Axiotron Modbook

Modbook
Developer Axiotron, Inc.
Type Tablet Computer
Release date December 31, 2007[1]
Introductory price USD$899
CPU Intel Core 2 Duo, 2.1GHz
Website Axiotron Modbook

The Modbook is an after-market modification that converts an Apple MacBook into a slate-style tablet computer.[2] Developed by Los Angeles, California-based Axiotron, Inc., the Modbook was introduced in the 2007 Macworld Conference & Expo. It won a Best in Show award at that same conference.[3] The Modbook is currently the only tablet-form Mac that has ever been commercially available. At Macworld 2009, Axiotron announced the future availability of the Modbook Pro, a larger and more powerful system based on the 15" MacBook Pro.

Conversion process

The top segments of the MacBook are removed, which include the keyboard, LCD screen and camera. A glass screen cover, a new LCD screen, a sensor board, the original camera and a chrome-plated magnesium top shell are then installed. This is done either to a new-from-Apple MacBook for a device sold complete to a new owner, or to the customer's previously owned MacBook for an after-market modification.

Description

As the Modbook is based on Apple's MacBook, its technical specifications are largely similar to that of the then-current revisions of the MacBook.

A Modbook Pro on display at the Axiotron booth during Macworld Expo 2009.

As of January 2009, the Modbook uses an Intel Core 2 Duo Penryn CPU. The CPUs have 3 MB of L2 cache and run at an 800 MHz Front Side Bus. The CPUs run at 2.1 GHz. The Modbook's main memory is supplied by two DDR2 DIMMs running at 667 MHz. The basic configuration has 1 GB with the option to upgrade to as much as 4GB.

The standard Modbook has space for one primary SATA hard drive, which can be configured up to capacities of 500 GB, and an ATA optical drive. The optical drive may be replaced with a secondary hard drive, although this is limited to an ATA interface and drive speeds of 5400rpm.

Connectivity options on the Modbook are identical to the underlying MacBook and include two USB 2.0 ports and a single Firewire port. Networking is supported with an integrated Gigabit Ethernet port, a Wi-Fi card that supports the 802.11 a/b/g/draft-n specification and Bluetooth. The Modbook can also be connected to an external display device using a Mini-DVI port (supports DVI, VGA, S-video, and composite video). The system includes an integrated iSight webcam. A modification from the original MacBook is the inclusion of a WAAS GPS device.

The Modbook has the same size display as the MacBook, but uses a different screen more suited to use as a tablet computer. The display layer is called "AnyView", which is bonded to the pen-tracking layer called "ForceGlass". The tracking layer is the outermost, and has been chemically etched in order to improve the durability of the screen and also improve the response of the stylus. The tablet computer functionality is provided by an active digitizer, using Wacom's Penabled technology. On the standard Modbook, input is only possible using the included stylus or by using compatible peripherals. The system uses Apple's Inkwell software to recognize handwriting.ModBook Pro only supports Pen Input,does not support Finger Touch Input.The Stylus pen with the ModBook Pro has higher Pressure sensitivity levels than that of its predecessor,it supports 1024 levels of Pressure Sensitivity.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Axiotron's Highly Anticipated and Award-Winning Modbook Ships Today". 2007-12-31. Archived from the original on 2008-06-15.
  2. ↑ McLean, Prince (2007-01-11). "Unofficial Mac tablet draws record crowd at Macworld (high-res photos)". Apple Insider. Apple Insider. Archived from the original on 18 April 2007. Retrieved 2007-04-28.
  3. ↑ Honan, Mathew (2007-01-11). "Expo Best of Show winner profiles". Macworld. Macworld. Archived from the original on 8 May 2007. Retrieved 2007-05-15.

External links

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