MWSF Tidbits: Modbook Pro, Matte Screens, Tune Blocker, Gorilla Pod

[jnc]

thinking about it, one of those slim new apple bluetooth keyboards should be fine for on-the-go typing they're... tiny

I can envision my new setup already... drool anyone wanna give me $5k?

the worst thing at the mo is having three displays. MBP's built-in LCD, the Cintiq, plus Dell 2709 means I have to swap between my cintiq and my monitor... incorporated tablet plus mini-dp out solves that with the ModBook Pro....just plug it in when I'm home, enjoy both displays

currently:

(ignore the macbook and imac )

I considered buying a Mac Pro for this "privelege" (only ONE Mac can run two displays?) but no, a 4GB(right?) 2.8GHz ModBook Pro, with new GPU should do the trick just fine. And an infinitely more portable solution Shame about the loss of gestures, but aside from that...!

 

[Imhotep397]

They just brought in Woz. Hopefully, that can bring them some attention from Apple, some authorized assistance/parts supplies and lower pricing. 5k is pretty damned steep.

 

[DeepIn2U]

The new Axiotron Modbook =

Yes this machine looks SWEET! Of course in Black

A few youtube videos, one is here.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0Ic9b-sql8

Think of the educational opportunities for all the 90210 brats. A $5K tablet.

I sell a lot of HP tx2s to students and realtors. They love the 12" size, One Note and $1K price. Wish Apple had something I could show them.

I'm sure they HATE that heat coming from the HD3200 ATi video card when playing back movies or using huge visual tasks (Photoshop jobs that really should be done on a desktop). This is a huge market that Apple should get into and Axiotron should be smart enough to make smaller ModBookPro's and lighter and FAST! When that Acer eeE tablet thats less than 1" debuts on linux/windows7 for less than $900 by summer you'll see a LOT more students coming to your store if they carry them.

And they, not Apple, provide the warranty ?

Well, it no longer is a "real" Mac, because Apple have declined to provide it's customers with a Mac tablet

Man I know! Considering Microsofts intro to CES you can see that Tablets are becoming more widely used and more profitable. Many associates on corporate negotiating deals use it heavily (and I know of 1 person at McK that uses a Mac Pro with Lotus Notes that would LOVE to have this ModBook Pro in a lighter form and 12" screen.

1% percent market share of an already niche computer category.

I'm shocked that an educator of Woz's reputation is associating himself with this gold crusted status symbol for yuppies and their spawn.

I thought the same thing! That may happen soon enough though. If Axiotron can make this lighter, ship a convertible & portable desktop mount then I think he's game. I just hope Axiotron makes one that is a convertible tablet-Mac. I don't want to give up my keyboard and fast touch typing skills for my horrible handwritten skills. In grade 7 I learned to type on a Typewriter so that when PC's got cheaper I could type my notes, not hand write them. I press insanely hard whenever I write. Bad habit.

I think $5000 is too much to pay for a modded MBP with touch screen and all. And that would be kind of heavy to tote around.

Heck $3000 is a bit too much for the 17" MBP.

I do hope though, that they mod us an Apple netbook out of something.

I've been hoping for this for a LONG LONG time - 12" MBP should've evolved to. I just hope Apple stops thinking that "niche" markets cannot be profitable & keep ignoring it instead of using their ingenuity to MAKE it profitable.

However, in the mean time ...

Problem solved.

Thats what I'm talking about Now if Apple can make this with a P8700 C2D with DDR3 & 9650 GT vid card with a slim convertible touchscreen then I'm all ready to sign off my future paychecks.

 

[DeepIn2U]

The people viewing the modbook pro as a "status symbol" are looking at it the wrong way.

The same is true of the people thinking that attaching a cintiq to their desktop or buying (most) tablet pc's are the same thing.

While prohibitively expensive, the modbook pro is the largest, most powerful, most pressure sensitive tablet out there and the *only* mac tablet you can get.

The only people that should be buying this are people that work extensively in photoshop, maya, zbrush, illustrator, etc. for long hours (where sitting in front of a desktop can be a literal pain) and who have to travel and continue to work with a variety of very expensive programs.

If you want to use it to browse the internet you might as well just burn your money.

... man. It is expensive though.

Great way to look at it. Unfortunately those that use those applications [photoshop, maya, zbrush, illustrator, etc.] long hours while sitting at a desk, have the extensive amount of RAM (Protected even), HDD space needed, and a stable Ethernet on LAN connection via a Mac Pro. Consider picking up even the mid-tier Mac Pro + a 21" Cintiq and you get the equal or close after tax price of the ModBookPro that is available immediately.

Furthermore their work - usually for a large company or a solid business - wouldn't allow them to take home their work OR its smarter to leave their work on a desktop (secured by Kensington, motion-detectors, and central alarm security). Even more so they can work on their projects over a VPN/RSA connection to the offices remote servers on their personal/work MacBookPro's.

Either way, its still cheaper to by a MBP+21" Cintiq to get the same thing. Sure the ModBookPro offers MultiTouch & pressure Stylus simultaneously but whats its battery life? And its weight? I'll bet you'll need a knapsack to hall that to & from destinations.

 

[batchtaster]

WTF with the Tune Blocker?

iTunes asks you if you want to reassociate the iPod with the alternate library when you plug it into a foreign computer, and the "does iTunes open when this iPod is plugged in" travels with the iPod (it's part of the device settings).

A $30 device to do some hardware hack to replace the user clicking a couple of prefs seems entirely unnecessary.

 

[Dmac77]

WTF with the Tune Blocker?

iTunes asks you if you want to reassociate the iPod with the alternate library, and the "does iTunes open when this iPod is plugged in" travels with the iPod (it's part of the device settings).

A $30 device to do some hardware hack to replace the user clicking a couple of prefs seems unnecessary.

Maybe the user is a complete and total idiot? Or maybe the computer owner has the warnings disabled. Or the person is distracted and hits yes to everything (ie, is a complete idiot).

Just playing Devil's advocate.

Don

 

[nacengineer]

Wait, what the *hell* is with that cable?

Am I not getting something here, or are they asking $25 for a physical replacement for the iTunes checkbox that changes whether the iPhone will or will not sync-on-connect?

I mean, over a ton of iPods and two iPhones, I've never, ever, had my device overwritten, even when connecting to a machine I've *never* connected to before. It's always asked me what to do.

*shrug*…

The cable is for on the road. Say plugging into a computer that is NOT yours... hence eliminating the frustration of having to answer NO to the restore question. Not worth $25 to me but it is to some.

 

[nacengineer]

Woz

They just brought in Woz. Hopefully, that can bring them some attention from Apple, some authorized assistance/parts supplies and lower pricing. 5k is pretty damned steep.

I believe they asked him to be on their board and he liked the product so much he said yes.

I was at the presentation today and it was awesome. Axiotron is going to take the Modbooks out of the cases tomorrow. I will try to get some pics and post them here.

One thing Woz did, a really cool off the cuff thing, bears mentioning. He drew a 16 square circle on the modbook. 4X4 and then asked somebody for a number (prime I believe). The guy said 41. So he wrote 41 to the side and then filled in a few random numbers. He then studied the board and after about 20 seconds (not exaggerating here) filled the rest of the numbers in within about 20-30 seconds. I was going to film it but couldn't even get my video camera out of the bag before he was done.

Then he proceeded to dissect the "Sudoku" board to the crowd and showed all the variations that added up to 41. (Quadrants, up, down, left to right, corner combinations, and even the diagonals.) The man is a fricking Genius. I was very impressed with his math skills to say the least. But his greatest gift is his love for the Mac community. He dealt with a lot of jerks and some really awesome and humble Mac users afterward with the most amazing patience and talked to everyone that wanted to talk to him with genuine interest. He is a truly special man and IMHO set the foundation for why Apple is so awesome. Keep up the good work Woz!

BTW afterward he increased the value of my OG iPhone and signed it. Truely a great Macworld experience.

 

[design-is]

If I had the money and they sold them in the UK, I would buy a ModBook Pro in a second.

Most desirable piece of kit ever in my opinion.

 

[numbersyx]

Still confused about the Modbox. Is Apple now licensing third party hardware makers the use of their software?

 

[patricksan]

Unfortunately, too expensive yet.

 

[Shasterball]

Crazy how Apple's silly moves have created a market for companies like TechRestore...

 

[TheStonepedo]

Tune Blocker

Cute gimmic. I use my Richard Solo to provide the same functionality. Wouldn't be that hard to just take an old cable though and cut the data lines.

The terminals which provide power to a USB device are much nearer to the end of the cable than those which transmit and receive data. I learned when restoring an old iPod Mini (the ones which must be plugged into a wall to finish the restoration process) that simply plugging the cable half-way into a USB port did the trick. If Matais was out to help users avoid accidentally syncing a plastic jacket roughly half the length of the USB cable would be enough to prevent pushing the cable fully into a port. As it stands, Matais appears to be out to take advantage of suckers with a device overly complex for the task at hand.

 

[sclough]

Maybe I missed something, but even on the AU Store i can only find this option available for the 17", and not the 15" MBPs (like TechRestore is offering!)

Nope. That's the whole point. Only the 17" has an matte option anymore. Thus TechRestore is trying to provide a matte option for those of us that prefer the 15" but do not like glossy screens.

 

[jnc]

Great way to look at it. Unfortunately those that use those applications [photoshop, maya, zbrush, illustrator, etc.] long hours while sitting at a desk, have the extensive amount of RAM (Protected even), HDD space needed, and a stable Ethernet on LAN connection via a Mac Pro. Consider picking up even the mid-tier Mac Pro + a 21" Cintiq and you get the equal or close after tax price of the ModBookPro that is available immediately.

Furthermore their work - usually for a large company or a solid business - wouldn't allow them to take home their work OR its smarter to leave their work on a desktop (secured by Kensington, motion-detectors, and central alarm security). Even more so they can work on their projects over a VPN/RSA connection to the offices remote servers on their personal/work MacBookPro's.

Ah, not everything with Pro in the title appeals to "large companies and solid businesses" - what about us starter-uppers? For me, the benefits/convenience of the converged products validate (somewhat) the purchase price.

I've done the Mac Pro/Cintiq setup already - it almost demands two displays, well with the Cintiq 12wx at least - a 12" 1280x800 is insufficient there. Sure you could get a Mac Pro + 21" Cintiq, but I'm sure people interested in the ModBook pro have weighed that option up already. I have. Didn't suit my budget at the time, and as I realised, I move about too much even for the Cintiq 12wx to be convenient. Next time around I won't cut corners, I'll get a souped-up modbook pro.

A 15.4" 1440x900 display as standard? And fully portable? For me, that's better. What, do you only do work at the workplace?

Even a 12wx, small as it is, is far from convenient for setup in multiple locations should you travel a little, and don't even bother on a plane or train. Sure the overall size of the device is fine, but it requires constant tethering to both a computer via USB and video port, through a transformer box, plus power. ModBook Pro is the evolution.

Either way, its still cheaper to by a MBP+21" Cintiq to get the same thing.

If you think it's the "same thing" you're not. The. Target!

...whats its battery life? And its weight? I'll bet you'll need a knapsack to hall that to & from destinations

Can't imagine additional battery drain being much more than it would be to plug a USB-powered Intuos into a notebook. There's nothing other than the tablet functionality present that should take up any more energy than is usual with a MacBook Pro. (GPS?) It's 0.93 inches thin and 6.6 pounds, so friendlier dimensions than a 17" MacBook Pro from what I can tell.

 

[DeepIn2U]

jnc, good take. I didn't even think of the target market in this ModBP. Say, how should we properly abbreviate the Mod Book Pro?

You make a sound analysis of why a Cintiq may prove a solution but a fustrated solution that many would be happy to forgo.

Now, if only that ModBookPro could be hooked up to the MacPro or MacMini and become its Display, keyboard & mouse via touch THEN it would be worth its weight & price. Say I only recall 1 PC company ever making a portable (laptop) being able to interface with a headless desktop essentially becoming its display. To say the least that company didn't last more than 3yrs.

nacengineer,

The WOZ is coolness & intelligence and essentric all in one. Its amazing that he came out of a coma so quickly and didn't loose anything of himself. He's a school teacher now and has been for several years. His bushy beard reminds me of my grade 5 teacher whom I remember affectionately as true life teacher. I can definately see that in Wozniak. Forget the new value of your OG iPodTouch - savor it not as a collectors item, but a fun memento in history.

Imagine if Steve pleaded for Woz to return to Apple as head of their K12 division, hmmm. The products that would be sound to students needs and wants.

 

[ImageWrangler]

Heck $3000 is a bit too much for the 17" MBP.

Granted you can find a 17" laptop for under a grand. Try configuring one like the 17" MBP. I did on HP and Dull, er, Dell's site, and when you custom configure one a either of those peecee makers it's quickly clocks over $2800. Actually configuring the Dull, er, Dell, similar to the MBP wound up at $4200. So as much as I'd like a cheaper 17" MBP myself, it's actually priced, for what it is, parts and all, competitively. I just wish Apple had the quad-core option, both Dull and HP do.

 

[neonblue2]

Some of you are really over thinking the legality of the Modbook. If you weren't around to know when it was first announced then I can understand but the fact is that the Modbook has been known about for two years and available for little over a year.

If Apple wanted to step in they've had ample time. Why would they though? Axiotron still needs to buy the computers before they mod them and so do any customers who want their MBs/MBPs modded.

 

[Tallest Skil]

Still confused about the Modbox. Is Apple now licensing third party hardware makers the use of their software?

No... because they're not making the hardware. They take an existing Mac and add hardware to it.

 

[lifeinhd]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPod; U; CPU iPhone OS 2_2 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/525.18.1 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/3.1.1 Mobile/5G77a Safari/525.20)

Ah, thank god someone came out with a nonglossy option! Now I can actually buy myself a new Macbook pro!

 

[SFStateStudent]

I was at the presentation today and it was awesome. Axiotron is going to take the Modbooks out of the cases tomorrow. I will try to get some pics and post them here. BTW afterward he increased the value of my OG iPhone and signed it. Truely a great Macworld experience.

+1 ^^^ I loved the presentation, and I'm really excited to see that ModBook Pro up close. A bit pricey, was the word around me, but Woz still has a following...

 

[Mr. B]

Great way to look at it. Unfortunately those that use those applications [photoshop, maya, zbrush, illustrator, etc.] long hours while sitting at a desk, have the extensive amount of RAM (Protected even), HDD space needed, and a stable Ethernet on LAN connection via a Mac Pro. Consider picking up even the mid-tier Mac Pro + a 21" Cintiq and you get the equal or close after tax price of the ModBookPro that is available immediately.

Furthermore their work - usually for a large company or a solid business - wouldn't allow them to take home their work OR its smarter to leave their work on a desktop (secured by Kensington, motion-detectors, and central alarm security). Even more so they can work on their projects over a VPN/RSA connection to the offices remote servers on their personal/work MacBookPro's.

Either way, its still cheaper to by a MBP+21" Cintiq to get the same thing. Sure the ModBookPro offers MultiTouch & pressure Stylus simultaneously but whats its battery life? And its weight? I'll bet you'll need a knapsack to hall that to & from destinations.

not to be blunt but, no, you are wrong. Or at least not totally correct.

There are massive numbers of freelancers out there, and in fact the majority of illustration work is made by them.

They need to supply their own tools and, trust me, the portability is a huge plus.

On top of that six gigs of ram + 500 gig 7200 rpm internal + 2.8 core 2 duo is nothing to scoff at. Of course desktops outclass laptops, but this laptop is faster than desktops from a few years back that pros are still using!

Not many people will buy this, but those that do (who actually need it) will be more productive + happier for it.

 

[alphaod]

surely the modbook infringes on apples eula?

Axiotron is what Apple calls a Proprietary Solution Provider; which means if you order a machine, Apple will only ship Axiotron the necessary components and nothing more.

---

Also I want to go for the TechRestore matte option.

 

[Digital Skunk]

I've been hoping for this for a LONG LONG time - 12" MBP should've evolved to. I just hope Apple stops thinking that "niche" markets cannot be profitable & keep ignoring it instead of using their ingenuity to MAKE it profitable.

Same here. I am glad that the Macbook now has some performance in it to make it more like a 12" Powerbook G4 of yester-years, but the size of the thing is truly where it's at. There won't be another 12" Mac laptop for a while if ever, and those with 12" PBs that are about to give up have to look at either the high end Macbook or Air.

I'd take either, but neither will replace what the 12" PBG4 was.

Granted you can find a 17" laptop for under a grand. Try configuring one like the 17" MBP. I did on HP and Dull, er, Dell's site, and when you custom configure one a either of those peecee makers it's quickly clocks over $2800. Actually configuring the Dull, er, Dell, similar to the MBP wound up at $4200. So as much as I'd like a cheaper 17" MBP myself, it's actually priced, for what it is, parts and all, competitively. I just wish Apple had the quad-core option, both Dull and HP do.

It really depends on what you are comparing. The problem with the PC vs Mac price thing is that everyone wants to pick what they think compares to the Apple. Not that it's an issue or a rant, just that you have to be careful at what you pick.

Going to Dell and selecting the M1730 isn't far to the Apple. That monster has the chassis for dual SLI and quad core and weighs a ton. It's a gaming rig true and true.

The only machine that comes close to the MBP would be the Studio 17 and its $800 cheaper when closely matched. Not perfect, but as close to what you can get.

Otherwise you'll have to go to the business side and grab some of the portable workstations that come with 3 year warranties, and even then you have to remember that the chassis you get hold way more than the 17" MBP could ever dream of. The Covet is almost $1000 more than the MBP, but being able to one day stick 16GB of DDR3 RAM in it dual HDDs, Quad core processors and a jog/shuttle wheel for HD cutters makes the price justifiable to some.

HP is going the route I want most to go. Dropping the 17" screen and opting for an 18.4" screen at 16:9 aspect. I would love it if Apple decided to make the 17" a true desktop replacement and made it heavy and stuffed with things most pros need on the road. Dual HDDs is a start, but I would give that up for quad core anyday.

 

[PeterQVenkman]

FOr the price of the modbook you could get a PC tablet and the 17 inch Macbook Pro.

3 grand of markup? really?