going straight on eBay the day its lands on my stoop.
... and who uses a pen-based tablet nowadays anymore ! it's just a rip-off.
I would think visual artists. And maybe professionals who need to take notes and prefer to use a pen. Definitely not for everyone. Different versions of the modbook have been around for a few years, however.