So you agree that it's a niche product for a small set of users. Well done. I just wonder why you think people who don't need it are 'kiddies' and why anyone (including the actual P. Engs you don't realize you're talking to) would care about some Wacom jockey who blabs about their Serious Work as though anyone who uses a ModBook is helping "design the whole physical world around us". As the kids say, "LOL".
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New Pen-Based 'Modbook Pro' Tablet Launching in Early Fall
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So you agree that it's a niche product for a small set of users. Well done. I just wonder why you think people who don't need it are 'kiddies' and why anyone (including the actual P. Engs you don't realize you're talking to) would care about some Wacom jockey who blabs about their Serious Work as though anyone who uses a ModBook is helping "design the whole physical world around us". As the kids say, "LOL".
so, this Modbook company buys a 13" Macbook Pro from Apple, modifies it, puts it into their case, and re-sells it as their own product, with their own branding? There is no way apple will allow this, this is just silly, not to mention illegal... Is there something I'm missing? 
I'm not bashing the iPad so much as using it as a counterpoint whenever someone comes in and holds it up as the standard all tablets should adhere to. If it's an x86 tablet capable of running desktop applcations, well...that's not how the iPad does it, so it's dumb. If it has a USB port, then HA! The iPad sold millions without a USB port! It's completely unnecessary. Nevermind the fact that it'd make an already useful device that much more useful with its inclusion. It doesn't have it because it's dumb to have it, and it's dumb to have it because the iPad doesn't have it already. It's a mobius strip of dumb, and an incredibly narrow point of view.
Don't think I hate the iPad or anything. I've got one myself, and I think it's grand. It's simple to use, easy to carry around, and lasts forever on a charge. To me, it's the closest anyone has come to making a perfect portable computer. I like it so much, I wish I could do more with it. But right now I can't. And that's what I lament.
so, this Modbook company buys a 13" Macbook Pro from Apple, modifies it, puts it into their case, and re-sells it as their own product, with their own branding? There is no way apple will allow this, this is just silly, not to mention illegal... Is there something I'm missing?
Man. Son. Sir. Have you not read any of the replies in this thread? They're not taking Macbooks and rebranding them, hoping that Apple doesn't notice. They're taking Macbooks they paid for with their own money, converting them, and selling them as...that's right...converted Macbooks. It's an aftermarket thing, and perfectly legal.
Same way they always have - unauthorized modification = no service. Next customer
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Just because another site or even several have doesn't mean something is worthy of top bill or even inclusion
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They aren't building a computer but modifying an Apple one. So the OS issue isn't one
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And yet hospitals etc are getting iPads by the drove.
Cool post, 100% with you on this one. Yes it is the closest to a perfect portable computer, i love my ipads too.
Apple has made choices with pros and cons on the iPad, overall it's been such a success story because on the whole it has been a very effective combination of elements. But who wouldn't want to just stick it in via USB to their mac or pc and just drag and drop a few videos, music, photo whatever files without having to go through the monstrous iTunes, with sync this, sync that, dont sync this... Who wouldnt want it to power an extrenal 2.5" hd, just stick it there and get some files to the iPad....There the iPad doesn't work that well. It's a great product, it's what finally broke tablets through, but it's not the end all and be all.
This is one case I could say they don't know any better. Then again the last hospital I visited they were still using craptop Dell tablets.
Thank you for saying this up front, it saved me from reading your long post. The moment anyone claims the iPad is only for consumption, they lose all credibility. That's not to detract frm this modbook, but people create on the iPad every day.
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You could say that. You'd be wrong though. The iPads are perfect for hospital applications.
The Modbook could be desirable to artists as a portable, less expensive, all-in-one Cintiq
http://www.youtube.com/embed/79SdxuA1WjY?rel=0&modestbranding=1&autoplay=1
http://www.youtube.com/embed/79SdxuA1WjY?rel=0&modestbranding=1&autoplay=1
that is your opinion and it is not a universal one.
if you don't like what the iPad can do, don't buy it. simple enough. But just because it doesn't do what you think it should doesn't make it 'crippled'
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Sure but it won't be by Apple. It will be by some buyer that has a computer with a failed logic board or hard drive that is refused service by Apple even though they got Apple Care because it was modified only to find out that the ModBook warranty only covers the parts they installed.
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If they had 'sanctioned' this they wouldn't be considering it a warranty void.
THey aren't suing the company for doing it but that doesn't mean that they actually approve of it or consider it a legit move to make. Which is why the warning that you won't have a warranty through Apple anymore
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First off, Steve NEVER said that. Second he was talking about a touchscreen phone NOT a computer.
He was speaking directly to the current state of PDAs and phones that required a stylus or the damn thing wouldn't work. THAT is what he said "if you see a stylus" about. NOT that he hated them, that he didn't want them used etc. the iPhone and iPad have supported a stylus if you want to use it since day one. Hell Apple even sold them in the stores until the shoplifting got so bad they had to pull them.
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So what you're saying is us pie in the sky dreamer types who want to user our iPads for more than looking at porn (SHUT UP YOU ALL DO IT TOO
if that is all you are doing on your iPad then you might want to take a night school class or something cause the iPad can do a hell of a lot more than that. Learn to use it instead of just listening to Ballmer's version of what it can and can't do and then we can talk
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Hey look guys. it's Steve Ballmer.
The iPad is for way way more than consumption. Perhaps if you actually used one, really used it, you would know that.
Just because you can't edit a 4 hour imax 3d movie on it with only one battery charge like you think you should be able to doesn't mean that it can't be used for productivity or creation.
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this would be comparable to the 12 inch Cintiq which is $1000. And this mod will cost you about $1200 more than the price of the computer they are modifying. so no it's not really less expensive at all.
I don't know why either, since that's not what I said or implied.
I'd expect better reading comprehension from a P.E..
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There is no way apple will allow this, this is just silly, not to mention illegal... Is there something I'm missing?
Plenty. Try reading the article, or the thread, before posting next time.
so, this Modbook company buys a 13" Macbook Pro from Apple, modifies it, puts it into their case, and re-sells it as their own product, with their own branding? There is no way apple will allow this, this is just silly, not to mention illegal... Is there something I'm missing?
The original Modbook company was an official 'Apple Value-adding Reseller' as long as the new company is as well, Apple not only allows it they provide the company with Licensed hardware to modify. Most of the other value added resellers are very niche but there are a few around.
I agree. Legal for end user to mod. Not agree its legal for company to mod and try to profit from resell.
Anything that impacts the Apple brand, even tangentially, will be challenged.
Nothing for Apple to gain by leaving this kind of crazy stuff out there. Nothing to be lost by Apple by shutting it down.
Apple made their profit off the laptops when they sold them to the company to mod. They're theirs to do with as they please.
Think of it like this: they're charging extra for the labor and the parts for the conversion. As far as Apple is concerned, they're only yet another retailer selling Macbooks.
This is all just terrible, everything you said.
Now we're going to go all vague with productivity? What the HELL?
iPad simply are not good for creating professionally. AT.ALL.
The iPad is almost compltely opposite from a Macbook Pro. Meaning, Macs are usually used FOR creativity because of their versatility, quickness and power. An iPad can't really do what a Mac does.
If, say, Micro$oft we're to come out with a tablet that lets you use a pen and full photoshop, then that certainly goes beyond what the iPad can do.
The iPad (and so far Android devices) are more or less for consumption than creation. Unreal 3 Engine runs on the Surface PRO tablet....it doesn't on iPad or the Nexus 7. Those devices right now are just focused on CONSUMPTION.
The reason why tablets failed before was that they always tried focusing on productivity, creation, etc. They didn't realize, until Apple (and still don't) people prefer consuming until there is a way to create the right way.Not saying that an iPad can't be productive, but Windows has sorta defined productivity.
Eh...I've done a little more than watch porn with it.
...and another shot at full res iPad 3 resolution just to show off.
Yup. Wrote a little Photoshop tutorial using Pages. It was alright. I kinda like the simplicity of it all, plus laying out and resizing images using the touchscreen was kinda cool. But I sure as hell didn't like trying to land the cursor in one specific spot using only my finger. If you want to get in front of the first line of a paragraph, you'll spend at least a good 30 seconds stabbing at it with your finger. It really needs a good thin point stylus for those moments when you need to get exacting. Oh, and sure as doubly hell didn't like the constant crashing. I'd be doing my thing when suddenly...boop. I'm on the springboard. At least I didn't lose any work.
The iPad isn't quite there yet as far as heavy duty computer work goes. It's great for showing us a preview of what the future will hold. I mean I do have to admit that laying back in my chair with my feet propped up on the desk while I worked on a document was a neat experience...
...but...
...it's too rough, too weak. The iPad doesn't offer nearly enough flexibility or power to go head to head with even a Macbook Air yet. It's almost there, but not quite. We've still got a few more miles to go before we're truly living in a post-PC world.
Edit: The iPad is a good device to use while you're in a pinch and don't have any other options. It's capable enough to be usable, but only just.
Also I play Nintendo games on it, too.
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Boys don't over complicate, it's not about creating on the iPad or not, it's about the format, book type format makes for lovely reading of the web,books etc, touch interface gives possibilities for ui vs. Notebook format for keyboard use and mouse use with added screen real estate. At the end of the day it's simple. Would a tablet mac have plenty of uses, it sure would, the mod book looks really nice, but no one can have it all on one device, that is in one fom factor. Ample as that.
I love my iPad cause I lean back and read my rss feeds, my news, my books, the web (reader mode in anything I can), mail, readabilty, etc. this is all very liberating without the keyboard thing,mthats why I personally was waiting for the iPad for years, for Presicely this type of usage, the added bonus is the countless great apps that take advantage of the interface of added uses.
When I got to do some work I wither stick a keyboard, or most probably I get to a mac with a keyboard. I mean there are not that many things to do with a computer, some cad or design app, some scientific specialised app, a database, , excel word processing, YouTube and porn.
I love my iPad cause I lean back and read my rss feeds, my news, my books, the web (reader mode in anything I can), mail, readabilty, etc. this is all very liberating without the keyboard thing,mthats why I personally was waiting for the iPad for years, for Presicely this type of usage, the added bonus is the countless great apps that take advantage of the interface of added uses.
When I got to do some work I wither stick a keyboard, or most probably I get to a mac with a keyboard. I mean there are not that many things to do with a computer, some cad or design app, some scientific specialised app, a database, , excel word processing, YouTube and porn.
I'm glad to hear they are doing this again, now that the iPad has come out I think the modBook can find it's market.
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"why not use the MacBook Air?" ... "They should do this with the Retina MacBook Pro!" ...I think there are several reasons for this, the biggest being: if I am not mistaken, the MacBook Pros (according to iFixIt.com, but, their site is down for maintenance ATM) are more accessible than either the Air or Retina, and, for legal reasons, I think it needs to be a mod that you can make yourself.
I think there are 3 reasons they are using the MacBook Pro 13", really,
1: this is the easiest to gut-out and modify.
2: this will be something for people who create content and needs to have the power/ports they need.
3: cost. this is the least expensive and easiest way to do this mod and keep Apple's hardware intact.
(Maybe they can also do the 15" later?)
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the iPad is a consumer device, it is designed for consumerism, not for creating content...this will be useful for artists and others that do photo-retouching and such as well.
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Basically, this is a Wacom tablet integrated into a screen, they take the innards out of a MacBook Pro, make a new case for the Apple hardware and put it all together. So anyone that has or would consider using a wacom or other such touch device with their computer would most definitely be interested in this.
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Sure, compared to an iPad, it might be heavy, but this would most likely be on your lap or desk, not held in your hand like an iPad. It is as mobile as a laptop. For the desk, I'm sure one could get an adjustable stand/device already made for laptops that would work with this.
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"Is it legal?" ... "They will just get sued like Psystar!" ...Unlike other companies that have tried to use Apple's MacOS with their own hardware, this is not the case here, here they are keeping Apple's hardware intact, gutting it out of the MacBook Pro unibody and putting it in a new body that has a built in wacom pen-based touchscreen. They leave the ports intact, except one: it uses one of the USB3 ports (which makes this a USB peripheral device, they have conformed to Apple's standards for this, and even worked with them)... (anyone click on the links in this article? no? try this: http://www.modbook.com/modbookpro).
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cost: it won't be cheap. You are buying a MacBook Pro 13", and then you are buying a wacom touchscreen, and paying them for the modifications. Why don't they just buy the parts and make their own computer? Because that is where they would get into legal issues w/Apple. I think it is done this way to keep on the up and up with Apple. (Ultimately, if they succeed, Apple could end up buying them out at some point. I do see, at some point in the future, all of Apple's products becoming touchscreen devices.) ...(check out the previous model of modBook: http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/ModBook)
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"why not use the MacBook Air?" ... "They should do this with the Retina MacBook Pro!" ...I think there are several reasons for this, the biggest being: if I am not mistaken, the MacBook Pros (according to iFixIt.com, but, their site is down for maintenance ATM) are more accessible than either the Air or Retina, and, for legal reasons, I think it needs to be a mod that you can make yourself.
I think there are 3 reasons they are using the MacBook Pro 13", really,
1: this is the easiest to gut-out and modify.
2: this will be something for people who create content and needs to have the power/ports they need.
3: cost. this is the least expensive and easiest way to do this mod and keep Apple's hardware intact.
(Maybe they can also do the 15" later?)
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the iPad is a consumer device, it is designed for consumerism, not for creating content...this will be useful for artists and others that do photo-retouching and such as well.
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Basically, this is a Wacom tablet integrated into a screen, they take the innards out of a MacBook Pro, make a new case for the Apple hardware and put it all together. So anyone that has or would consider using a wacom or other such touch device with their computer would most definitely be interested in this.
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Sure, compared to an iPad, it might be heavy, but this would most likely be on your lap or desk, not held in your hand like an iPad. It is as mobile as a laptop. For the desk, I'm sure one could get an adjustable stand/device already made for laptops that would work with this.
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"Is it legal?" ... "They will just get sued like Psystar!" ...Unlike other companies that have tried to use Apple's MacOS with their own hardware, this is not the case here, here they are keeping Apple's hardware intact, gutting it out of the MacBook Pro unibody and putting it in a new body that has a built in wacom pen-based touchscreen. They leave the ports intact, except one: it uses one of the USB3 ports (which makes this a USB peripheral device, they have conformed to Apple's standards for this, and even worked with them)... (anyone click on the links in this article? no? try this: http://www.modbook.com/modbookpro).
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cost: it won't be cheap. You are buying a MacBook Pro 13", and then you are buying a wacom touchscreen, and paying them for the modifications. Why don't they just buy the parts and make their own computer? Because that is where they would get into legal issues w/Apple. I think it is done this way to keep on the up and up with Apple. (Ultimately, if they succeed, Apple could end up buying them out at some point. I do see, at some point in the future, all of Apple's products becoming touchscreen devices.) ...(check out the previous model of modBook: http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/ModBook)
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Well, Steve is not around anymore. He had a special way of thinking that most of us wouldn't understand.
Tim is more business oriented and I'm sure he is more open to supply the demand for certain products.
I think you might be cutting the definition a little fine; my wacom pen is technically a stylus. But yes, according to the site, this will be a full Wacom-branded pressure-sensitive pen.
Despite the popularity of the iPad and Android tablets, there are still a few Windows tablet devices like the modbook out there. The ASUS EEE Slate EP121 is a good example of the breed, and one I've actually been considering instead of an MBA for a portable system.
Not sure if anyone else has posted earlier, but what about heat dissipation? This thing looks to be fully enclosed from the few photos they offer on their website.
My daughter is in art and needs to sketch, draft, use CAD etc., but she can do all of that with her MacBook Pro and she does
You can use tablets (yes, another thing to log around) for input, so the only drawback is having to lug around another piece of equipment.
Don't know about the weight comparison.
The MOD is an extreme niche product born out by the fact that it was not successful the first time around.
With the MBA and ipad the initial gap to this MOD is getting narrowed.
I just don't see the owner (kudos for not giving up if he believes) /inventor
being successful with it.
Success as in sales = profits to survive.
I've had my eyes on the Modbook for years but the lack of updates and the Pro version kept me from buying one. I admit, I kind of wish they used a higher end Macbook Pro for their hardware but I understand that if they did that then the Modbook Pro would really be too bulky and power hungry.
I have a 15" Fujitsu Lifebook touchscreen that I've used for Photoshop work and it's just a Core i5 with 8gb of RAM and it does everything I need it to. So, I can see that the Modbook Pro with Core i7 and 16gb of RAM would be awesome by comparison. The best part has to be the Thunderbolt port because that will open it up enough for high-end peripherals and expansion if somebody ever releases a PCI-Express Thunderbolt chassis. Should be a winner this time around!
I have a 15" Fujitsu Lifebook touchscreen that I've used for Photoshop work and it's just a Core i5 with 8gb of RAM and it does everything I need it to. So, I can see that the Modbook Pro with Core i7 and 16gb of RAM would be awesome by comparison. The best part has to be the Thunderbolt port because that will open it up enough for high-end peripherals and expansion if somebody ever releases a PCI-Express Thunderbolt chassis. Should be a winner this time around!
I wonder what model MBP is required for this. I have a 2008 MBP (first Aluminium case one, with removeable battery) that has a broken keyboard. This would be a perfect application for it.