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ModBook Review (Verdict: A Perfect Touchscreen MacBook)
gizmodo.com — It's was exactly a year from the time Axiotron first debuted their touchscreen MacBook at Macworld 2007 to the time we got the first hands-on of it at Macworld 2008, and that year of development time seems to have done the company some good. Here's why this is the touchscreen Mac you've been waiting for.
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- etx313, on 03/04/2008, -42/+5David Motari
24419 Florence Acres Rd
Monroe, WA 98272-9662
(360) 794-7191- bluenullity, on 03/04/2008, -0/+13You know David, if you wanted me to send you some flowers you could have just emailed me.
- dcollins, on 03/04/2008, -6/+1No, thats the address of the guy who through that dog off the cliff.
(BTW I know "through" should be "threw" but I know the grammar nazi's are waking up just about now and need to remind themselves that they are vastly superior to their fellow diggers.)- alamandrax, on 03/04/2008, -0/+3I'd like to take this opportunity to point out that pointing out that you used "through" instead of "threw" is not an instance of grammatical correction, but of spelling gone horribly horribly wrong. If the English script were phonetic, you'd probably get away with it. Unfortunately, it isn't. Yet.
I would invite you to join my new world order where we spell words in phonetic script only (like Devanagari or Telugu or the International Phonetic Alphabet [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Phoneti ... but that's a scenario far away in our future. - alamandrax, on 03/04/2008, -0/+2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Phoneti ...
hmmph.
- alamandrax, on 03/04/2008, -0/+3I'd like to take this opportunity to point out that pointing out that you used "through" instead of "threw" is not an instance of grammatical correction, but of spelling gone horribly horribly wrong. If the English script were phonetic, you'd probably get away with it. Unfortunately, it isn't. Yet.
- dcollins, on 03/04/2008, -6/+1No, thats the address of the guy who through that dog off the cliff.
- Archer007, on 03/04/2008, -1/+1Really too bad free SkypeOut ended, or I would be having some fun right now...
- bluenullity, on 03/04/2008, -0/+13You know David, if you wanted me to send you some flowers you could have just emailed me.
- zeyad, on 03/04/2008, -11/+2They should try Macbook Air-izing it now.
- passedoutghost, on 03/04/2008, -4/+8You mean squashing it flat with a roller and shoving it into an envelope while having terrible music play in the background?
- dcollins, on 03/04/2008, -2/+1Well people are digging you down, but I laughed.
- Trax91, on 03/04/2008, -1/+2New Soul ain't that bad...
- passedoutghost, on 03/04/2008, -4/+8You mean squashing it flat with a roller and shoving it into an envelope while having terrible music play in the background?
- SilentStrider, on 03/04/2008, -0/+21It looks awesome, but it's a shame Axiotron didn't make the Modbook a convertible style tablet instead.
- overbyte, on 03/04/2008, -8/+1i need a modbook
- NsinU8, on 03/04/2008, -4/+12Just buy them already Apple!
- CressCrowbits, on 03/04/2008, -7/+3Why buy them when they can just rip them off and kill them like with every other 3rd party that comes up with cool stuff for the mac?
(well, Konfabulator at least)- combatchuck, on 03/04/2008, -0/+3Watson and Launchbar are the biggest ones that come to mind.
- misxn, on 03/04/2008, -0/+1I still use LaunchBar. Watson otoh I do miss. I think it was the first shareware I ever bought.
- combatchuck, on 03/04/2008, -0/+3Watson and Launchbar are the biggest ones that come to mind.
- CressCrowbits, on 03/04/2008, -7/+3Why buy them when they can just rip them off and kill them like with every other 3rd party that comes up with cool stuff for the mac?
- stoops, on 03/04/2008, -4/+5This is crazy cool, my friend really wants a full screen Apple tablet for easier lecture note taking. Apple should definitely take note ;)
- robbh66, on 03/04/2008, -5/+5Anyone who thinks it's easier to take notes on a tablet than it is on paper doesn't know what they're talking about.
- netdroid9, on 03/04/2008, -2/+5Actually, when you use good software (OneNote is good for this, probably some awesome stuff for Linux and crap-all for Macs) and get used to the whole system, it's heaps easier. Never need to worry about pens running out or needing more paper, have a virtually unlimited color-space at your hands (24-bits, although you're obviously not going to use even half of them if you want to be able to distinguish between colors), you can backup your notes/assignments/drawings, and most importantly you're seamlessly integrated with digital content: you can link to websites, videos and presentations with ease.
And it looks cool, too.- RudeTurnip, on 03/04/2008, -3/+4The price isn't worth it for what amounts to a pile of gee-whiz. Carry an extra pen and pad of paper if needed. If you're taking notes, you're paying attention to someone and don't need to play with a colour palette. Notes should be rough ideas that aren't a final product in and of themselves. Being able to make backups of your notes is pretty much the only useful and practical application for a tablet.
- zackkitzmiller, on 03/04/2008, -0/+5Copy Machine?
- nandasunu, on 03/04/2008, -0/+1the process of typing up notes helps revision too. I don't see any need for a laptop in a lecture except to get distracted. In 5 years at university in the uk I've only seen one or two people using laptops in class, and this is on a computing based degree.
- RudeTurnip, on 03/04/2008, -3/+4The price isn't worth it for what amounts to a pile of gee-whiz. Carry an extra pen and pad of paper if needed. If you're taking notes, you're paying attention to someone and don't need to play with a colour palette. Notes should be rough ideas that aren't a final product in and of themselves. Being able to make backups of your notes is pretty much the only useful and practical application for a tablet.
- mrsteve007, on 03/04/2008, -0/+2OneNote is unstoppable. An excellent piece of software. I wish more people knew about it. I wrote all my class lectures this way, including math. A superb feature is the audio recording. It will establish audio setpoints that match up with the same time you took notes on the page. I lived in a house with several guys who were all in the same degree program. Using this feature, only one of us would show to class, take notes/record the lecture, and would upload it to the rest of the housemates. We all got excellent grades.
- netdroid9, on 03/04/2008, -2/+5Actually, when you use good software (OneNote is good for this, probably some awesome stuff for Linux and crap-all for Macs) and get used to the whole system, it's heaps easier. Never need to worry about pens running out or needing more paper, have a virtually unlimited color-space at your hands (24-bits, although you're obviously not going to use even half of them if you want to be able to distinguish between colors), you can backup your notes/assignments/drawings, and most importantly you're seamlessly integrated with digital content: you can link to websites, videos and presentations with ease.
- passedoutghost, on 03/04/2008, -5/+4What's wrong with traditional pen and paper? An added bonus is that when it comes to exam time, you can damned fast.
- colto, on 03/04/2008, -0/+2Error: Verb Missing
- passedoutghost, on 03/05/2008, -0/+0Sorry. Here's the missing verb: *masturbate*
- colto, on 03/04/2008, -0/+2Error: Verb Missing
- overbyte, on 03/04/2008, -1/+10paper is not searchable, takes up huge amounts of physical space and gets damaged/lost/messy very easily.
- RudeTurnip, on 03/04/2008, -2/+3I have a much better chance of damaging a tablet than a notepad.
- Destinatus, on 03/04/2008, -0/+1This isn't for notes this is for digital painting. This is the only Tablet PC (that I know of) with 512 levels of pressure sensitivity. Sidenote: Wacom Intuos has 1024
God, I want this.
- robbh66, on 03/04/2008, -5/+5Anyone who thinks it's easier to take notes on a tablet than it is on paper doesn't know what they're talking about.
- reevolutn, on 03/04/2008, -3/+12you cant flip round and use it as a regular laptop. huge downside, i own a toshiba tablet pc and use the tablet only about half the time
- commitone, on 03/04/2008, -2/+25This is far from perfect... (heavy, integrated graphics, no keyboard, 512 pressure sensitivity). It is the only mac tablet. Dugg anyways.
- GhostWithToast, on 03/04/2008, -2/+11I'd like to see the multitouch screens Jeff Han uses on these Macs. Till then.. I'll wait.
- willynilly, on 03/04/2008, -5/+14Multitouch is a nearly worthless gimmick. In hours of demo footage, we see three wondrous functions:
1. Zooming
2. Rotating
3. Shoving stuff around
All of which can be done more quickly and efficiently with a mouse. Multitouch is a bunch of ***** hype, especially since it's never shown doing the only things it'd be good for: multiselection and connecting things.- rodrigo74, on 03/04/2008, -2/+4I agree that multitouch as it is now is not that useful; but that's how it goes with every new concept. Just look at how the first mice looked like and worked.
The important thing is that the concept is being introduced on laptops and APIs and then it's a question of time until software developers start finding more useful stuff to do with it. - Kazbaeden, on 03/04/2008, -0/+3But what if I want to do all three at once?
Let's look at a tablet example. I say I have a drawing program that gives me virtual straight edges to help me make straight lines. I need to move it into position, rotate it to the right angle, and stretch it to the right length.
With multitouch, this is one fluid gesture using only my hands.
With a mouse the process is select move tool, click, move, select rotate tool, click, rotate, select resize tool, click, resize.
Now do this over and over as yout draw and tell me which form of input is quicker and more effective.
- rodrigo74, on 03/04/2008, -2/+4I agree that multitouch as it is now is not that useful; but that's how it goes with every new concept. Just look at how the first mice looked like and worked.
- rodrigo74, on 03/04/2008, -1/+1.
- overbyte, on 03/04/2008, -0/+5this is a pressure sensitive tablet which is waaay more useful to me than a mutitouch screen
- willynilly, on 03/04/2008, -5/+14Multitouch is a nearly worthless gimmick. In hours of demo footage, we see three wondrous functions:
- robbh66, on 03/04/2008, -2/+10While it's a very good tablet, Gizmodo doesn't say it's perfect. Buried.
- LukeBeaumont, on 03/04/2008, -2/+6Because Gizmodo are the pinnacle of product reviews. /sarcasm
- cawpin, on 03/04/2008, -0/+3No, he's burying it for being inaccurate. If you're gonna be a smartass you have to be smart first.
- LukeBeaumont, on 03/04/2008, -2/+6Because Gizmodo are the pinnacle of product reviews. /sarcasm
- willynilly, on 03/04/2008, -9/+35PEN COMPUTING FAILED. For good reason. When will people face the fact that writing with a stylus is far slower than typing? Combine that with its inherent inaccuracy, and you just have a stupid idea.
GIVE IT UP.- kodek, on 03/04/2008, -1/+7I love the fact that I can actually take notes in my physics and calculus classes and have them organized, be searchable, etc...
- DotNetWill, on 03/04/2008, -10/+4You forget this is the Mac Fanboy community, they will buy anything
- overbyte, on 03/04/2008, -0/+6pen computing failed because the market is too niche - artists, scientists and (arguably) students and the pc market (sadly the only one to take on tablets) is gamers, web designers and business - the 2 markets are completely at odds with each other.
Apple has been missing the boat on this niche, which it has traditionally served, axiotron has stepped up - firsttiger, on 03/04/2008, -0/+4It's an extremely broad generalization to say that pen computing failed. It has its uses. Although I can type fairly fast, I use my tablet quite a bit for two reasons - one is that I'm a visual thinker and the other is that as someone who interacts and directs software architects, a tablet is by far the most efficient way of communicating and working. This means that we can store all the things that we've drawn out and resend them to everyone quite quickly.
I do agree with overbyte's comment that the market is quite niche but it is starting to gain wider and broader acceptance in the market space. In Toronto, I know of at least one Healthcare IT Group who is testing it out with working with nurses and doctors. Until Vista, the tablet software wasn't that great for PCs. My concern for the Mac is that I'm not sure if the Macs are optimized for tablets yet for day-to-day use. I'd like to hear more opinions or experiences on that. - mrsteve007, on 03/04/2008, -0/+1My company proves otherwise. Tablets have saved us hundreds of thousands in time, travel and costs.
http://download.microsoft.com/documents/customerev ... - mrsteve007, on 03/04/2008, -0/+1damn digg cutting off the link
http://download.microsoft.com/documents/customerev ...
- L0g1X, on 03/04/2008, -3/+4why dont they just make a Mac tablet PC instead?
- bxblox, on 03/04/2008, -0/+1If you mean make a regular tablet pc thats preloaded with osx, apple would probably sue them.
- MaxMWood, on 03/04/2008, -1/+7slide keyboard plx
- TheMarenum, on 03/04/2008, -1/+16"No keyboard means typing is a pain"
I can only imagine.- smrekar, on 03/05/2008, -0/+1because bluetooth and usb wont work?
- schoate09, on 03/04/2008, -10/+4Cue the Apple cirlce jerk.
- sabarsky, on 03/04/2008, -1/+6No no, you meant cue the trolls.
- arjung, on 03/04/2008, -1/+8why would anyone want a 6lb+ tablet? and do you really need something like an optical drive when you don't even have a keyboard??
- bxblox, on 03/04/2008, -1/+4dont need to type to play dvd's or access data stored on dvd's
- ThankTheCheese, on 03/04/2008, -1/+5That's very impressive. They must have been crapping themselves leading up to the MacBook Air announcement with all the rumors of an official Apple tablet Mac. That would have been heartbreaking if their long, hard work had gone to waste.
- overbyte, on 03/04/2008, -2/+2this is not designed for typing - if you need to type on it, get a keyboard to plug in.
this is a cintiq with a computer built in and it's designed for people who want the functionality of a cintiq on the go but not the huge mess of cables and extra computer to boot.
There are negatives - this is a first generation machine (axiotron have hinted at more coming this year) and the cost is pretty high (like all tablets), there's no touchscreen (wacom only which is fine for artists), no programmable buttons (there is a software solution bundled), there's no accelerometer for portrait view (and there are reports that the built-in display rotate is disabled).
Traditionally, Apple has a design userbase and this is like crack to that old-guard niche. - dansy, on 03/04/2008, -4/+5Why on earth would anybody want such a very heavy gizmo when he can get the X61T convertible that is far better AND a lot lighter ???
- powdR, on 03/04/2008, -3/+7Mac OS X.
- ExtremeRyno, on 03/04/2008, -0/+8I wouldn't really consider this for art (or anything). I need a lot more pressure sensitivity than this offers. No keyboard? What the hell? Half of graphic design (in marketing and advertising at least) requires typography as well. I need a full computer to do my job. I can't imagine working with any graphics or web software without using keyboard shortcuts. I'd rather dislike having to load up the onscreen keyboard, which seems to take up ample screen space, anytime I needed to type something.
This is not good. It sounds good. It looks good. But it is not worth the money. I'd rather cart around my current 2 year old HP laptop (with better specs) and my Wacom Intuos than carry that worthless brick of a machine.
No...Just No.- jonshipman, on 03/04/2008, -3/+1An extra keyboard > having to carry around a Cintiq
- nnny, on 03/04/2008, -3/+1Title threw me off. Touchscreen "touch" implies multitouch. A tablet on the other hand uses a pen on the screen.
Why doesn't Apple make a multitouch laptop (not just the trackpad)- jonshipman, on 03/04/2008, -0/+3No... touch implies that you touch the screen for interaction You are still touching the screen with a stylus.
- cawpin, on 03/04/2008, -0/+3Touchscreen IMPLIES multi-touch? How old are you?
- Ratteler, on 03/04/2008, -1/+1Bluetooth? Apples new chiklette BT keyboard would solve most of the key problems with this.
Although I am waiting for the Modbook Pro. with better graphics. - Nepix, on 03/04/2008, -1/+0I would need a keyboard, and better graphics? I will be waiting too...
- shiftt, on 03/04/2008, -0/+1More MacBook mods: http://www.applemacbook.com/mods
- stillasleep00, on 03/04/2008, -0/+1***** gizmodo
- lolo2007, on 05/14/2008, -0/+0That's very impressive. They must have been crapping themselves leading up to the MacBook Air announcement with all the rumors of an official Apple tablet Mac. That would have been heartbreaking if their long, hard work had gone to waste.
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