Tablet PC, Mac style: a review of the Axiotron ModBook

A solution in search of a problem?

The rumors of the Modbook’s demise have been greatly exaggerated. Introduced in January of 2007 at the Macworld Expo, Axiotron‘s modified MacBook caught the attention of many Mac users who had been waiting for Apple to introduce its own tablet-like machine—particularly artists and graphic professionals.

Unfortunately, Axiotron encountered a number of setbacks throughout 2007 that ultimately caused the ModBook to be delayed for a year, causing some to write off the ModBook as vaporware. At Macworld 2008, Axiotron CEO Andreas Haas spoke with us about what caused the delays, why the company chose to go ahead with a Mac-based tablet, and what the future looked like for the ModBook.

With Axiotron fulfilling all of its backed-up preorders and catching up on orders from Macworld, the company is finally on track and has a shipping product. Without any official tablet-like product from Apple, the ModBook is the only machine of its kind that runs Mac OS X, and it’s the perfect time to put one through its paces.

Out of the box

The ModBook comes to you in its original MacBook packaging, so the “unboxing” experience is extremely similar to any other MacBook from Apple. In addition to the machine itself, a packet of system discs, and the power supply, the ModBook also comes with one extra stylus and a small package full of stylus tips.

Filed under: Komputer, Apple, Hardware, Leopard, Macintosh, Rumor

Psystar Open Computer

CNET editors’ review

• Reviewed by: Rich Brown
• Reviewed on: 04/30/2008
• Updated on:05/01/2008
• Released on: 04/14/2008

Editor’s note: Shortly after this review posted we tried out VMware to see if the Open Computer will support running Windows Vista on top of OS X. We can confirm that it does.

Psystar says its goal in selling its Open Computer, a non-Apple-made computer with the Leopard operating system as an option, is to give consumers more choice and better bang for the buck then we currently have from Apple. At least today, and with our $740 review configuration, it appears to be on to something. Let’s be clear from the start, this is not an Apple system, and it lacks some of the polish and the features we’re used to seeing in an OS X-based computer. And as iPhone early adopters can tell you, you’re often just a software update away from crippled hardware if Apple decides it doesn’t like what you’re doing with its products. Still, after spending some time with this system we remain cautiously optimistic. Its raw performance is very strong for the price, and most of the core OS X functionality is there. As long as you understand the risks and the limitations going in, if you’re looking for a basic, OS X-based desktop, the Open Computer will let you do most of the things you can do with a Mac Mini faster, and for less money.

Filed under: Komputer, Komputer, Macintosh, Rumor

iPod Nano Photos? Or Just an iPod Clone?

Thursday August 28, 2008 03:45 PM EST; Category: iPod
Written by Arnold Kim

Note: This is a Page 2 News Item

One reader points us to a comment post that links to a number of photos from a Chinese website which appear to depict the new iPod nano. The photos look convincing enough to represent a photos of a true object, however, a number of details make us believe this is simply an iPod clone and not the future iPod Nano. The photos depict a widescreen Nano as rumored, but have no Apple logo, no iPod dock connector and what appears to be a non-standard splash screen.

Filed under: Komputer, Apple, Ipod, Rumor, Teknologi

Rumor: Apple and AT&T working on tethering deal

A few weeks back on the Talkcast, we had an interesting little discussion about just where Apple’s boundaries were on the App Store — so far, you really only get kicked off if you charge too much, if your apps vibrate wrong, or if you steal someone’s copyright. Oh, and there’s that one more little exception: if you provide folks with the ability to tether the iPhone’s networking ability to your own Mac.

Filed under: Komputer, Apple, Rumor, Teknologi