A new tablet PC? So what. But a new Mac with a tablet, stylus input and Inkwell support? That's a lot cooler. Especially since it's authorized by Apple and built on top of the popular MacBook. The world’s first Apple-authorized pen tablet-based Macintosh computer, Axiotron’s Modbook, started shipping this week, one year after the computer was showcased at the January 2007 Macworld Conference and Expo. Related Stories Eight Financial Reasons Why You Should Use Mac OS Spot-On Security Tips for Mac OS X Leopard Stanford Researchers Could Extend Laptop Battery Life Tenfold Please Stop Playing With Yourself Axiotron, a hardware producer, worked with Wacom, a maker of pen tablets, displays and related components, to create the stylus-based input system for the ModBook, and it will function along with Apple’s existing Inkwell handwriting recognition system, according to an Axiotron statement. The ModBook is a modification of Apple’s current MacBook. Axiotron added a new case and interior display frame built of magnesium, as well as featuring the new input technology. Axiotron is targeting the product for artists, design oriented professionals and businesspeople who prefer writing to keyboard-based typing, and stressing the ModBook’s enhanced on-screen writing and drawing functionality. The tablet’s display provides 512 levels of pressure sensitivity, which is twice the sensitivity and pen control of any other available tablet PC, Axiotron says. It also ships with a set of specially designed pen nibs to increase flexibility, freedom and precision control, according to the company. Axiotron ModBook When the Axiotron ModBook was first displayed at the Macworld Expo in 2007, it was based on an earlier version of the MacBook. Axiotron has updated the tablets—even those ordered before the new MacBooks became available—to include a faster processor and Apple’s newest OS, Leopard, according to Apple user publication Macworld. The tablet computer is available with a 2.0GHz or 2.2GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, an internal iSight webcam, GPS and integrated 24x DVD combo drive or 8x DVD SuperDrive. Its wide-screen display is 13.3 inches, says the company, and the surface is enhanced to provide wider viewing angles, darker blacks and brighter colors. The ModBook has Intel GMA X3100 integrated graphics and support for up to 4GB of RAM, 802.11n wireless networking and Bluetooth 2.0, according to Macworld. The ModBook pricing starts at $2,290. The ModBook could soon have a competitor, however. Rumors are circulating about a Mac tablet from Apple itself, possibly manufactured by Asus, that could be unveiled during the upcoming 2008 Macworld Conference and Expo. Related content feature Expedia poised to take flight with generative AI CTO Rathi Murthy sees the online travel service’s vast troves of data and AI expertise fueling a two-pronged transformation strategy aimed at growing the company by bringing more of the travel industry online. By Paula Rooney Jun 02, 2023 7 mins Travel and Hospitality Industry Digital Transformation Artificial Intelligence case study Deoleo doubles down on sustainability through digital transformation The Spanish multinational olive oil processing company is immersed in a digital transformation journey to achieve operational efficiency and contribute to the company's sustainability strategy. By Nuria Cordon Jun 02, 2023 6 mins CIO Supply Chain Digital Transformation brandpost Resilient data backup and recovery is critical to enterprise success As global data volumes rise, business must prioritize their resiliency strategies. By Neal Weinberg Jun 01, 2023 4 mins Security brandpost Democratizing HPC with multicloud to accelerate engineering innovations Cloud for HPC is facilitating broader access to high performance computing and accelerating innovations and opportunities for all types of organizations. By Tanya O'Hara Jun 01, 2023 6 mins Multi Cloud Podcasts Videos Resources Events SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER From our editors straight to your inbox Get started by entering your email address below. Please enter a valid email address Subscribe