Here we go with another week in review. Monday IDC released their data on the number of CPUs shipped for Q3 2009. The number of CPUS shipped grew 23% for the quarter compared to the previous year. ZiiLABS unveiled its new ZMS-08 Blu-ray quality media processor this week. The processor promises to be full 1080p HD video support and more for portable devices like tablets.
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Axiotron's Modbook has long been the only semi-official way to get an Apple tablet, with the company taking a pre-unibody MacBook and swiftly twisting it into a Wacom-enabled touchscreen slate. While we loved our review unit, we weren't too keen on the high price; happily OWC - one of Axiotron's official distribution and conversion agents - have announced a slash of both new and conversion pricing.
Touchscreen MacBook conversions aren’t new, and in fact if you’ve got the money then we’ll be the first to say that the Axiotron ModBook is a great off-the-shelf OS X tablet. If, though, you don’t have the money and you want the accuracy of a Wacom active digitizer, you might have to replicate Wei’s iTab project: merging a Wacom Intuos tablet with a first-gen 1.83GHz MacBook.
Video demo after the cut
We were big fans of the Axiotron Modbook when we tested the MacBook-touchscreen slate conversion back in February last year, and it looks like it’ll be getting even better with the addition of Synergy Touch. A combination of capacitive and active digitizer touch, Synergy uses Touch International’s projected capacitive technology to take advantage of both finger and stylus control.
Video overview after the cut
Axiotron, maker of the successful Mac tablet, the Modbook, have just announced an update to their system that really changes the entire thing for the better. This isn’t just a miniscule upgrade; rather, it’s significant.
Some of the updates affect the system’s hardware controller board. This has made for overall improved system performance, better battery life and an improved sleep function. Radio frequency shielding now also improves the digitizer’s responsiveness, making it so the tablet is not as susceptible to interference.
The Modbook AnyView LCD panel has also gotten an upgrade by means of a new bonding process and a ForceGlass screen cover that improves contrast ratio. Plus, it now features the QuadCoat process, which protects the top shell with a liquid metallic coating. Apparently, this process was taken from the auto industry and reduces the overall weight down to 5.3 pounds. Other added features include full Bluetooth, improved compatibility with Mac OS X, improved GPS, Autodesk SketchBook software and more. You can get the new and improved Modbook now for $1,299 for just the modification of a MacBook or $2,249 for a MacBook and the modification combined.
Axiotron, makers of the ModBook Mac Tablet that we were reviewed back in February, are now offering a service to convert any plastic Core 2 Duo MacBook into a pen-enabled slate. The ‘Modservice’ adds a 512-pressure-level Wacom digitizer, glass screen, GPS and chromed display bezel, creating a tablet ideal for graphics professionals and mobile users. It’s cheaper than a brand new Modbook, too, starting at $1,299.
With all the Apple rumors over the past week or so, Brenda and I were discussing whether we’d rather see a grown-up iPod Touch-style UMPC from the company, or a full-sized MacBook Tablet. As a Tablet PC user in the past, I’m a sucker for the full-sized option running OS X; Brenda is more keen on something super-portable that will kick Microsoft’s UMPC format into the dust. In the end, we decided to argue it out online and give SlashGear readers the chance to throw in their opinions too; we’re calling it “He Said, She Said” and you can read our thoughts (and leave your own) after the cut.
This is the final half of my review of the Axiotron ModBook, sadly I am shipping it out, back to them, tomorrow. I must first say that I have surely fallen in love with the MacBook and OS X as a result of this review as I’d never used either prior to this review.
So, I’ve had this thing for a few hours short of a full day, and I’ve got some stuff to report, but I don’t want to call this the end of the review, I am going to give it a few more days and then give the final part of the review. So far, I am not sold on it, but, my sister, who is taking classes in college for photography and the various digital arts got her hands on it and wouldn’t let go until I took it away to charge it.
Its been a long hard road, but they wanted to get it done right the first time, and so far it seems they have. Axiotron is finally producing their ModBook.
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