Axiotron Modbook

Modbook is a specialist computer brand built around the conversion of Apple notebook computers into pen-enabled tablet computers. The product originated with Axiotron, Inc., a Los Angeles-based company that introduced the original Modbook at the 2007 Macworld Conference & Expo. It was presented as the first commercially available pen-enabled tablet Mac and received a Best in Show award at the event. Commercial shipments began shortly after Macworld 2008. Rather than developing an entirely independent computer platform, Modbook used the motherboard and other core components of a genuine Apple MacBook or MacBook Pro supplied either by the manufacturer or by a customer. The conversion replaced the notebook's upper assembly, including the keyboard, display, and camera mounting structure, with a slate-style enclosure, a new display system, a Wacom digitizer, and a redesigned top shell. Because the underlying Apple hardware was retained, the converted system could run macOS without modification and preserve compatibility with Mac software available to the donor computer. The original Modbook was based on the white Apple MacBook with Core 2 Duo processors. Its pen system used Wacom Penabled technology, providing pressure-sensitive input, programmable side buttons, and an eraser, but it did not offer conventional multitouch input. A custom display assembly combined an improved LCD panel with a chemically strengthened glass cover and an etched surface intended to improve pen response. Connectivity and other capabilities largely followed those of the donor MacBook, including USB, FireWire, Ethernet, wireless networking, Bluetooth, optical media, an iSight camera, and external-display support. A new company, Modbook Inc., introduced the Modbook Pro in 2012. This model used a 13.3-inch MacBook Pro as its donor platform and placed the computer in an all-black aluminum slate enclosure. It was aimed particularly at creative professionals who wanted the performance and software environment of a MacBook Pro with direct pen input. Configurations were described with Intel Core i5 or Core i7 processors, up to 16 GB of memory, solid-state or hard-drive storage, Intel integrated graphics, and an optical SuperDrive. The later Modbook Pro X represented a more ambitious and difficult product-generation transition. It began as a limited-production Kickstarter project in late 2014, but technical challenges and changes to the Apple MacBook Pro platform contributed to repeated delays. The project evolved into a planned commercial product, including a version based on Apple's 15.4-inch Touch Bar MacBook Pro and designed as a tablet-to-laptop convertible. Modbook Inc. announced the Modbook Pro X with Touch Bar alongside an equity-crowdfunding campaign on Wefunder in September 2017. The available reference material states that the Modbook Pro X was not delivered to customers and that payments were not refunded. It also states that later Kickstarter, Wefunder, and individual preorder commitments remained unfulfilled, while Modbook.com's website was suspended. Consequently, the current operating status of the brand and company cannot be confirmed from the available material. Modbook is best understood as a niche aftermarket hardware brand whose principal proposition was to combine Apple's Mac platform with the ergonomics of a pressure-sensitive pen tablet.

Modbook emerged from the idea that Apple notebook hardware could be converted into a purpose-built pen tablet without abandoning macOS. Axiotron, Inc., based in Los Angeles, developed the original product and showed it publicly at the 2007 Macworld Conference & Expo. The presentation was significant because it offered a commercially available tablet Mac at a time when Apple itself did not sell a pen-enabled Mac tablet. The Modbook received a Best in Show award and began shipping soon after the 2008 Macworld event. The original conversion used a white Apple MacBook as its donor computer. Axiotron removed the notebook's keyboard and standard display assembly, then installed a new tablet-oriented display, a Wacom digitizer, a sensor board, the original camera, and a chrome-plated magnesium shell. The resulting slate retained the donor computer's motherboard, processor, operating system environment, ports, networking, and software compatibility. This approach distinguished Modbook from a conventional tablet designed from the ground up: its value proposition depended on combining a familiar Mac platform with direct pen input. The first Modbook used Wacom Penabled technology rather than a multitouch touchscreen. Its digitizer pen supported 512 pressure levels, two programmable side buttons, and an eraser. The redesigned display used a wider-viewing-angle LCD, a chemically strengthened glass cover, and an etched surface intended to improve the interaction between the pen and screen. Hardware capabilities were inherited largely from the MacBook, including USB 2.0, FireWire, Gigabit Ethernet, wireless networking, Bluetooth, Mini-DVI display output, optical media, and an iSight camera. An optional GPS module and VESA mounting provisions were also described. In 2012, Modbook Inc., a newly established Southern California company, introduced the Modbook Pro. This was not merely a cosmetic continuation of the original conversion. It used a new enclosure and conversion process for the 13.3-inch standard-display MacBook Pro. The all-black aluminum slate was designed to accommodate the more powerful MacBook Pro platform, with configurations described around Intel Core i5 and Core i7 processors, substantial memory, solid-state or hard-drive storage, Intel HD 4000 graphics, and a SuperDrive. The product was positioned toward professional artists and other creative users who wanted the performance and application ecosystem of a MacBook Pro in a pen-oriented form factor. The Modbook Pro X was developed as the next major generation. It started as a limited-production Kickstarter initiative in late 2014. Development encountered technical difficulties, and changes made by Apple to the MacBook Pro platform complicated the planned conversion. The project was subsequently reframed as a commercial product line rather than remaining only a limited campaign project. The later Modbook Pro X with Touch Bar was designed around Apple's high-end 15.4-inch Touch Bar MacBook Pro models and introduced a tablet-to-laptop convertible concept, unlike the earlier slate-focused products. On September 14, 2017, Modbook Inc. announced the Modbook Pro X with Touch Bar together with an equity-crowdfunding campaign hosted by Wefunder. The proposed system was expected to ship after the campaign closed successfully. However, the available reference material reports that the Modbook Pro X was not delivered to customers and that payments were not refunded. It further reports that Kickstarter, Wefunder, and individual preorder commitments remained unfulfilled, and that the Modbook website was later suspended. These reports make the brand's present commercial status uncertain. There is insufficient reliable material to establish whether Modbook Inc. remains active, has formally dissolved, or continues operations in another form.

• 2022

  Reported fulfillment problems continue

  [1]Modbooken.wikipedia.org

  Available reference material stated that Modbook Pro X orders and crowdfunding commitments had not been fulfilled as of February 2022.

• 2017

  Touch Bar generation announced

  [1]Modbooken.wikipedia.org

  Modbook Inc. announced the Modbook Pro X with Touch Bar and paired it with an equity-crowdfunding campaign on Wefunder.

• 2014

  Modbook Pro X Kickstarter project begins

  [1]Modbooken.wikipedia.org

  The proposed Modbook Pro X started as a successfully funded Kickstarter project, but later experienced technical and platform-related delays.

• 2012

  Modbook Inc. introduces Modbook Pro

  [1]Modbooken.wikipedia.org

  A newly founded Modbook Inc. introduced the MacBook Pro-based Modbook Pro with a redesigned aluminum slate enclosure.

• 2010

  Axiotron production period ends

  [1]Modbooken.wikipedia.org

  The reference material identifies Axiotron as the manufacturer of the Modbook from 2008 through 2010.

• 2008

  Original Modbook starts shipping

  [1]Modbooken.wikipedia.org

  The first production Modbook systems began shipping shortly after Macworld 2008.

• 2007

  Modbook debuts at Macworld

  [1]Modbooken.wikipedia.org

  Axiotron presented the Modbook as a commercially available pen-enabled tablet Mac at the 2007 Macworld Conference & Expo and received a Best in Show award.

A specialist alternative to conventional tablets and laptops for Mac users, artists, designers, and other creative professionals who want pressure-sensitive pen input while retaining macOS and compatibility with Mac applications.

• Pen-enabled Mac tablet · 2007

  Original Modbook

  The original Modbook converted the white Apple MacBook Core 2 Duo into a slate-style pen computer. The keyboard and standard notebook display were replaced with a Wacom Penabled digitizer, a redesigned LCD assembly, strengthened glass, and a new top shell. It retained the donor MacBook's motherboard, macOS environment, ports, networking, optical drive, camera, and application compatibility. The pen supported pressure sensitivity, programmable side buttons, and an eraser, but the system did not provide conventional multitouch input.

• Professional pen-enabled Mac tablet · 2012

  Modbook Pro

  Introduced in 2012 by Modbook Inc., the Modbook Pro used a new conversion process and an all-black aluminum enclosure to transform a 13.3-inch standard-display MacBook Pro into a slate tablet. It targeted creative professionals who needed a more powerful Mac platform with direct pen input. Described configurations included Intel Core i5 and Core i7 processors, up to 16 GB of RAM, hard-drive or solid-state storage, Intel HD 4000 graphics, and a SuperDrive.

• Limited-production pen-enabled Mac tablet · 2014

  Modbook Pro X

  The Modbook Pro X was conceived as a more advanced successor and initially presented as a limited-production Kickstarter project in late 2014. Technical challenges and changes in the Apple MacBook Pro hardware on which it depended caused delays. The project later became part of a broader commercial product plan. The supplied reference material states that no Modbook Pro X machines were delivered to customers and that payments were not refunded.

• Tablet-to-laptop convertible Mac · 2017

  Modbook Pro X with Touch Bar

  Announced in 2017, the Modbook Pro X with Touch Bar was designed around Apple's high-end 15.4-inch Touch Bar MacBook Pro models. Unlike the earlier slate products, it was planned as a tablet-to-laptop convertible. The announcement was accompanied by a Wefunder equity-crowdfunding campaign. The available reference material reports that the product was not delivered to customers and that related crowdfunding and preorder commitments remained unfulfilled.

• 2022

  Unfulfilled Modbook Pro X crowdfunding and preorder commitments

  Available reference material reports that Modbook Pro X machines were not delivered to customers, payments were not refunded, and Kickstarter, Wefunder, and individual preorder commitments remained outstanding as of February 2022. The company's website was also reported as suspended. The material does not establish a court finding or formal legal determination of wrongdoing.

  Source

Read more

• 2017Modbook Pro X with Touch Bar Wefunder campaign

  United States · Online investors

  Modbook Inc. introduced its Touch Bar-based Modbook Pro X on September 14, 2017, alongside an equity-crowdfunding campaign on Wefunder.

  Outcome. The reference material says that campaign commitments and related preorders were not fulfilled.

  Source
• 2014Modbook Pro X Kickstarter

  United States · International online backers

  Modbook Inc. used Kickstarter to fund a proposed limited-production Modbook Pro X. The project was described as successfully funded, but technical obstacles and changes to the underlying Apple MacBook Pro platform led to substantial delays and a transition toward a later commercial version.

  Outcome. The available reference material states that customers did not receive Modbook Pro X machines and that payments were not refunded.

  Source

• 2017

  Add the Touch Bar convertible generationProduct launch

  Background

  Modbook Inc. sought to update the concept for Apple's newer high-end MacBook Pro platform and make the device more flexible than a fixed slate.

  Action taken

  The company announced the Modbook Pro X with Touch Bar, based on 15.4-inch Touch Bar MacBook Pro models, and launched a Wefunder equity-crowdfunding campaign.

  Aftermath

  The available material reports that the new product was not delivered and that campaign and preorder obligations remained unfulfilled.

  Source

• 2014

  Launch the Modbook Pro X through crowdfundingProduct launch

  Background

  Modbook Inc. sought to develop a more advanced product using a newer Apple MacBook Pro platform.

  Action taken

  The company initiated a Kickstarter project for a limited-production Modbook Pro X.

  Aftermath

  Technical challenges and subsequent Apple hardware updates delayed the project and contributed to its evolution into a later commercial product plan.

  Source

• 2012

  Move from MacBook conversion to MacBook Pro-based Modbook ProGeneration change

  Background

  The original Modbook was based on the consumer MacBook, while professional users sought more capable hardware in the same pen-tablet format.

  Action taken

  Modbook Inc. introduced a redesigned conversion process and aluminum slate enclosure for the 13.3-inch MacBook Pro.

  Aftermath

  The product broadened the brand's positioning toward creative professionals and higher-performance Mac tablet use.

  Source

1. 1Modbooken.wikipedia.org