Rutland Manor is the co-founder and developer of the ASD Australian Labradoodle. They have been developing this loving, intuitive and intelligent breed for the past two decades. Their work has changed countless lives in that time by providing non-shedding, allergen free service dogs and companions to families all around the world.

Today, Rutland Manor is in danger of being closed permanently due to the greed of a local council. They are eager to evict Rutland Manor off of property that is rightfully theirs so that they can make more money off of the land as a residential development. The local council is playing very unfairly, even threatening Beverley Manners, RM’s owner and operator, with heavy fines or even jail time. Beverley is nearing 70 years in age and they are threatening to throw her in jail without cause!

From my own experience, Beverley Manners is a compassionate and dedicated woman who seeks only to better the breed she loves so dearly, and to help those around her. Over the past two decades, Beverley has donated countless Labradoodles to groups who have trained them as service dogs for the disabled. She has donated large portions of Rutland Manor’s profits to fund clean water efforts in Africa. In no way does she deserve such unfair bullying by those eager to make themselves richer at her expense.

Don’t just take my word as evidence. Read the numerous stories on her site as proof of her dedication to the Labradoodles and their families.

It’s very rare to run across someone so deserving of assistance. It’s even less common when you can help someone by simply signing your name. That is all that’s needed. Sign your name, stand up to a greedy bully and save a woman’s life work. Enable her to continue helping hundreds of people each year.

Please click here to sign the petition and help save Rutland Manor.

Please. Thank you.
Ryan

Take a brief moment to read the release, and then we’ll discuss the writing on the wall for Axiotron, OWC and the Modbook.

Here is the meat of the release:

October 09, 2008

Company Announces Axiotron Modservice, Allowing Customers to Transform Their Existing Apple MacBook into an Axiotron Modbook

El SEGUNDO, CALIFORNIA – High-tech hardware manufacturer Axiotron® today announced Axiotron Modservice™, a groundbreaking new service that will for the first time enable customers to transform their existing Apple® MacBook® computer into an Axiotron Modbook®, the one and only Mac-based tablet computer. Customers will be able to send their Apple MacBook to an Axiotron authorized and trained service provider for conversion into a full-featured Axiotron Modbook.

Axiotron Modservice will be available for pre-ordering in the U.S. beginning October 28, 2008, starting at just $1,299.

The Axiotron Modbook is the world’s only tablet Mac® solution – an award-winning tablet computer that seamlessly integrates an Apple MacBook, a state-of-the-art Penabled® digitizer from Wacom® and Axiotron’s own hardware and software technology. The result: a revolutionary slate tablet that lets users draw and write directly on the screen.

Until now, all Axiotron Modbooks have incorporated only brand new Apple MacBook base systems. With Axiotron Modservice, virtually any Intel® Core™ 2 Duo-based Apple MacBook can become an Axiotron Modbook. This new service also enables enterprises and educational institutions to take advantage of their existing supply agreements for Apple hardware when purchasing Axiotron Modbooks.

“Our Axiotron Modservice is a customer-driven initiative, plain and simple,” said Axiotron CEO Andreas Haas. “We have had intense demand for a service that would give customers a way to turn their computer into a Modbook, and we are excited to offer them this new option.”

When Axiotron launches Modservice on October 28, 2008, customers can go to http://www.axiotron.com/modservice to place a pre-order for the service. Customers who pre-order early secure a place in line when Modbook conversions begin in November.

Axiotron will soon announce an expansion of its U.S. network of service providers to perform Axiotron Modservice, as well as a new line of warranty options for the service.

Additional information about Axiotron Modservice is available at http://www.axiotron.com/modservice.

Detailed availability information, ordering instructions and other service guidelines will become available when Axiotron Modservice launches on October 28, 2008.

So, what does that mean for the Modbook?

Timing is everything

The fact that Axiotron made this announcement only hours after Apple made the new Macbook announcement official shows that major changes are coming to the Macbook line. It is my opinion that Axiotron has opened up the Modservice program to keep the Modbook alive, and cash rolling in, as they redesign the Modbook conversion kit to suit the new Macbook form factor.

Quantities of the current Macbook will soon dwindle, which means OWC and Axiotron are facing a dead-end on the Modbook front until Axiotron can successfully modify the new Macbook.

The Modservice option will allow them to continue offering this iteration of the Modbook while work is focused on the the second generation. But the real question, and the cloud over Axiotron’s head, is how long will that take? Axiotron announced the original Modbook, and began accepting orders, well over a year before the first successful conversions began shipping. Will a similar delay be ahead for the second generation?

Black Modbooks

In the press release, Andreas says that, “With Axiotron Modservice, virtually any Intel® Core™ 2 Duo-based Apple MacBook can become an Axiotron Modbook.” For months, I’ve read grumblings from the Modbook community in Axiotron’s decision to base the Modbook on the white Macbook. Axiotron defended it’s stance on the basis that there was no performance gain between the two colors, but you would pay a higher price for the black finish, which they didn’t see as necessary.

Now you are able to purchase a Black Macbook, or use your existing Macbook, and have the Modservice performed, which allows you to own the sought-after black Modbook.

What about existing orders?

If you are already waiting on a new Modbook, what should you do? Honestly, that’s a tough decision to make. Having my Modbook in hand, I feel no sense of urgency to upgrade. For my needs, my current Modbook is spectacular. But, as with any product line, the introduction of something bigger and better will immediately have an impact on the resale value of your Modbook. Your Modbook will no longer be the biggest, best or fastest modification out there; it will be the previous generation.

If I were still on the list today, knowing new Macbooks and Modbooks are on the horizon, I’d keep my order. Looking at the Modbook, and how I use it, there aren’t many improvements I am in dire need of, especially with Axiotron’s Bluetooth solution in the pipeline. I am sure the new Macbooks will be shinier, faster, slimmer and weigh less, but none of those effect how I use my Modbook. I do not find it unwieldy, overly heavy or unpretty. I wouldn’t give up my place in line for an uncertain future, knowing it could be well over a year before a new Modbook rolls off of the assembly line. In that time, I could use the Modbook for a year and consider upgrading when they go in to full production mode.

The Modbook just got cheaper

A quick search on Ebay turns up quite a few used Macbooks in the $600-$800 range (using only Buy It Now examples. Regular auction prices will fluctuate). (Our friend NervousChimp also pointed out the refurbished Macbook units from Apple as a cost-saving measure. Great idea!)

Let’s assume you go the Ebay route and you’re able to get a good quality Macbook for $750, then add on the minimum $1,200 Modservice fee. You now have a Modbook costing roughly $1,950.00 pre-tax and other fees. Or, even cheaper still, let’s say you already have a capable Macbook on hand, then you only need raise the base $1,200 Modservice fee and you’ve got your Modbook!

The base price of the cheapest Modbook configuration is currently $2,239.00.

The verdict

All in all, I believe this is a positive decision for the Modbook community. It shows, again, that Axiotron has no intention of throwing in the towel on the Modbook line, and it shows that they are being creative when faced with a major supply change.

Thanks again to NervousChimp for the tip!

Engadget has received an official invitation from Apple for a Town Hall event in San Francisco next Tuesday, October 14th at 10AM PST.

With the artwork above, it is safe to say we’ll be looking at a laptop-centric event, but we still don’t know what that entails.

The Apple blogging world has been blazing with rumors about a new laptop model codenamed “the brick”. No one has specific details, but the consensus seems to be that the brick might not actually be a new laptop model, but a manufacturing process that will sculpt the Macbook chassis out of a single piece of aluminum. Again, that’s just speculation. We won’t know for sure until next week!

Personally, I think we’ll see the Macbook and Macbook Pro fall in line with the Macbook Air and iMac aesthetic; they body will be aluminum and the feature black accents. There will be speed increases of course, and other surprise features, but I don’t think Apple will re-invent the wheel.

Many are saying that Apple will unveil a new laptop aimed at the netbooks that have gained popularity in the last 6 months or so. I can’t see Apple doing that. Instead, I expect to see multi-touch brought to the entire Macbook line, and I am expecting Apple to drop the Macbook’s base price to the $700-$800 range (down from $1,099).

Again, these are just ideas. If history has proven anything, it’s that Jobs and Co. are magicians who defy our expectations, but always keep us wanting more.

The real question

Depending on how thorough of a redesign is involved, the next question we’re lead to is: what about the Modbook?

Previously, I wasn’t sure if Axiotron would commit to modifying the Modbook kit after such a rough start on the Modbook version 1. But, in light of the recent Bluetooth hardware solution announcement, I believe that Andreas and Axiotron continue to be committed to the Modbook and the Modbook community. I believe they will modify the kit as needed, and will continue turning out the beautiful little gadgets we’ve all come to love.

But, and here is the painful question, how long will the wait be? And what about us early adopters? If Apple upgrades the base Modbook exponentially, will we feel the urge to ditch our first generation Modbooks and upgrade?

Only time will tell!

Tune in next Tuesday for the Modbookers.com semi-live coverage of the Apple Town Hall meeting. In the mean time, what do you think Modbookers?

It appears that Axiotron has finally arrived at a permanent solution to the on-going and frustrating issues Modbook owners have been experiencing with Bluetooth for months now. I think that their solution is both surprising and thorough. So, let’s start with the actual post (link):

Dear Modbook Owners,

Earlier this year we committed to resolve Bluetooth/Mac OS X compatibility issues on the Axiotron Modbook.

Our original efforts focused on a software patch to repair the Bluetooth driver – one that our customers could easily download. Unfortunately, we found that routine updates to Mac OS X would potentially “break” the driver again, causing Bluetooth downtime until another patch was developed.

One of Axiotron’s core principles is that product modifications should be “base platform independent.” Modifications should add new features but preserve native functionality, with no special treatment required from the original manufacturer.

For these reasons, we decided to develop a hardware upgrade to restore and maintain the Modbook’s Bluetooth capabilities. Axiotron will release the details of this Bluetooth Compatibility Upgrade next month.

After this upgrade Bluetooth devices will again pair normally with your Modbook. The upgrade restores full Apple MacBook compatibility to the Axiotron Modbook. Since the upgrade enables the standard Apple MacBook Bluetooth hardware and software drivers, future Mac OS X operating system or driver updates will not disrupt your Axiotron Modbook’s Bluetooth capabilities on account of the Modbook.

The Modbook Bluetooth Compatibility Upgrade program will be made available to every Modbook owner free-of-charge. This program includes free round-trip shipping of your Modbook in the U.S. and Canada.

In addition, beginning next month every new Axiotron Modbook will incorporate the new Bluetooth compatibility hardware design. Modbooks that ship in the meantime qualify for the free upgrade program. Customers with pending orders who wish to wait for a Modbook with the new hardware design should contact their Axiotron Authorized System Manufacturer.

Thank you for your patience while we worked to overcome this challenge.

Sincerely,

Andreas Haas
CEO

To break that down: it appears that Apple doesn’t intend on working with Axiotron to isolate and resolve the software conflict causing this issue. Because of this, Axiotron is developing a hardware patch that will supersede any software issues that arise during OS X updates.

What really surprises me is that Axiotron is updating all of our Modbooks free of cost.

First off, the shipping alone for this sort of effort will be staggering. It would be interesting to hear exactly how many Modbooks are in the wild, but I don’t know that Axiotron would reveal those numbers to us. Whatever the number, once you add in the cost of developing and testing the hardware patch, the shipping costs, the labor involved in modifying your Modbook, then shipping it back, Axiotron has made a substantial financial commitment to appeasing the Modbook community.

And now on to the negative.

According to this statement, we will have to ship our Modbooks in to be updated. But the glaring omission from this statement is an estimated turn around time frame. For those of us who rely on our Modbooks day in and day out, this could prove to be a major inconvenience. Are we looking at 7-10 days? 2-3 months? Hopefully, as Axiotron releases more information on this hardware patch next month, it will be accompanied with an estimated time frame for resolution and return.

All in all, I am impressed with Axiotron and Andreas. The Bluetooth issue has proven to be a major nuisance to many users, and they are taking steps to provide a permanent solution to satisfy their customers.

What about you Modbookers? Does this announcement give you any peace? What do you think are the pros and cons?

Eric was selected as our first spotlight artist because he illustrates each episode of Boodachitaville entirely on his Modbook. That fact blows away all of the rumors about the Modbook’s potential being limited for the average artist (we don’t need no stinkin’ Modbook Pro). Eric’s work is proof that the computer is as capable as the artist wielding it.

Ryan Arrowsmith: First off: thanks for agreeing to be interviewed by Modbookers.com! Tell us a little about yourself Eric. Where are you currently working and what do you do there?
Eric Lee: I am the Animation Ninja (read: Director) at a production house, Steelehouse, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. I do everything animation - from 3D, to 2D, to motion graphics, to special effects. Most of our work is in short films, music videos, and live event media.

RA: How old are you, if you don’t mind me asking?
EL: Not at all. I’m 27-years-old.

RA: AwesomeI A popular web comic and you’re an official Animation Ninja - all before the age of 30. That’s impressive! I’m sure all the art lovin’ ladies out there will want to know: are you hitched or still on the market? Any kids?
EL: I’m happily married to my lovely wife, Nathalie, with two dogs: a Beagle, Kittie, and a Chihuahua, Bunny.

RA: Dogs named Kittie and Bunny? That’s certainly…..creative! Have you always been an artist or artistically inclined?
EL: Yup. For as long as I can remember, I’ve always known I wanted to be an animator.

RA: Prior to purchasing your Modbook, were you an Apple user? If so, what were some of the models you’ve owned?
EL: I have definitely been a die-hard mac user for the last 6 or 7 years (since OS X pretty much). Steelehouse is an all Mac studio, so I regularly use the latest and the greatest desktops Apple has to offer (I’m currently using the 8 core Mac Pro). I still have a 4 or 5 year old eMac at home, and my wife has a Macbook thats a few years old.

But before I got my wonderful Modbook, I had a Gateway tablet PC that I was very unsatisfied with! I sold it immediately after I had pre-ordered the Modbook when it was first announced in January of ‘07, not realizing it would be a pain-staking, over-a-year-long wait for the Modbook. Still, I had always said that if there were a Mac tablet available, I would own it.

I used my trusty Nintendo DS with the incredible homebrew pressure-sensitive painting app, Colors, to hold me over till then and fell in love with it (the DS is the most portable, affordable Cintiq alternative you can get).

RA: That’s hilarious! You upgraded from a Nintendo DS to a Modbook. What made you decide on your Modbook over other avenues?
EL: As I said, I always knew that if there were a tablet Mac available, I’d get it. So I did. Not to mention my souring experience with a Gateway tablet.

Long story, but it was a new model, which the salesmen promised used Wacom tech like the older model it was replacing. Well, it didn’t, I complained, and they told me they’d have to charge me some overpriced restocking fee if I wanted to send it back. They promised a patch would be released quickly to make it compatible with my apps (like Photoshop, Painter, etc. - the basics).

One buggy patch for Photoshop came out after about 8 months of waiting. No good. Gateway very bad.

RA: Yeah, Gateway is a total suckfest. Now the first question other Modbook owners always ask: when did you order your Modbook and when did you receive?
EL: I placed my order in January of 2007 and recieved in March of 2008, over a year later.

RA: Ouch. That had to be a brutal wait but, since you stuck it out, what’s your favorite part of owning a Modbook?
EL: Well, I own a 21″ Cintiq at work, and still I am tempted to go and lay on the couch at work and use my Modbook. ;) I can’t tell any difference between levels of sensitivity or whatever (as many a youtube vid has shown), and I pretty rarely use the tilt functionality on my Cintiq so, to me, its a very similar experience, except that I can have the Modbook anywhere! The Modbook viewing angle and surface feel seem far superior to any other tablet I have demoed as well.

RA: I am all for using the Modbook in a comfortable manner. My favorite spot to use it is in bed. What’s your least favorite part of owning a Modbook?
EL: It is a tad small.

RA: That’s what she said!
EL: (stares blankly at Ryan) …and the battery life is pretty short during a heavy Photoshop session. The fan does run and it does get a little hot, but these are the same issues I have with my wife’s Macbook. It’s definitely not great for typing up along e-mail, but then I have my wife’s Macbook for that!

RA: Sorry! I couldn’t help myself. Have you had any trouble with the Modbook? Jumping cursor, etc?
EL: I do experience the jumping cursor, but it is such a small issue and rare occurrence that I haven’t bothered to fix it yet. It is annoying that I seem to have to reset the pen every time I boot up. I also wish they’d hurry up and fix the BT issue.

RA: I typically have to reset the pen each time I boot up too. Hopefully that’s a software glitch Axiotron can resolve with a future update. What software do you use on your Modbook?
EL: Artrage, Photoshop, Flash, After Effects. I have Painter and Mudbox on the PC side, but I have yet to get much into them.

RA: Is there one piece of software you’d recommend for all Modbook owners?
EL: ArtRage. I used to be in the beta program for Sketchbook (when it was Alias’), and I kept requesting features which I eventually discovered were ALL in ArtRage. And at $25 its a MUST buy for any artist. It has pretty much the same GUI as Sketchbook, which is perfectly designed for tablet users, and the learning curve is small, while the capabilities and tweakabilities are vast.

RA: I am an ArtRageaholic. Seriously. I need a support group. That’s my favorite piece of software I’ve discovered since purchasing my Modbook! What case do you own for the Modbook (if any)?
EL: I have a nice, rugged/tough/protective laptop backpack my wife got me back when I had the Gateway. It’s not made for the Modbook specifically, but I couldn’t imagine needing anything more for as far as protection goes. They say the Modbook was built to endure some wear/tear, and so far its been just fine.

RA: I just ordered the Booq Vyper sleeve ($55). I’ll let you know if it’s worth the money. Any other peripherals that are “must-haves”?
EL: YES! I couldn’t work near as efficiently on my Modbook if it weren’t for my Belkin Nostromo n52 Speedpad (replaced by the Belkin n52te Tournament Edition SpeedPad). I got it for use with my old Gateway. Its a gaming pad I picked up from BestBuy on clearance for like $30, and it has about 20 different keys which are all fully programmable and 4 different modes AND you can customize it specially for whatever app you are using at any given time. It fits nicely in my left hand and in my laptop backpack. The only thing that would make it better is if there were fewer keys and smaller so it could be held in my hand, and if it were wireless (but then that would require BT). I explored using the Wiimote w/ some software as an alternative- which seemed like a great fit, but alas, because of BT issues, I could not use it in conjunction with the pen :/

The Nostromo helps me work so quickly, that recently at a local comic convention (Defcon 7), Boodachitaville had a table, and I began doing caricatures on my Modbook. I hooked the Modbook up to a secondary monitor so the “drawees” could watch the action. The Nostromo kept my workflow screaming by, so I didn’t have to keep pulling up the onscreen keyboard :)

I also use a SmudgeGuard. The lady who sells them is extremely nice and professional. And as goofy as it looks, I can actually draw much better because it keeps my skin from sticking to the screen and catching when I drag the pen. It also keeps my screen clean :)

RA: I couldn’t agree more! I am a SmudgeGuard devotee. That little baby is amazing for tablet work. Aside from getting a SmudgeGuard, and checking out the Nostromr n52te, any tips for other Modbook users?
EL: Get ArtRage, get a Nostromo, and get a SmudgeGuard. It is the perfect package for me. I’m not sure what else to recommend. I’d say test the full potential of your Modbook. See what it’s capable of. I use my Modbook for 2D animation a lot as well. I’d like to see more people giving this a try, as the Modbook seems suited quite well for it. The great thing is the Modbook isn’t a powerhouse machine like a Macbook Pro might be but, for doing things like Photoshop and Flash, its as much power as you’ll probably ever need. Now for After Effects work… I still prefer my Mac Pro of course.

RA: I’ve certainly been impressed at how capable my own Modbook is. Now, on to what we all want to know about: tell us about Boodachitaville.
EL: Boodachitaville is a weekly webcomic/blog that I do with my good friend Bob (Burch).

RA: What made you want to start a webcomic?
EL: First off, I have always been a huge Penny Arcade fan. Secondly, I work on in-house original projects quite often at Steelehouse, and it is one of the bigger perks of working there. Even so, those properties have to go through approval stages, and I work with other creatives to develop them, so my hands are rather tied when it comes to spending my off-work time working on such things. Once I finally received my Modbook, I knew I wanted to work on developing a property which I could spend as much (or as little) time on, and would have a lot more creative control over. While my main passion is animation, I knew I needed something that was much more achievable in shorter amounts of time so I could release content on a fairly regular basis. A web comic was the perfect project to do this, and there is always the potential of moving it into animation someday!

RA: Now that I would love to see! Who’s Bob and why do you enjoy working with him? How did you meet and how did the strip evolve?
EL: Bob is a good friend of mine that I’ve known since we were in middle school. We are good friends, but are both very different from each other. Bob has always had a thing for writing, and has always loved comics- so much so that, for a while, I had been bugging him to begin writing one. His argument was that he couldn’t settle on a good premise for a comic. And thats when it hit me: we could do one together, and have it be simply about us, so there would never be any severe digging for content, we would just write ourselves into a strip.

RA: Very cool. I have to ask: what’s the story with the name?
EL: We knew the comic would be about us, and where we lived. While Tulsa is a decent-sized city, its common to hear people complain about there being little to do. So we wanted to name it something along the lines of “the middle of nowhere”. Then I remembered a phrase my wife sometimes says — that I have never heard ANYONE else say — about being “way out in Boodachitaville”. We have no clue where she got it, but it seemed like a great fit.

RA: Where do you and Bob come up with your ideas for the strip?
EL: We either have an idea for a gag/strip, or we sit around talking as we always have, and we’ll come upon something funny and be like: “we gotta do a strip about this!”

RA: You’ve said that you create the strip entirely on the Modbook. Give us an idea of what that entails.
EL: Boodachitaville is roughed in either Artrage or Flash, then inked/painted in Flash, and I finish it up by adding dialogue and painting the backgrounds in Photoshop.

RA: I think it’s always interesting to hear an artist works. I would have never guessed that you would have used Flash for the inking/painting. What’s the best way for fans to get in touch with you or Bob?
EL: Check out Boodachitaville.com. There is a link to our email address there, which is bobneric@boodachitaville.com. There is also a link to our Facebook and Myspace pages, where we can send those who join weekly updates. We are thinking of creating a monthly e-newsletter in the near future. Signup will be on our main site.

RA: What other side projects do you have in the pipe, or have you already begun work on?
EL: Well, in addition to the aforementioned pet projects at work, I am also helping a good animation veteran friend of mine, Larry Latham on creating a graphic novel he’s been working madly on. Larry is an incredibly talented story artist, and I am very excited to be a part of that. I wish I could say more, but I’m afraid I can’t until about October. Stay tuned to Boodachitaville and 2lcreative.com!

I am also blessed to be a part of a talented group of artists who participate every two weeks in a drawing group called, Drawer Geeks.Unfortunately, since I started the comic, I haven’t been able to participate as often, but I always kick myself for the times I miss out (like on this week’s topic, Tron! I so wish I’d had a chance to do one… oh well, next time).

RA: Oooh! The graphic novel sounds pretty interesting. We’ll have to do a follow-up when the novel is complete. What tips, if any, do you have for aspiring animators and artists?
EL: Work! Work! Work! Anyone can be creative and have great ideas, but few ever take it upon themselves to see those things through to completion (regardless of budget, there is ALWAYS time). If you have an idea that you think you wouldn’t want to do until you had all the resources, go ahead and do it with what you currently have- at least you will have done it. You can always go back later and improve or redo it with more experience and knowledge gained.

RA: Thanks for having this chat with me Eric! I know I’ve enjoyed it and I’m pretty sure the Modbook community will as well. We’ll be watching your career here at Modbookers.com and waiting for big things to happen!

If you’d like to see more examples of Eric’s animation work, you can view them at Steelehouse and on Steelehouse’s YouTube stream.

Make sure you check out Boodachitaville and subscribe to the feed. If you’d like to support Boodachitaville, you can make a donation to keep Bob and Eric going, or you can purchase Boodachitaville merchandise from the BM. :)

These little posts will not be reviews. I wanted to create more of a catalog of software for Modbook users. As I spend more time in these applications, I may start a separate series of reviews.

ArtRage 2.5 is the the easy to use, stylish painting software for Windows and Mac OS X made by Ambient Design.

With ArtRage you can paint with oils, sketch with pencils, sprinkle sparkling glitter and much more. Stencils and rulers let you create precise shapes or smooth curves and straight lines freehand. Tracing and Reference images let you load photos to recreate as paintings either by eye or by letting ArtRage select colors for you as you paint. For professional users, ArtRage offers Layers, Layer Groups and Layer Blend Modes compatible with the PSD file format.

Best of all, ArtRage doesn’t force you to learn complex tool settings, it lets you get right down to painting with tools you already know how to use.

Example art

Copyright 2008 Ryan Arrowsmith

Copyright 2008 J. Barber

Copyright 2008 Ryan Arrowsmith

Details

• Pricing: ArtRage comes in two varieties: a standard edition (which is free) and a full edition, which will set you back a very inexpensive $25.00.
• Modbook compatibility: ArtRage 2.5 is compatible with the Modbook.

I have to say, I am disappointed that today’s big event was an iPod only extravaganza. All in all, I found today’s event and announcement pretty underwhelming. I was expecting more than a new Nano and some other minor updates. Regardless, here is an overview of what Apple had to announce today.

The details

iTunes 8
A ton of new stuff. Few main pieces: HD TV shows. Accessibility - requests for voiceover and other tech fulfilled. New browsing and Genius. Browsing of albums has been weak. Grid mode album covers now appear, and a bar at the top lets you pick albums, artists, genres, composers, just like in iPhoto. You can pick scale. Works with TV shows, movies, podcasts.

Genius
Auto makes playlists from songs in your library that go great together, with just one click. Helps you rediscover music in your library. And it works well. Select a song, new Genius button in bottom right corner gets pressed and creates new genius list. Genius sidebar appears to recommend more stuff from the iTunes Store for things you might want to buy. Appears to the right of the main window.

iPod Nano
Curved aluminum design, curved glass. Very durable. Enhanced UI with new features. Accelerometer from iPhone/touch now into the nano. Genius playlist creation right from the nano, even when not created in iTunes. New feature… shake to shuffle! Silver, purple, bue, green, yellow, orange, red, pink. There are 8 colors. $149 price for 8GB model. 16GB version for $199.

iPod classic
Two models have been offered - no more thick one. 80GB for $249 — now 120GB at $249. No more 160GB model.

New headphones
New headphones sold separately have a pause and play button plus track skip plus volume. Back side has a microphone that works with the voice recording app in the nano. $29 in October. New in-ear headphones - finally got these right, Apple thinks. Dual-driver. $79 in October.

iPod Touch
Same screen. Even thinner. It has the same shape as the iPhone 3G but made from polished steel. Volume buttons on the side. Built in speaker! Genius playlist creation. New UI is slightly enhanced with better detail etc. Better UI for audiobooks. Built in Nike + iPod Software. No need for a receiver for the iPod touch. All you need is the shoe transmitter. This is the funnest iPod ever. We think people will really like. We’ve got it in 3 models.” 8GB, $229, 16GB for $299, and a 32GB for $399.

iPhone
2.1 Software update. This is a big update, it fixes lots of bugs. Fewer dropped calls, big battery life improvements. No crashes with Apps. Backing up is faster

What about the Macbooks Apple?

The part that really has me perplexed…why did Apple limit production of the Macbook line during August (and so far September) if they weren’t planning a refresh? I could speculate a million different reasons but, in the end, I have no idea. Me thinks Mr. Jobs himself may be the only who knows for sure.

If I were going to give one likely reason, I’d say that they may have needed the factory bandwidth to create the initial updated Nano, Touch and iPod Classic inventory. They may have slowed production on the Macbook line to stockpile inventory of the new devices before heading into Christmas.

So, it looks like the Macbook, and thus the Modbook, will go untouched for now. That’s a mixed bag of good and bad, depending on your perspective.

Many tech sites are saying that this will be an iPod only announcement based on the invite and the banners covering the performing arts center where the news will be delivered. I, on the other hand, don’t think that Apple has said or done anything to rule out announcements covering the Macbook line as well. I think the event may focus on a major overhaul of the iPod line - something that is overdue - but I also think we’ll hear about updates to the Macbook, Macbook Air and Macbook Pro.

So, here is what I think we’ll hear from Jobs and Co. tomorrow. Keep in mind that these are just my own guesstimates. If I know anything about Apple, it’s that I know little about Apple and how they work. :)

We’ll get new iPods. Surprise!

Yeah, this is a certainty. I think we’ll see the new slender Nano, am updated iPod Classic and an updated iPod Touch. I don’t think we’re going to see a capacity jump on the iPhone 3G yet like other sites are reporting. I think that Apple is going to allow more time before upping the storage after royally pissing off early-adopters with the original iPhone launch, then subsequent price drop and storage increases. I think the iPhone hardware will remain as-is.

Software (iTunes and firmware)

I think iTunes 8 will be announced to coincide with new iPod features - whatever they may be.

I’m fairly certain we’ll see the entire iPod line get wifi access and the App Store. This would require that the entire iPod line run the iPhone OS, which means they’ll start with higher capacities than previous generations. This may seem like a major overhaul but I think, in the long run, this is Apple’s goal as it will simplify development with all products on the same operating system and firmware. It also adds millions more users to the already flourishing App Store.

I’d also look for all of the iPods to come in line with the screen ratio of the iPhone and Touch. The screen will be smaller on the iPods but keeping the ratio in check should make life easier on developers. I think we’ll also see Apple open up TV shows and movies for rental on their mobile devices (using a wifi connection only).

On top of that, look for Jobs and Co, to disclose more about the 2.1 firmware upgrade coming to the iPhone and Touch. Expect new features to again have your mouth watering. I wouldn’t be surprised to hear that we’re getting turn-by-turn GPS (possibly with a monthly fee) and at least an announcement about possible tethering (using your iPhone’s data plan as internet service for you laptop). There will definitely be a monthly fee for tethering if announced.

AppleTV

I think we’ll see the App Store, or an AppleTV version of the App Store, released shortly. This would allow owners to extend the functionality of the AppleTV and customize it’s interface more.

Macbooks

While other are saying, due to the iPod based invite and banners, this announcement will focus on the iPod, I don’t think Apple has ruled out updates to the Macbook line. You have to remember, Apple sent out an announcement to their partners advising that they’d slow Macbook production to a trickle during August. I don’t think Apple would have slowed down production unless they are ramping up a refresh.

But, since Apple is placing such an emphasis on the iPod, I don’t think we’re going to see a major relaunch of the Macbook line. I think we’ll see the Macbook move to the aluminum casing to match the overall Mac aesthetic. I also think we’ll see the Macbook and Pro become Blu-ray capable and both units will become more focused on HD: HD music, radio and video. That would include higher resolution displays and bigger and better video cards. I think the Air will get a similar treatment and possible some slight tweaking to the design.

I think the Pro will see a redesign of sorts. The basic body of the Macbook Pro is almost identical to that of the G4 Powerbook with some minor enhancements. Apple is going to do something to move that design forward, along with moving the Macbook to the aluminum enclosure.

A tablet?

I don’t think we’re going to hear about a specific Macbook tablet. I also don’t think Apple is going to announce that touchscreen capabilities have been added to the Macbook, Macbook Air or the Macbook Pro. I think that, if Apple intended such a major interaction change with the Macbook line, they’d be focusing on that as part of the promotion for tomorrow’s event.

Summary

So, in short, here is what I think we’re looking at for tomorrow:

• New iPods across the board. Larger starting sizes.
• All iPods will be wifi capable and be App Store ready.
• New Touches with more features.
• iTunes 8.0 and iPhone/Touch firmware 2.1 possibly with GPS and maybe tethering.
• Possible AppleTV update with App Store capabilities.
• New Macbooks with new guts and retouched exteriors.
• New Macbooks will be HD focused: Blue-ray, better displays, larger hard drives.
• No tablet. No touchscreen Macbook.

Now, I’m sure I’ll be completely wrong, so don’t place any bets on any of this. These are just my best guesses.

Well, Apple has at least made one thing official: they are announcing something.

Apple sent out announcements this morning to media outlets for a shindig at the Yerba Buena Center for the Performing Arts in San Francisco next Tuesday at 10 a.m. PDT. The announcement can be seen on Cnet and the event has been titled “Let’s Rock”, hinting at the much rumored iPod refresh. Personally, I would say the likelihood of Apple announcing a refreshed iPod line is 99.9999%. But what about the Macbook?

In Apple’s alert to their partners back in July, they also said that the Macbook output would be slowing to a trickle, not just the iPod. So what does Apple have in store for the Macbook?

Well, let’s start with some new patents that Apple has apparently filed. According to AppleInsider:

Much of the 52-page filing describes methods for accurately detecting and deciphering a plurality of simultaneous contacts on a touch screen, which sets the foundation for future tablet-based products that users can manipulate using not only more than one finger, but more than one hand.

See the image below (and note the freaky hands. Hopefully claw-like hands won’t be a requirement for usage):

Keeping in mind that Apple, like most corporations, files about a bazillion patents each year that go unused, there’s no guarantee that we’ll see this new multi-touch patent technology in use any time soon. All it really does is add fuel to the on-going claim that Apple has a Macbook tablet in the works.

Personally, I wouldn’t think that Jobs and company would be ready to announce a Macbook tablet quite yet. I think they will announce a general refresh and upgrade of the entire Macbook line, including a design overhaul and HD media capabilities (i.e. = built in Blu-ray drives). I think we’ll see an appearance shift that will bring the Macbook and Macbook Pro more in line with the current iMac design. The casing will be aluminum and the accents will be black. But, knowing Steve Jobs, there’s never a safe bet with Apple. Part of the excitement of the brand is the revolutionary products they announce and how, often times, we’re all caught off guard.

I’d say that the likelihood of a Macbook tablet being announced is about 40%.

What does that mean for the Modbook?

With the gestures shown above in the diagram, I don’t see a Macbook tablet as a direct competitor for the Modbook. Yes, in theory, they are similar devices. They are both portable machines that accept direct input from the screen, but look at the interaction differences.

If Apple sticks with the model above to govern navigation and input, that means the user would be using their fingers and hand to manipulate the screen. All of these would be perks to the average user if executed well. But what about the artist?

Part of the reason I love my Modbook is that it only accepts input from my pen. That means that, when I’m drawing or working on the Modbook, I’m free to rest my hand on the screen. Assuming the Macbook tablet is similar to the touchscreen on the iPhone, any touch is registered. So, let’s say I’m using my finger to draw with (which, let’s be honest, sounds like a terrible concept), if I rested my palm on the screen of the laptop, I could potentially hose up the piece I am working on. Or at least confuse the computer with too many inputs.

As is, I think the Modbook addresses a completely different demographic than a Macbook tablet would. It’s the same one it’s already aimed at: artists who want a mobile and powerful alternative to PC tablets.

There are two things that the Macbook tablet could do that would jeopardize the Modbook:

1. Develop a sophisticated gesturing pattern or software tool that would allow the machine to identify and ignore a rested palm or unwanted touch. This could prove frustrating as the machine could possibly blow off legitimate inputs by mistake.
2. Include a pen that, when active, only registered activity via the pen, effectively disabling the touchscreen.

In my opinion, those are the two scenarios that Axiotron needs to be worried about.

The other bump in the road will be the physical design changes that Apple may make to the Modbook. As I’ve mentioned before, a redesign of the Macbook could mean that the existing Modbook conversion kit is no longer functional wit the Macbook. If that were to happen, Axiotron would have to go back to the drawing boards.

What is Flickr?

Flickr is the most popular and powerful social photography site on the internet today. You can sign up (there are free and Pro [paid] accounts) and share your photos with the world, or with only the people you choose.

Plus, if you already have a Yahoo e-mail address, signing up for Flickr is just a matter of a few clicks of your mouse.

How to Join

Make sure you have a Flickr account, and are logged in, then click here. Follow the instructions and you’ll be signed up!

How to share pictures

Go to the picture you want to share and click on the Send to Group button above the image. Select Modbookers from the list and you’re done!

The SmudgeGuard partial glove is an ingenious invention. As any artist knows, at some point, you are going to rest the side of your hand on your media, whether that be a sketch, or the Modbook.

This poses a problem no matter what your media of choice is. If you are sketching, you either just smeared your drawing or you picked up graphite, or whatever you are using, on the side of your hand. The next time you set your hand down again, you’ve just added a beautiful hand-shaped stamp to your work.

With the Modbook, or other tablets in general, the side of your hand can cause interference when trying to do detail work or make a soft, graceful line. The longer you work, you also run the risk of developing perspiration on your hand, which works like a suction cup on the screen of the Modbook. It becomes increasingly difficult for your hand to glide smoothly across the top of the Axiotron ForceGlass screen.

Also, and this is for the more anal-retentive artists out there, like myself, you develop finger prints and smudges on the screen of the Modbook with each usage. Axiotron has said that you can use alcohol to clean the screen of the Modbook but, at least for me personally, I’d rather go as long as I can without applying cleaning solvents, including alcohol, onto the screen of the Modbook.

Enter the SmudgeGuard.

What is the SmudgeGuard?

The SmudgeGuard is a partial glove that covers the side of your hand from below the wrist, all the way up to your enclosed pinky. It’s made of 87% Nylon and 13% Spandex. Essentially, you put your wrist through the snug band and slide your pinky into the enclosure, then draw as normal. Putting the SmudgeGuard on is no more difficult than putting on a normal glove.

While your pinky is enclosed, the other 4 are left completely free, so you’re not restricted in any manner as you draw or work.

If you are using traditional media, the SmudgeGuard should protect your hand and art from unwanted smudges. With the Modbook, the SmudgeGuard helps prevents fingerprints and hand smudges on the screen.

How it feels

Wearing the SmudgeGuard seems a little odd the first time you put it on. For me, the weird part was having my pinky covered and my other fingers at large. It’s a different sensation, but it fades quickly as the SmudgeGuard is actually very comfortable.

In fact, it’s so comfortable that I’ve almost walked out of the house wearing it a couple of times. :) If you get used to wearing it, you quickly forget you have it on, which could make you look very peculiar in the real world.

The fact that the SmudgeGuard prevents the Modbook screen from looking like Smudgeville USA is actually a sidenote to my favorite feature of the little partial glove: the drawing sensation. Wearing the little aid completely changes the tactile feedback you receive from the Modbook as you draw. When you draw with a bare hand, there are times when your hand may act a brake and stop or slow the progression of a movement on the Modbook screen. With the SmudgeGuard on, your hand glides smoothly and consistently over the screen without any hesitation. It makes delicate detail work and loose, fluid movements possible without multiple attempts.

Size and ordering

When placing your order, you need to make sure to print out the size guide from SmudgeGuard.com and measure your hand to get an accurate fit.

Tip: make sure you print the PDF at 100% or else the sizing chart will not be accurate.

My size really surprised me! I am a decent sized fella with average hands for my build, but I’m still a small with the SmudgeGuard. I was a little worried when I ordered a small, but I trusted them to know their sizing. They were dead on! It fits, well, like a glove. ;)

You have two options for ordering: SmudeGuard.com ($14.99) or CoolGraphicStuff.com ($14.95). If you order directly from the manufacturer, there is a 7-15 day fulfillment cycle, which seemed like a drag to me. I opted to go through CoolGraphicStuff.com and my order shipped the same day. I had the SmudgeGuard in about 3 business days without paying for expedited shipping.

Update:
I received a kind e-mail from Jeannie, the SmudgeGal, who updated me on her fulfillment time. It seems the 7-15 day cycle was due her taking a vacation at the end of August. So why not order from the source? :)

Pictures

Final verdict

This is the perfect companion to the Modbook. It is relatively inexpensive, so I’d recommend you pick up a couple when you’re ordering - that’s how much the SmudgeGuard improves the Modbook experience.

This is easily the best $15 accessory for the Modbook, Wacom users or traditional artists who find themselves with more graphite on their hand than on their work.

You have to set up and cover the floor, get the paints out, get the brushes ready, get the canvas ready, then paint. And then you have the clean up: clean the brushes, the pallet, handle the wet painting, etc. It’s not a process you go through when you only have 10-15 minutes of free time. She only really paints when she has several days free, which isn’t very often anymore.

So, I knew she’d enjoy the simplicity of the Modbook, and especially the painting tools in Art Rage. What I didn’t expect was how quickly she’d catch on!

After about 15 minutes of instruction, she went for it and, about 45 minutes later, she has made the beautiful painting of a tree you see in this article!

To me, this proves the fact that the Modbook’s interface is natural to an artist. Sure, you have to learn where the tools are and how to use them but, once you’ve got that, creating beautiful pieces of art is limited only by your own creativity. Brian’s mother will be the first to tell you that she’s not overly tech savvy, but she is good on a laptop. The fact that they are a Mac family already definitely helped her pick it up so quickly, but she did very little work in the OS herself. Most of her efforts were in Art Rage and she had no trouble picking it up.

The past few days have been super busy with family stuff. To top it off, I just found out my best friend is in the hospital having her baby! Yay! So, that’s exciting.

On the Modbook front: I am still learning. There are definitely little learning curves that you have to overcome along the way, but it’s all worth it. Using the Modbook is the most natural digital art experience I’ve ever had.

So, as I learn and work on other articles, I thought I’d share a semi-respectable flower I made. :) I did this piece in Art Rage with the pastel tool. It’s not perfect but, considering I’m still getting used to the Modbook and haven’t seriously done anything artistic in 3 years, I am happy with it.

Have a great weekend out there!

Over the past couple days, I’ve received a few e-mails wanting to know how I configured my Modbook.  If you’ve spent any time on OWC’s website looking at Modbook configurations, you know there’s quite a bit of personalization you can take advantage of when ordering yours.  I thought I’d post how I configured my own Modbook and why.  So here goes!

The processor

I immediately knew I wanted the faster processor. After all, you can upgrade RAM and your hard drive without much fuss later in life, but replacing a processor is costly and pretty advanced.

So, I went with the 2.4GHZ model.

The hard drive

I am a music junky so I knew, regardless of what laptop I invested in, I wanted to be able to carry my full library with me. I also know that my music library will never get any smaller; it will continue to grow through the years. That meant I needed a massive hard drive. I also looked at what I’d need for work performance and for sketching, and I decided that I needed as much space as I could get, even if that meant going for a lower RPM on the drive. The 500GB Serial ATA 5400RPM, 8MB Cache was only $260 more than the standard $160GB hard drive. Alternately, I could have gone with the 320GB Serial ATA 7200RPM, 16MB CACHE, which offered a higher RPM speed and larger cache, but 180GB less storage. The 500GB’s 5400RPM rate is plenty fast for most purposes. The only reason I would have considered dropping space and gaining RPM would be if I were doing heavy video editing. As is, I can’t see a situation where I’d be able to tell a difference in normal usage.

So, the 500GB drive was for me.

Memory

This was an easy one for me: I wanted a fast machine. Nothing makes a Mac feel peppier than tons of RAM.  Plus, art applications, like Photoshop, Sketchbook Pro, Art Rage, all can be heavy to run.  In the end, the more RAM you have, the better off you’ll be.

So, I opted to bump up to 4GBs of ram for $130, which is a hell of a deal.

Optical bay (or media drive)

I probably built my Modbook on OWC’s site 50 times or more. The one part I was never really certain on was whether or not to include an optical drive. On one hand, I could have substituted a second 250GB hard drive where the media drive should be. Doing so would give me an internal backup drive, and a built-in Time Machine storage area. But the whole reason I was attracted to the Modbook was it’s “all-in-one” approach. Sure, it’s a tablet Mac, which is pretty awesome, but it’s a full Macbook as well. Axiotron didn’t neuter the stock Macbook in any way, shape or form. Also, having a DVD drive would make the Modbook one hell of a mobile DVD player (I tested it out: it is FANTASTIC).

So, I decided on the SuperDrive.

Everything Else

There are two remaining options on the Modbook: adding an Apple remote and an extended warranty.

I have Apple remotes at home for my iMac, my Black Macbook and our AppleTV. I didn’t see the need to pay $19 for another one when we don’t use them much (I use my iMac remote with the AppleTV, so we have two remotes for it).

So, I didn’t add the Apple remote. Saved $19! Woo hoo!

The extended warranty was a tough decision to make.

On one hand, the Modbook is on the bleeding edge of technology. You never know what kind of quirks or issues may arise down the road. On the other hand, it’s $349 and doesn’t necessarily cover any glitch that may come up. It’s a limited hardware warranty only; it’s not a bumper-to-bumper plan.

In the end, I decided not to opt for the extended warranty. Doing so would have pushed me over the $3,000 mark and, honestly, that was the deciding factor for me.

Summary

When all was said and done, I ended up with the top-of-the-line model. Here are the stats:

OWC Modbook 2.4GHz Core 2 Duo Customized Tablet Solution
•500GB Serial ATA 5400RPM, 8MB CACHE
•4.0GB DDR2 667MHz (2 x 2GB)
•WAAS Enabled GPS Standard Included
•SuperDrive DVD Dual-Layer/CD Burner
•No Remote Included
•1 Year Limited Hardware Warranty

Total as Configured: $2,869.00

So, yeah, it’s a chunk of change. But I wanted to make sure I ordered a machine that would support me and my hobbies for years to come.

Out of Pencil Sketchbook Pro and Art Rage, Art Rage is coming in first, at least in my book. I find the interface more enjoyable to use and the tools are powerful. I can’t see any reason to spend $200 on Sketchbook Pro. But it is day 1 still, so who knows where I’ll end up!

Where did the time go you ask? Well, I will tell you!

Opening the Modbook was a gradual process because I wanted to document each step of the unwrapping, as much as possible. When I was trying to decide whether or not to order my Modbook, I really wanted to see more pictures of it. Once I placed my order, and had begun my 2 month wait, I wanted to see pics even more! So, I felt like it was my obligation to share this beautiful machine with the world!

After I was done opening it, I booted up the Modbook. Before the machine booted into Leopard, the Axiotron Quickclicks keyboard popped up on screen. Impressive Axiotron. Once the computer booted, I went through the normal Apple welcome video and setup. I found entering this information was pretty simple with the Axiotron Quickclicks keyboard. Admittedly, it did take a few tries to figure out hoow quickly and firmly to press each key, but that was a minor learning curve.

Once I had set up the Modbook, I immediately wanted to play! But, like any good Apple owner, I checked for software updates. I was surprised to see that the Modbook needed 10 updates. That makes me wonder how far in advance OWC is purchasing the Macbooks? But that’s a simple fix: ran the updates and I’m all good! The updates took about 20 minutes or so to complete, which was murder.

After the Modbook was updated, I spent a little time playing with the interface. A window popped up which prompted me to calibrate my cursor. I did so. I am a little embarassed to say that it took me about 3 attempts to get it right and, even after that, I think the default calibration was more precise. I will keep playing with that though.

Next came general navigation and button mapping. The Modbook pen comes with 3 buttons: the primary button is actually two in one. It is basically a rocker where, if you push down at the front, you are using one button and, if you push down at the rear, you are activatring the second button. There is also a third button on the far tip of the pen, which, by default, is the eraser.

Axiotron has the lower button on the rocker set as the right-click function by default. The upper rocker button is set to hide or show the Axiotron Quickclicks keyboard. The eraser is an eraser. The only change I’ve made so far is I’ve updated the upper rocker button to be scroll/pan, which means I can use the pen to flick through web pages instead of using scroll bars. I’m not certain I’ll keep it this way.

So far, the only trouble I’ve had is that I can’t seem to figure out how to properly calibrate the double-click function. I have no doubt this is user error and I’ll get there. For the time being, I just use the lower rocker, or right-click, button and open everything that way. It’s the same amount of clicks.

When I was done with testing out the pen, I started the software install process. I downloaded trial versions of Sketchbook Pro, Notebook, Desktastic, the free standard version of Art Rage and the open-source application Pencil. Installation was a breeze! The Modbook, at least my configuration, is blazingly fast, even with all of these applications open. But I’ll get to that later.

After I had the more tablet-oriented programs installed, I added my norms: CSS Edit, Textmate, Cyberduck, Cover Sutra, 1Password, Disco and then, finally, Adobe CS2. Again, installation went smoothly. Using the pen, instead of a mouse, caused no barriers and didn’t delay the installation process in any way.

So, all of the installation work was done….what now? Play time! I spent the rest of the evening fooling around in Art Rage, Sketchbook Pro, Pencil, Desktastic and Notebook. I’ve yet to fire up CS2. So far, I am enjoying each program equally, but I think Art Rage will eventually move to the forefront. I am in awe of the painting tool; it’s so vivied and realistic, I just can’t stop playing with it. I’ll write more formal reviews in a few weeks, after I’ve had serious time to get used to.

That is pretty much where my evening went. Now, on to the first impressions!

The build quality

The first first impression I had when picking up the Modbook for the first time was, “Dang! This thing feels sturdy“. I own a black Macbook and the two feel completely different. The Modbook feels much more compact and solid in your hands. The aircraft quality magnesium alloy used for the upper frame of the Modbook is no doubt responsible for the sturdy feel.

For me, the strength of the build was important. I spent neraly $3,000 on this little machine. I need to know that, should life happen and it gets bumped or shook up, it’s not going to fall to pieces in my hands.

The screen

Love it. I’ve heard a lot of moaning about the brightness of the screen or the richness of the colors. Personally, I think the screen is plenty bright and rich.

I also feel like the screen size is nearly perfect. Sure, if you’re doing itty bitty detail work on a huge image, you may want a larger screen. But, remember, the Modbook isn’t targeted at those who want to do itty bitty detail work on ginormous images. The Modbook demographic is the mobile artist set; people that want to be able to take their versatile sketchpad/laptop with them everywhere. So, taking that in to account, I wouldn’t want anything larger than the Modbook screen. It’s the perfect size for most uses.

The Axiotron ForceGlass is also superb. When using the pen, you do get a similar tactile response as you would with a pen on paper. I think it feels sort of like using a marker with a very firm, texturized tip on heavy weight paper. Currently, I am using the default nib. I have yet to try the others, so I imagine the feedback will change with the nib.

Usage

So far the Modbook is an absolute joy to use. I’ve heard that the Modbook loses sensitivity around the edges of the screen. I’ve yet to experience that. You do have to get a little more creative with the angle of the pen due to the metal casing around the screen, but I’ve had great responsiveness all the way up to the edge.

There have also been reports of Modbooks not waking from sleep mode, or the battery draining quickly while in sleep mode. Again, I’ve only had it less than 24 hours, but I’ve had no issues with either so far (knock on wood).

I put in a DVD (Heroes, Season 1) and played a full episode. The Modbook is one hell of a mobile DVD player! The video was bright and beautiful, but the sound was lacking. Even at max volume, it was pretty quiet. But that’s nothing a pair of headphones can’t fix.

The weight issue

If there is one constant complaint on the Modbook, it’s the weight. As I said above, the Modbook feels like an extremely sturdy device in your hands. Part of that is the weight of the machine. At around 5-6 pounds, it’s definitely not a Macbook Air, but we already knew that. It’s heavier than the Apple Macbook, but that should be common sense given the fact that they’d added such a heavy-duty frame to support the Wacom digitizer and screen.

Knowing all of those factors, I am pleased with the weight. You’re talking about a solid machine that isn’t just a plain tablet: it retains it’s media drive and all of it’s ports, something most tablet machines, and certainly the Macbook Air, can’t accomplish.

For me, the weight isn’t going to be an issue at all. For background, I am a dude standing about 5′ 11″. I’m not a body builder by any means. I’d say I’m average in the strength division and it doesn’t seem like a burden to hold for long periods of time, even standing. I wouldn’t trade any of the current features or specs for a lighter machine.

OWC and service

As the unpacking photos show, OWC did a tremendous job in packing the MOdbook and getting me a slick little machine. From order to delivery, I couldn’t be more pleased with the service I recieved from them. They were helpful, courteous, honest and went out of their way to make this a pleasant experience.

Even if you aren’t in the market for a Modbook, I’d recommend using OWC for any other technie needs that you might have.

That’s everything I can think of for now. I’ll continue playing with the Modbok and adding my thoughts.

What about you out there? Is there something specific you’d like to know about the Modbook? Something you’d like a picture of? Let me know!

My first initial impression: this thing FREAKING ROCKS! :)

You can view the Flickr photo gallery here. Clicking an image will open the picture’s Flickr page.

According to Fed-Ex, they have the package and it is in transit to me. Estimated delivery: tomorrow before 3 PM.

FREAKING AWESOME!

So, expect tons of photos and my initial impressions tomorrow.

Update

8/19 at 8:50 AM
New status per FedEx: On FedEx vehicle for delivery

8/19 at 2:50 PM
The Modbook has been delivered to my PO Box attendant! Score!

Friday came and went. No Modbook shipment notification.

I contacted OWC this morning and they aren’t sure of when it’s going to ship. They say to allow about 5 days from when it enters the build phase (which was last Wednesday). So, if that interval is correct, then the Modbook should ship by tomorrow at the latest.

Ugh. This is like telling a kid it’s Christmas, but then telling him he was to wait 5 more days to open his presents. The anguish of it all! :)

Some background: the estimated shipping date is pulled directly from OWC’s website each day. This date only applies to orders made through OWC and the date is a guide, not a guarantee. I just didn’t want anyone thinking I was pulling this date out of my….hat. :)

As of yesterday’s update, OWC was estimating that new Modbook orders would ship by (or before) October 8, 2008. If you look at the history of the shipping updates, this is a pretty consistent interval based on the past 60-90 days.

But something happened this morning.

I pulled the date as normal and began posting it when I realized something was wrong: the interval had changed.

As of this morning’s update, new orders are now expected to ship by (or before) October 19, 2008.

So, OWC had been operating under about a 54 day interval on fulfilling new Modbook orders. According to the site, they are now estimating that new orders will take 65 days to ship.

That may not seem like a huge impact, 11 additional days, but, as someone who’s waited through the quoted 54 day cycle, it could be an extremely frustrating delay. The interval update now officially pushes the Modbook waiting period over 60 days again.

Why the change?

Without an official statement from OWC or Axiotron, I can only speculate. My guess is that OWC is trying to add some cushion into the interval due to the upcoming Macbook product line refresh that Apple has been hinting at for weeks now (link).

If I were OWC, I’d try to build a little extra padding into the interval proactively in case of delays from Axiotron as they rework the Modbook conversion kit or, worse, make a decision on whether or not they’ll proceed with the Modbook line.

Or could the issue be OWC’s Macbook stock levels? As you know, the Modbook requires a stock Apple Macbook as it’s base. It’s no secret that Apple has notified it’s resellers that there will be a Macbook and iPod manufacturing slowdown through August, probably in preparation for the redesign I’ve spoken about above. Could OWC already be feeling the impact of Apple’s slower production? Are they having trouble getting their hands on those stock Macbooks that are needed to build the Modbook?

If I were a betting man, I’d say the shipping extension were due to option 1. It’s my opinion that OWC is being proactive and adding some wiggle room in the interval to see how the next 30 days play out with Apple’s Macbook announcement and Axiotron’s subsequent reaction.

But that’s just me. What do you think?

I opted for the extra $6 on shipping to have the Modbook sent overnight. I am thinking that, if OWC can complete the build and get the Modbook in transit by tomorrow morning, I may have it on Saturday. That would be the ultimate win.

Come on OWC! Help a brother out! :)

OWC, that’s who!

When I ordered my Modbook, I used a debit card. My bank has a per day cap on the debit card, so I had talked to OWC and we knew that, when they initially tried to run the card, they would be flagged for exceeding that limit. So OWC would call me, I would all the bank and give the go ahead on the transaction, then let OWC know to proceed.

When I got off the call, I listened the voicemail and did a freaking happy dance! It was from Melissa at OWC letting me know that they would be running my card and pre