Arstechnica posts its first impressions of the new ModBook--a slate Tablet created out of a MacBook--that was announced at MacWorld.
The company that makes this Mac mod, Axiotron, starts with a basic MacBook and then moves its guts to a custom slate case. The special case houses the standard MacBook motherboard as well as a custom 13.3" wide screen, view anywhere display and a WACOM digitizer. The display resolution is 1200x800. Currently only landscape mode is supported, although the company says that when Tiger is released it will be possible to rotate the display to portrait mode. I don't see any mention of an attachable keyboard or similar.
The author was "impressed" with the feel of the slate ModBook although he says that the handwriting recognition doesn't appear to be as good as that on a Windows-based Tablet.
You can order one here. The starting price is $2199 and includes a free GPS upgrade if ordered by Feb 1, 2007.
I wonder who is going to be the first to load Vista on this?
Likewise, it would be smart of Apple to include these mod'ed MacBooks on their store, much as Dell resells Motion Computing Tablets. It would give Apple a good idea of how the market views Tablets and might just help it competing against Windows-based units.


Incremental Blogger