Modbook Mac-based tablet shows promise, but limited appeal

Devilish details undermine the US$2,279 price tag

I suggested to my partner, a real estate agent, that the Modbook might be useful when evaluating properties. He could easily snap pictures with the iSight and then e-mail them from field -- as long as there was a Wi-Fi connection nearby. However, he pooh-poohed it. Pictures can be sent from his cell phone, he said, and the Modbook's weight would be a hindrance.

Too mod?

As unique as the Modbook is, it isn't without issues, some of which might be showstoppers. A few times when I turned it on, the cursor froze on the screen once OS X was up and running; I had to reboot the machine.

The opacity of the Quickclicks keyboard can be changed so that it brightens on-screen when the cursor is nearby -- making it easier to tap virtual keys -- and then dims when the cursor moves away, so you can better see other windows. The keyboard can also be minimized so that it moves to the Dock, keeping it out of the way until needed. Somehow while using the Modbook, I managed to lose the virtual keyboard a few times. I don't know if I accidentally turned the opacity all the way down, but clicking the menu bar icon for the keyboard brought it back on-screen.

I also found that the screen seemed dimmer than I'm used to with Macs, although, to be fair, anything pales in comparison to the MacBook Air I now use regularly. The dimmer screen could be an issue for users working with a Modbook outside in direct sunlight.

My biggest concern -- aside from the handwriting-recognition issues mentioned above -- is the Modbook's weight. I've gotten used to my 3-lb. MacBook Air since I bought it two months ago, and this thing felt like a lead brick when I first picked it up. It's actually not; it only weighs about a half-pound more than a MacBook, putting it at about 5.2 lb. But given the small form factor, the Modbook feels heavier than it is. If you're going to be carrying it around all day, start pumping iron now; your biceps will thank you.

In an Ars Technica interview during Macworld 2008, Axiotron CEO Andreas Haas was asked whether the company would ever make a Modbook based on the then recently introduced MacBook Air. Haas, who once worked at Apple, said Axiotron is looking into it. If at all possible, I'd recommend they try.

Although the Modbook is undoubtedly a cool concept, the reality for day-to-day use makes it a device aimed at a few narrow niche markets. This, I suspect, is why Apple hasn't come up with its own tablet, despite rumors for years that just such a device is around the corner. And clearly, handwriting technology still has a way to go before becoming truly useful.

However, if you need a slate-style tablet that allows you to write or draw on the screen, the Modbook is about your only choice in the Apple universe. It appears to be well built, offers a unique feature set, comes with a one-year warranty and is based around Apple's solid operating system. Prices start at US$2,279, which is almost $1,000 more than a similar MacBook would cost.

You can also customize the Modbook with more memory and a bigger hard drive -- and you can even have Axiotron replace the optical drive with a second hard drive. Maxing out the configuration with those add-ons pushes the price just north of US$3,000.

For that price, you could buy two MacBooks and a Garmin GPS. Ouch.

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