MacTablet to be unveiled next week

[Rob Bushway]

Looks like we might be getting a MacTablet soon. According to a press release from Axiotron, Other World Computing will be unveiling the ModBook, as designed by Axiotron,on January 9th during MacWorld.
With CES and MacWorld next week, it should be one heck of a week for tech news, especially for Tablet PC related news. I'm looking forward to seeing what OWC comes out with.
Thanks to GBM reader, Kevin Bals and Greg Chodaczek for the tip.
Here is Axiotron's press release on the ModBook Tablet from Axiotron


El Segundo, CA - Solution hardware manufacturer Axiotron, Inc. and technology solutions provider Other World Computing (OWC) today announced that they will be unveiling the ModBook?, the first ever Mac® tablet computer solution, on January 9th, at the Macworld Conference & Expo in San Francisco. After an invitation-only press showcase, the Axiotron ModBook will be unveiled to the general public at 2:30 PM at the Other World Computing Booth #S2218.


The ModBook is a high-end slate-style notebook computer solution, which was designed in California by Axiotron?s team of German and American engineers and will be available in the U.S. through an exclusive joint-venture arrangement between Axiotron and Other World Computing. Following a demonstration by Axiotron engineers and OWC product specialists, consumers will be able to experience hands-on trials of the Axiotron ModBook at the Other World Computing Macworld booth, #S2218.


The Axiotron ModBook features WACOM Penabled® hardware for true pen input and is fully compatible with Apple's Inkwell, a Mac OS X Tiger feature that provides system level handwriting and gesture recognition to all Mac applications. Drawing and writing directly on the screen provides for a uniquely intuitive user experience and its slim, slate-style form factor makes the ModBook the ultimate companion for mobile users, artists, professionals and students.


The ModBook is also the only portable Mac solution that features an optional built-in Global Positioning System (GPS). The Axiotron ModBook GPS Module was developed in cooperation with GlobalSat Technologies Corporation utilizing the industry leading SiRFstar? III chipset for shorter first location fix times and improved tracking capabilities.


Designed by Axiotron, the ModBook will be available in the US exclusively through Other World Computing. Visit www.MacSales.com or call (800) 275-4576.
Here is a snippet from News.com:
OWC's ModBook will be unveiled on Tuesday at Macworld. The ModBook is a MacBook that has been converted into a slate tablet. It will run Mac OS X and allow users to draw pictures or write text directly on the screen, according to Lawrence O'Connor of OWC. Apple's Inkwell technology is what will allow ModBook users to draw on their Macs.
The ModBook will be featured on the show floor, and more details are expected to be revealed at the show. It will also come with integrated GPS (global positioning system) technology, a built-in iSight camera, and a CD/DVD drive, according to OWC's Web page.

[sierra]

The ModBook will be featured on the show floor, and more details are expected to be revealed at the show. It will also come with integrated GPS (global positioning system) technology, a built-in iSight camera, and a CD/DVD drive, according to OWC's Web page.

Now if this means an integrated CD/ DVD in a slate, that's revolutionary.

I'm willing to keep an open mind, but I haven't been a Mac person in ... ever. Anything that makes slates "cool" though, seems like a good thing.

[Digitaldoc]

I own a Macbook and an Imac desktop. Unfortunately, at least for me, I have to dual boot, use Parallels or use my PC, to get any real work done.
I still like my beautiful Macs though. I'm sure theMacTPC will be exquisite.Edited by: Digitaldoc

[everbrave]

Finally a dream comes true sooner than expected! It is the OS I have been waiting for! My Tablet is the only Window computer I have (had?)!!
Soon I will be "Windows-free". I will hold-back my X60T order.

When will GBM add an Apple/Mac to the sub-categories? [img]smileys/smiley1.gif[/img] Edited by: everbrave

[Sergei]

It's good news, but it seems like nothing is being added to the OS to take advantage of the interface. As I understood it, Inkwell only recognizes printing, not cursive handwriting. That would be a big slowdown.

[rcxAsh]

I have nothing against Apple, but here's something I've been wondering about this whole MacTablet thing...

Microsoft has been pushing Tablet PCs for the longest time now. And it's been moving slowly at best. Most people I know aren't too familiar with the concept of a Tablet PC. So really, not many people know that they even exist.

So enter the MacTablet. I'm assuming that Apple will market this very aggressively. At least, people always know about Apple products. They know about their desktop computers, their laptop computers and their MP3 players. So of course, they will know about their new tablet. And of course, the majority of people I've talked with feel that Apple computers are superior to "PCs." (where a PC is any computer that is not an Apple computer... Fujitsu, Lenovo, HP, whatever).

My thoughts are that with the release of the MacTablet, many people in the world will react, "Oh! Look at this cool new never-been-done-before innovation that Apple has cranked out! It's really amazing! Why didn't anyone do this before?!"

And before you know it, the MacTablet will become synonymous with the term "Tablet PC." Just as, to my personal peeve, how the iPod has become synonymous with MP3 player. People may even begin to think that companies like Fujitsu, Lenovo, HP, and Toshiba are just copying Apple's new tablet computer (while in reality, they've been putting out Tablet PCs for years before Apple).

You won't talk about Tablet PCs anymore; you'll talk about MacTablets, just as how people rarely talk about MP3 players anymore. Rather, iPods.

Again, I don't have anything against Apple. I think that they put out some good stuff (though, I can't speak from much experience). I'm just a little worried that Tablet PCs will fade into the shadows while Apple steals the limelight with their MacTablet.

I swear if it happened with the iPod, I can see this happening with Tablet PCs.

It's a neat branding thing that Apple has going though... notice that Apple notebooks are always referred to as iBooks, PowerBooks or MacBooks. Whereas any other non-Apple laptop computer is always just a notebook. (Albeit, I sometimes call my Fujitsu notebook a Lifebook ). Similarly, Apple MP3 players are always strictly called iPods. I rarely call my Sony Clie UX40 a Clie anymore. Rather, either an MP3 player, or a PDA.

I think this marketing has served Apple very well, and kudos to them for it!

But is anyone else slightly annoyed at the fact that Apple may suddenly take the world by storm with their MacTablet only to leave us early adopters of Microsoft's concept of Tablet PCs in the dust..? Microsoft will be lost in the dust here. Their name has a very bad rep, even though their idea of a Tablet PC is actually quite good. I have a feeling that people will now accept it into the mainstream market because it's an Apple product as opposed to a Fujitsu or Toshiba product, for example.In my opinion, this is unfortunate and a very shallow reason for adopting pen-based computing.

Oh Apple. (Again, nothing against Apple! I just thought I'd see what people think about this)Edited by: rcxAsh

[everbrave]

rcxAsh,

Apple was first to introduce the tablet concept in what you would call PDA/UMPC throught three generations of Apple Newton. Not only as hardware but also through a specialised OS (not just XP with an add-on). Apple lead the market with the Personal Computer (PC) Apple II. Apple made PC's popular and easy to use through their GUI (which Apple adopted from Xerox). It would take too long to explain how Microsoft was "lending" the concepts from Apple and marketing them better (e.g. on IBM hardware).
Apple was always a step ahead of MS, again with MacOSX before Visa (Aero instead of Aqua :-). BTW, I have nothing against MS!
So, it was actually the opposite; MS was harvesting the fruits of Apple's innovation. We should be happy to have such an innovative company like Apple which has been caring for hardware, software and user-interface from the very start.

Now, with regard to the MacTablet, Apple has a long experience with Newton handwriting recognition (think ritePen) and user interface, let alone the OS stability and ease of use. Expect a better tablet for all of us!
On the marketing side, I expect Apple to put its tablet in the centre of a multimedia concept involving WiFi streaming, remote control, etc. with a wide spectrum of accessories. For the moment, I am happy to have MacOSX on my tablet and live Windows/Vista-free!
Again, I have nothing against Microsoft Edited by: everbrave

[segalsegal]

The MacTablets are just a modification of existing Apple hardware by a third party, apparently with no Tablet-specific Macintosh software. As such, they are likely to be expensive, as foreshadowed with the words "high end" in the press release.

The hopeful scenario is that these will sell well, despite their likely high price, and Apple will enter the market. But unless the modification folks have a side deal with Apple, Apple is likely to deal with these guys like the Power Computing folks and freeze them out once they start showing success.

[everbrave]

segalsegal,
I guess you are right! Probably, this product is a modification of the MacBook (as the name ModBook indicates) and it will be expensive. I hope, however, that Apple will come with more tablet specific SW. Again, the bottom line is to get MacOSX, altough not enough, but the tablet opens the door for developer to make -at least Apple own apps- work with the pen.
We shall see!

[rcxAsh]

rcxAsh,

Apple was first to introduce the tablet concept in what you would call PDA/UMPC throught three generations of Apple Newton. Not only as hardware but also through a specialised OS (not just XP with an add-on). Apple lead the market with the Personal Computer (PC) Apple II. Apple made PC's popular and easy to use through their GUI (which Apple adopted from Xerox). It would take too long to explain how Microsoft was "lending" the concepts from Apple and marketing them better (e.g. on IBM hardware).
Apple was always a step ahead of MS, again with MacOSX before Visa (Aero instead of Aqua :-). BTW, I have nothing against MS!
So, it was actually the opposite; MS was harvesting the fruits of Apple's innovation. We should be happy to have such an innovative company like Apple which has been caring for hardware, software and user-interface from the very start.

Now, with regard to the MacTablet, Apple has a long experience with Newton handwriting recognition (think ritePen) and user interface, let alone the OS stability and ease of use. Expect a better tablet for all of us!
On the marketing side, I expect Apple to put its tablet in the centre of a multimedia concept involving WiFi streaming, remote control, etc. with a wide spectrum of accessories. For the moment, I am happy to have MacOSX on my tablet and live Windows/Vista-free!
Again, I have nothing against Microsoft [IMG]smileys/smiley2.gif" align="middle" />

Ah, you know what, I had forgotten about the Apple Newton. I had also forgotten about how Apple was the first one to really put out a nice GUI for their operating system. (And how Microsoft subsequently followed in step).

I realize that a lot of my comments were misguided and a little unweighted [img]smileys/smiley9.gif[/img] (one of those type now think later things)

But I think my main question was, if Apple were to put out a tablet, would Fujitsu, Toshiba, Lenovo, etc fade into the background. Similarly to how other MP3 players have faded into the background while the iPod became the defacto MP3 player. (I always find it neat how iPods are rarely sold next to MP3 players - they're always to a section by themselves. Their marketing department must have some great minds)