Axiotron released the first real Mac-based tablet computer this week at Macworld. As the name suggests, it’s a modified MacBook, with a fixed tablet screen and advanced tablet capabilities. The new portable is being sold solely through Other World Computing. No word yet on shipping dates.

From my first impressions, it looks like they’ve done a very nice job. When I first heard of the product, I must admit I was skeptical, thinking they just slapped a tablet device onto a MacBook. But the finished product looks more like a ground-up design than a “mod.” From what I can tell, the 13.3 inch screen is a custom-built unit, not just something pulled off a line. It utilized Wacom’s Penabled hardware, which has become the tablet PC industry standard for interactive pen input. The screen has a wider viewing angle and higher contrast ratio than the MacBook’s screen, and is topped by a replaceable “chemically strengthened” glass cover. Axiotron claims this glass method to be far superior to the “non-glass” solutions found in most tablet PCs, offering better optical clarity and improved scratch resistance. The final writing surface is also etched (calibrated to the screen’s resolution) to achieve a “crisp, paper-like writing sensation.” It’s nice to see them put so much effort into creating a quality screen surface for the first Mac tablet.

The ModBook uses Apple’s Inkwell to provide handwriting recognition to any application. I didn’t get to try it myself, but I did watch others try it, and it was rather impressive. Most people that tested it said “wow, it really works!” It wasn’t flawless, a few unintended characters ended up in the mix, but overall it was fairly accurate and responsive. The pen itself has a home near the bottom of the device and features a replaceable tip.

Other features include buit-in iSight camera (retained from the MacBook), CD/DVD combo drive with optional Super drive, locking points that also attach to VESA mounts, and even an optional built-in GPS module.

I think the best part is that the price point (starting at $2,279) is very reasonable for what you get. I remember when the first “interactive pen displays” came out, they were very cool, but very expensive. The price points of those stand-alone units (only input devices) are still relatively high. Wacom’s Cintiq 21UX retails for an average $2500. Granted, its 21″ screen is much bigger than the ModBook’s 13.3″, but it’s JUST an input device for about the same price as the portable, all-inclusive ModBook. There are tablet PCs available for quite a bit less than the ModBook, but very few with a comparable set of features, and none that run OS X. One thing many other tablets do that the ModBook doesn’t yet do is include a keyboard and a swivel screen, which adds a lot of usability.

It will be interesting to see how well this sells and what more Axiotron can do with the platform. I’m working on getting answers to the following questions:

• can I use it as an independent input device with another computer? (like with my MacPro)
• will it someday include a swivel screen and keyboard?

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