OWC/Axiotron’s ModBook Mac Tablet Computer Salvages Macworld Expo For Apple ‘Book Fans
by Charles W. Moore
Macworld Expo 2007 will be memorable for at least two things - the announcement of the iPhone, and the extraordinary fact that it was the first Macworld Expo in history bereft of announcements of any new or updated Mac-branded products. Presumably this was a deliberate decision on Apple’s part, perhaps to enhance the impact of their corporate name-change from Apple Computer Inc. to just “Apple Inc.” Be that as it may, I think it was a mistake, especially with Macintosh computers finally gaining significant traction and pulling out of the three percent or so market share range they’ve been stuck in for a decade. Why do anything to possibly slow the momentum, such as giving the impression, however erroneous and inaccurate it may be, that Apple is “losing interest” in the Mac.
Whatever, it was left to a third party to introduce the only new Mac computer product at the show and mitigate the disappointment of Apple product interest remains primarily focused on Macs rather than iPods, iPhones, and Apple TVs.
That product fills a category that Apple itself has never competed in - tablet computers. The Axiotron ModBook, Designed by El Segundo and Playa del Rey, California based Axiotron’s team of German and American engineers,and exclusively marketed by Other World Computing, is actually an after-market hardware modification kit, which allows standard Apple MacBook notebook systems to be converted into high-end slate-style tablet computers with pen-based user input, and is aimed at mobile users, business professionals, artists, students, doctors and other medical personnel, and IT professionals as a solution for applications and situations where a keyboard is cumbersome or gets in the way.
ModBook has a pedigree in Apple engineering, since Axiotron’s co-founder Andreas Haas was part of Apple’s Newton PDA team prior to the company terminating Newton sales and development. Mr. Haas, now Axiotron’s President and CEO, formerly held various management positions at Apple Computer in Europe including Apple’s Portable product lines, the Newton Systems Group, and Apple Third Party Product Marketing. His last position at Apple’s European Headquarters in Paris, France was Manager of the European Product Management for Professional Desktop and Server Systems heading the European Product Management teams for Desktop and Server products.
Last July, Axiotron announced that following an undisclosed equity investment from OWC in Axiotron, the two companies had formed a comprehensive strategic alliance under which OWC will serve as the exclusive North American sales and distribution aggregate for all Axiotron digital lifestyle products.
Aside from the bombshell iPhone unveiling, the Modbook proved the hit of MacWorld Expo 2007, earning OWC and Axiotron a well-deserved Best of Show award, and what the companies say they believe was the largest Macworld exhibitor draw for a non-Apple, Inc. announcement.
In a nutshell, he Axiotron/OWC ModBook takes a standard MacBook and adds true pen input, a new 13.3” wide screen LCD and an optional Global Positioning System in a tough, satin chrome plated Aircraft-grade magnesium top shell, while retaining all the powerful features of the MacBook base system, complete with Mac OS X and its built-in Inkwell handwriting recognition, an Intel Core 2 Duo processor, Apple’s integrated iSight camera and a CD/DVD combo drive or optional DVD SuperDrive.
ModBook users can draw and write directly on the screen, while the Inkwell handwriting recognition built-into Mac OS X turns longhand scribbling into text input for any application, and also facilitates extended control of the system through gesture recognition.
The concept of tablet computers has long intrigued me, partly because I battle flareups of typing pain, while I find longhand writing much less aggravating to my nerves and tendons. I’ve experimented with OS X Inkwell using a Wacom tablet and stylus, but I find writing on the tablet with output on the computer screen clumsy and counterintuitive. I also have a scrawly hand, and often find it a challenge to decipher my own script, which is not the best for longhand inputting of computer text. My results with Inkwell have been “mixed” to say the least.
However, it seems to me that at least theoretically, writing longhand directly on the computer screen where the text will appear would be a much more satisfactory and probably more accurate mode of input - ergo: the tablet computer, and I would love to get my hands on one of these ModBooks. The downside of course is the cost. I can see businesses or professionals with a particularly compelling need for a tablet computer buying a ModBook, but the expense would be difficult to justify for an individual who would likely not want to use a tablet as their only computer.
An interesting element to the ModBook is that it is the only portable Mac solution that also features an optional built-in Global Positioning System (GPS), a somewhat esoteric capability for many computer users, but one that will have considerable appeal to those who would use their ModBooks in the field (literally) and perhaps to boaters and sailors looking for a Mac solution for computer piloting and navigation. And as the developer notes, with GPS in your ModBook, you’ll never have to ask for directions again.
The Axiotron Modbook GPS Module is based on the SiRFstar III chipset which is claimed to provide faster first location fix times and improved tracking capabilities in challenging urban and outdoor environments.
The ModBook’s digitizer technology comes from WACOM, the undisputed industry leader in computer graphics tablets.
The ModBook pen digitizer features include:
• Fast - 133 position updates per second
• Accurate - 20x display resolution
• Sensitive - 256 pressure levels
• Efficient - No batteries required
The Axiotron Digitizer Pen features radio-based digitizer technology, a replaceable pen tip, 2 programmable side buttons plus an eraser and requires no batteries or magnets. Axiotron claims that users can even write with their hand resting on the screen. The technology also allows the cursor to be controlled while the pen is hovering over the screen, providing for an intuitive, mouse-like interface.
Both the ModBook’s top shell and the interior display frame are built from aircraft quality magnesium alloy, providing robust structural strength along with attractive appearance with its satin textured top shell is plated with chrome over a set of copper and nickel layers. This provides a scratch resistant and aesthetically pleasing surface, while also offering optimum protection against oxidation.
Both the LCD tablet panel and the built-in iSight camera are protected by replaceable “ForceGlass” screen covers made from Chemically Strengthened (CS) glass. Compared to cheaper non-glass-based solutions found in some tablet computers, CS glass is claimed to provide superior optical and aging properties as well as far improved scratch resistance.
The display screen cover is treated on both sides for optimized optical properties. The LCD facing (in)side features an anti-reflective coating to increase light transmissivity for a brighter image. The user facing (out)side is acid treated to achieve an etched surface, carefully calibrated to match the display resolution. This is said to provide a crisp, paper-like writing sensation, while keeping perceived haze and light refractions to a minimum.
The Modbook’s “AnyView” LCD panel features wider viewing angles (Horiz./Vert.: 100°/90° vs. 90°/55°) and a higher contrast ratio (500:1 vs. 400:1) for darker blacks and stronger, more saturated, lush colors, while maintaining the same resolution (1280x800 pixel) and aspect ratio (113 ppi) of the original MacBook display. The included ModBook ColorSync profile offers a solid base calibration which can be adjusted or replaced using the Mac OS X Tiger display calibration tools.
While the ModBook utilizes the original iSight camera of the MacBook base system, it is mounted slightly tilted downwards to better frame the face of the user.
ModBook is the only slate-style tablet computer with an internal CD/DVD combo drive, which in addition can be upgraded to a 6x DVD burner with up to 8.5 GB capacity. In combination with its 13.3” wide screen LCD, this also earns the ModBook bragging rights as the “Largest Screen Portable DVD Entertainment System”.
Other nice touches include inconspicuous locking points designed into the magnesium top shell that allow the ModBook to be securely placed in optional multi-functional mounts i.e. for use with VESA compatible desktop arms.
ModBooks purchased through Other World Computing (OWC) include a 1 year OWC warranty that can be extended to up to 3 years.
As near as I can evaluate sight unseen, I think I would very much like using a ModBook, and full credit to Axiotron and OWC for picking up Apple’s slack and unveiling something exciting for Mac ‘Book fans at this year’s Expo.
ModBooks are projected to begin shipping in early April. Other World Computing will initially sell completed tablets, although a do-it-yourself kit may be made available in the future
In the meantime, OWC is offering ModBooks at special pre-release prices ranging from $2,199 for the “Good” entry level model (suggested retail price $2,279). Free GPS is included in $2199 price as part of the pre-reserve special. MSRPs for the two upmarket “Better” and “Best” ModBook models, which correspond to respective MacBook models, are $2,399.00 and $2,699.00.
For more information about the ModBook, visit:
http://www.axiotron.com
and
http://www.macsales.com/modbook
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