Considering the 256-level, pressure sensitive touchscreen they installs into your last-gen MacBook costs a couple hundred bucks max, and the fact that tabletizing an Apple laptop means giving up the keyboard for good, Tech Restore’s ModBook service seems pretty steep at $1150. But it’s almost worth it for the pleasure of witnessing this stop-motion advertisement for the ModBook service, which animates the whole process in the delightful style of an early 80′s Sesame Street clip, complete with the sound of children cheering at the end.
[via Gadget Lab]
Re-imagine this as a large ipod touch. It is the computer apple should build. If it supported a bluetooth keyboard (as well as a virtual one in case of emergency) this would be a great laptop computer, ereader, etc.
“seems pretty steep at $1150″
It looks to be a fairly delicate hands-on process. That takes time. Time takes money.
It’s also about $150 cheaper than Axiotron’s own service.
I want to know where I can get one of those modkits to do it myself, now …
Watching this video makes me want to tear my old iBook apart and make my own ModBook. I want a ModKit too!
Search and you shall find
http://www.instructables.com/id/Hack-mac-laptop-to-be-a-mac-tablet/
Wicked.
Actually, not so wicked. I bought one of their ModBooks last year, and the thing sucks. Constant trouble with the battery, DVD drive, conflicts between the tablet’s touch input system and every piece of software on it, bluetooth conflicts, the list goes on…..
And, the icing on the cake is that this company has by far the WORST customer service I have ever encountered. Like 7 phone calls just to get to the person who will stop passing the buck and even talk to me about repairs. Like daily phone calls for a month and a half just to see when the thing will ship. Seriously, spend your money elsewhere.
-leavesofjoy
Leaves, I meant the animation
Sorry to hear fo your troubles too, I remember wondering after their usefulness when these first started appearing.