Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Computing
  3. News

Modbook Pro X turns a Retina MacBook Pro into a tablet paired with a stylus

By

modbook pro x turns retina macbook tablet paired stylus
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Ever wish Apple made a convertible MacBook Pro that let you use it in tablet mode like a Lenovo Yoga 2 Pro? If you have some big bucks lying around, and you want something like what we just described that badly, a company by the name of Modbook will be happy to provide you with that service. However, like we said, it’ll cost you.

Modbook, which is currently running a Kickstarter campaign for what it calls the Modbook Pro X, takes your MacBook Pro (yes, you can send in your own to have Modbook switch it up), which they then reassemble and turn into a tablet. Once they’re done and send it back to you, your Modbook Pro X will be covered in a black enclosure, be accompanied by a stylus, and include tablet-like features like screen rotate, pen input, and more. Alternatively, you’ll eventually be able to buy a Modbook Pro X directly from the company’s site. The Modbook Pro X is geared towards creative pros like artists, animators, and more.

Recommended Videos

ModBook Pro XModbook will service late-2013 and newer 15.4-inch MacBook Pros, including Retina models. Modbook isn’t new to this scene, having released 2008 and 2012 edition Modbooks as well. Modbook says that though they specialize in tablet-ifying MacBook Pros, the Modbook Pro X doesn’t mess with the Mac OS X experience, and claims to keep it faithful for the user.

Related

Modbook will also offer a couple of extra features with the Modbook Pro X, but you’ll have to pay extra for them. One of them is called Keybars, which are a set of buttons that Modbook adds to the back of the system, placed where your digits would likely be if you’re holding the Modbook Pro X the same way you would when using any other tablet. Keybars act as a way for you to quickly enter keyboard commands and shortcuts. Thankfully, the Keybars are fully programmable, so if you do decide to get a Modbook Pro X with Keybars, you won’t necessarily have to learn how Modbook maps those buttons out by default in order to take advantage. The second big accessory you could get with a Modbook Pro X is a detachable stand that adds a full QWERTY keyboard to the tablet.

As we mentioned, getting a Modbook Pro X is by no means a cheap ordeal. You’ll have to shell out $1,999 to get a MacBook Pro modded. To get one with Keybars, it’ll cost you $2,299. Spending $2,689 gets you both the Keybars on the back, and the keyboard stand as well. Modbook won’t start deliveries until March of 2015 at the earliest, so it’ll be a while until you start seeing Modbook Pro X rigs on the street.

You can learn more about Modbook here.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Konrad Krawczyk
Konrad Krawczyk
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Konrad covers desktops, laptops, tablets, sports tech and subjects in between for Digital Trends. Prior to joining DT, he…
Best Buy’s deal of the day is $150 off the MacBook Air M2
A woman working on a 2023 MacBook Air with M2 chip.

For Mac lovers, Best Buy has one of the best laptop deals at the moment with $150 off the MacBook Air M2. Usually priced at $999, you can buy it for $849 right now making it great value for anyone who wants to get involved with the Apple ecosystem without breaking the bank. Stylish and speedy, this is a laptop that will suit mostly everyone from students to people working from home or commuters. Here’s what you need to know before you hit the buy button. As always with such good deals, bear in mind that you could miss out if you wait too long.

Why you should buy the MacBook Air M2
One of the best laptop brands for reliability and being high quality, buying a MacBook Air is an investment that will last. While Windows-based laptops can lose their lustre over time, MacBooks tend to keep going for longer. While the MacBook Air M2 doesn’t have the latest Apple silicon -- the M3 -- it still offers fantastic performance. The M2 chip has an 8-core CPU and 10-core GPU and this model is still considered to be the best MacBook for everyone. This particular model comes with 8GB of memory and 256GB of SSD storage which is sufficient for all everyday tasks and saving documents easily.

Read more
You can still buy the M1 MacBook Air, and it’s cheaper than ever
Apple MacBook Air M1 open, on a table.

Apple deals are rarely particularly cheap but Walmart is continuing to sell the Apple MacBook Air M1 with 13.3-inch screen for just $699. The lowest price ever, it’s the perfect entry point for anyone considering checking out macOS. It feels like stock must be starting to run low here so if you don’t want to miss out on one of the better laptop deals around, hit the buy button now before you miss out. Otherwise, here’s what the MacBook Air M1 has to offer.

Why you should buy the MacBook Air M1
The MacBook Air M1 isn’t considered one of the best laptops any more but just because its processor is a few years old doesn’t mean you should ignore it. MacBooks are typically built to last with support for macOS continuing for a number of years. With the MacBook Air M1, you get the M1 chip with an 8-core CPU which is sure to outperform Intel chips of the same era. The leap between Intel-based MacBooks to Apple silicon was pretty huge which is why the M1 chip remains highly potent.

Read more
The 5 best MacBooks for video editing in 2024
Apple MacBook Pro 16 front angled view showing display and keyboard.

Video editing is one of the most demanding things you can ask of your laptop. Not only do you need a powerful processor to keep things running smoothly, but you'll also need loads of RAM and a solid GPU to best carry out the task. If any of these components are lacking, you could run into trouble with your software – resulting in sluggish performance and a frustrating overall experience.

Hunting for a laptop that's robust enough to handle video editing isn't easy, but you can make things more manageable by sticking to Apple's MacBook catalog.

Read more