Print this article | E-mail this article | Comment on this article

First True Mac Tablet Arrives at Macworld

By Ed Oswald, BetaNews

January 9, 2007, 6:51 PM

AT MACWORLD - While there has been some talk of Apple potentially developing a tablet version of its MacBook laptops, at least one company is not waiting for the Cupertino company to act.

El Segundo, Calif.-based Axiotron launched the "ModBook" at the Macworld Conference & Expo in San Francisco Monday. The device is essentially a modified MacBook laptop with a new 13.3" LCD and the addition of true pen input and optional GPS functionality.

Axiotron is headed by Andreas Haas, who was a former management level leader at Apple, and explored the feasibility of a tablet while at the company.

"The Axiotron ModBook enables its user to draw and write directly on the screen, while the handwriting recognition built into Mac OS X Tiger not only turns hand scribbles into text in every application, but also provides extended control of the system through gesture recognition," Haas said.

Retained in the modified unit would be the combo CD/DVD drive shipped with the unit, and the iSight video camera that would allow for videoconferencing. Built in support for handwriting recognition within OS X would be used for input.

Apple has been rumored to be developing a tablet PC for several years now, and the company filed for a design trademark in Europe for such a device. However, nothing has materialized since then other than persistent rumors.

Other World Computing would be the exclusive distributor of the device in the United States, and it is available for order immediately online beginning at $2,279. OWC would also provide a one year warranty on the unit, expandable to three years.

As an introductory special, OWC said it would make available the base unit with the GPS add-on for $2,199 through January 31st.

Add a Comment (13 Comments)

BetaNews reserves the right to remove any comment at any time for any reason. Please keep your responses appropriate and on topic. Foul language and personal attacks will not be tolerated.

By foxfyre

edited Jan 14, 2007 - 11:41 PM

I both agree and disagree regarding various opinions of a tablet being dead and and being useful.

I think too many are falling over themselves trying to figure out just how they could use it, and I think that misses the point. They are not a general purpose unit. And the thought of going back to 'pen' based writing is not exciting!

Rather they suit specialized niches such as a doctors office or hospital where secure wireless connectivity allows for them to function as a chart for accessing records and associated data and allowing for the updating and input of patient records, just as would be done with a chart - only now enabling real time online database storage that would update all the associated centers in the institution ranging from dietary needs, the pharmacy, records, insurance, etc., thus providing for an integrated customer care 'supply chain'.

So in some areas they are a natural progression.
But in others...they are an answer in search of a question - in other words, a waste!

I just get a kick out of watching people try to fit a square peg into a round hole as they simply will them into being a positive format - and unfortunately, they are too often not.

Score: 0

By tscar12

edited Jan 10, 2007 - 8:24 PM

A notebook fits very nice on a table and is powerful enough to do even gaming. The days of so-called tablets are over. I have a powerful notebook that replaced my ugly MAC. I love it but if I want a conversation piece, I'll buy a coffee table book.

Score: 0

By PC_Tool

posted Jan 11, 2007 - 8:42 AM

Lack of creativity on your part does in no way reflect the variety of uses for such a device.

Score: 0

By tscar12

edited Jan 11, 2007 - 1:40 PM

Actually PC, I'm very creative. I just don't see the need for something that can be done on a small notebook. This and IBM's Thinkpad remind me of those old etchoscketch things you could buy when I was growing up. I have a cell phone, a notebook and a kick-a** Hi def.oh, and less i forget,in case she ever comes here, an inteligent hot lady. Of course I don't put those in order of importance dear.....

Score: 0

By PC_Tool

edited Jan 11, 2007 - 2:24 PM

lol.

I guess the "tablet" part is just outside your experience then.

You can't use a stylus on many non-tablet notebooks and there a rather large number of designers who might think your calling of it's Time of Death as a tad premature.

They're not designed for average consumer use. It's a niche market, to be sure, but by no means is it dead.

Score: 0

By tscar12

posted Jan 11, 2007 - 3:15 PM

PC? point well taken.

Score: 0

By Avion Airplane

posted Jan 10, 2007 - 6:19 PM

would love to have one

Score: 0

By Hollywood__

posted Jan 10, 2007 - 1:20 AM

It's a nice looking tablet and I bet the o/s doesn't lock up and take forever to start up like Windows web tablets.

I'd buy a Mac in a heartbeat if it could run all of the programs I need it to.

Score: 0

By domino360

posted Jan 11, 2007 - 7:24 PM

If you run Boot Camp and not Parallels on a Mac you should be fine to run most Windows apps. With one of my Mac Pro, I use Lightwave 8.5 in Windows XP Pro, and Maya 8 in OS X.
It is true that Parallels allows you to use 2 OS at the same time, but it doesn't install Direct X which Boot Camp does.

Score: 0

By PC_Tool

posted Jan 10, 2007 - 8:59 AM

Yeah, talk about an OS built for tablets. While I dislike some of the interface elements on the desktop, I think most would fit beautifully on a tablet.

Never been a huge fan of the Mac, but his tablet looks like a perfect fit for Apple.