In case you missed our last Buzz post, we now offer the holy-grail of hard drive upgrades - 1 terrabyte!
It's my opinion that only bad puns and visual hyperbole can convey the awesomeness of having this amount of storage inside of your laptop, so here ya go...
Of course, if you have a MacBook or MacBook Pro unibody system or a 17" Aluminum MacBook Pro, you won't notice any difference in the size of your laptop when you get it back from our Apple Certified Techs. :)
OK, to say we're excited about this is the understatement of the year. After extensive testing, we are please to release our new 1 Terabyte (that's 1000 Gigabytes in case you are keeping score at home) drive upgrade for MacBook and MacBook Pro unibody systems.
Simply put, this drive rocks. With the latest drive technology and same-day or overnight installation that includes data transfer - we're ready to max out your Mac whenever you are. Read the complete press release here.
Our Modbook upgrade video is quickly becoming one of our most popular videos, with over 88,000 views so far! In light of all this attention, a few common questions have come up - so here's a quick FAQ on the Modbook technology and upgrade service:
Q: Where's the keyboard? How will I write email without one? A: The Modbook doesn't open, there is no longer a physical keyboard, after the tabletconversion. The Axiotron Quick Clicks application provides resizable, on-screen keyboards of various styles, as well as hand writing recognition and gesture controls. Personally, I just plug in a USB keyboard, if I have much typing to do, but a bluetooth keyboard would be even better.
Q: Can the Modbook only be used, lying flat on a table or lap? A: Axiotron is currently developing a quick-release bracket with standard vesa mountung holes, which will enable you to use a variety of monitor stands and arms. In the meantime, your best bet is a cookbook holder, if you want to prop it up like a monitor.
Q: Will my hard drive and data be erased, during the upgrade process? A: When you send you MacBook to TechRestore for an overnight upgrade, we will not erase your data or format your drive, unless you specifically request it.
Q: Why is it so expensive, when I'm providing the Macbook? A: Actually, a Modbook upgrade is about half the price of a pre-upgraded Modbook ($1149 before March 6th) and this tablet upgrade is comparable to the price of a Cintiq tablet, but offers complete portability and GPS! Also, Google Earth is way more fun when you use a pen to pan around. (c;
Q: Does the Modbook work with a Windows bootcamp partition? A: Windows will probably work fine, and you can use the Windows on-screen keyboard for text input but, technically, Windows isn't supported.
Q: That upgrade looks easy, can I do it myself? A: Dan does a good job at making things look easy in the video, but the process of disassembling the MacBook, transferring the camera, and reconnecting all of the various cables in the correct place and order is far from simple. Currently Axiotron does not offer a do-it-yourself kit, for warranty reasons.
Q: Do I get my old keyboard and screen back? A: On all Modbook upgrades, salvage of the palmrest (keyboard + trackpad assembly) and LCD screen is figured in to the price of the upgrade, which is part of the reason that this service is so affordable.
Q: Why wouldn't I just buy some cheap tablet PC to have this kind of functionality? A: The built-in Wacom pen digitizer, senses 512 levels of pressure at 133 updates per second and 20x the resolution of the screen - features unsurpassed by any tablet computer. The Modbook is not for showing power-point presentations without opening a laptop, it's a 21st century alternative to drawing on paper and scanning your work. True digital art creation requires the responsiveness and precision of quality components.
Q: Who would want a Mac like this anyway? A: To most, the Modbook upgrade may be little more than a novelty but, to an artist, it is essential, since the service transforms a MacBook into a powerful, portable drawing tool. Not being anchored to a desktop, means that the Modbook can be used in studios for figure drawing, on the street for doing people's charicures, or out in nature to paint landscapes - the possibilities are endless (and the GPS will ensure that you find your way back).
I've finally finished the world's first Modbook upgrade video, with help from Dan's technical skills and Lance's music. This newest stop-motion animated video shows the complete conversion process, from MacBook to Modbook. I think it's our best video yet (but be sure to voice your opinion in the comments are ratings). As usual, this video is brought to you in wide-screen - optionally 720p HD format - that's nearly twice the resolution of a standard DVD, so you can see it as though you were watching a blue-ray disc, even on YouTube. (c:
If you haven't seen one yet, let me just tell you that this is the must have service for artists. With 512 levels of sensitivity, and a screen surface designed to feel like paper, this touch-screen out-performs any other tablet on the market - not to mention the fact that it's a Mac! The best part is, that you don't have to buy a whole new system ($2249 for a complete Modbook), just upgrade the MacBook that you already use, for half that price ($1149), and it comes back with all of your data and programs intact - sweet. Click the link below for details.
Here are some more photos of the matte finish screen upgrade for the 15" unibody MacBook Pro, starting with a side-by-side comparison of our new matte finish next to the stock glossy screen, reflecting the same fluorescent overhead light. Click on the images to see them larger.
It's been a fantastic week exhibiting at MacWorld Expo!
We've seen a record number of people coming by the booth each day and one of the most popular items we are displaying is the Glossy to Matte finish screen replacement service for the 15-inch MacBook Pro Unibody models. We have our prototype at the show, and it's incredible how many people have come by to thank us for coming out with this service. Seems like there's a large population of MacBook Pro users that don't like using that shiny screen.
Once we got mentioned by MacWorld magazine, where their reviewer said "Personally, I feel like the TechRestore guys do a better job with their matte treatment than Apple did" , our phones started ringing off the hook for this new service. If you can't get to the show to see the samples of the MacBook Pro with a non-shiny screen, here's some quick answers to some common questions that have come up:
What does the screen replacement include?
In order to replace the super-shiny screen with a traditional matte (anti-glare) screen, we remove the glass screen cover (you know, that mirror-like glass you have been seeing your reflection in), then we remove the glossy LCD (LED backlight) screen. We then replace the glossy screen with a matte-finish screen that has the exact same specifications as the original; same resolution, same color depth, same LED backlight...you get the idea. We install a custom black bezel around the edge of the screen that matches the finish of the MacBook Pro and looks great. The bezel has all the required holes in it for the iSight and other items that sit at the top of the MacBook Pro screen housing.
Are you just putting an anti-glare screen cover on the screen?
No. Our beta testers on this service have told us they do not like the anti-glare covers since they tend to distort images and make color matching very difficult. We will be replacing your entire LCD panel.
Will you post some photos on your website, already!?
We will be posting some actual before-after photos on our site next week for your review.
How long does the service take?
The screen replacement is completed within 24-hours (M-F) of receipt to us.
What about my warranty?
We provide a 1-year warranty on your new screen. Our technicians have performed tens of thousands of repairs on in-warranty laptops since 1994 and we have never had a warranty declined by the manufacturer due to our service. Of course, the manufacturer will not cover any parts we install on your laptop, we take care of that for you. In the unlikely event that you have a problem getting warranty service on your laptop after we perform any repair or upgrade, simply give us a call so we can provide you with assistance. We are here to help.
What other products will you be offering this service on?
We've had a tremendous response to this new service. Watch for new products being added during the coming weeks. To get an alert about new service offerings, sign up for our Specials newsletter.We have one more day of the show, which ends at 4PM on Friday. I'll then be driving the Time Machine out of the Moscone Center and taking a couple of days to recuperate from being on our feet talking non-stop for four days. It's been a great show and we hope that MacWorld Expo continues to be such a great resource for Mac users everywhere.
Ah, good things come to those who wait. It's finally here, the long rumored and even longer waited for 1/2 Terabyte laptop hard drive that will fit in all MacBook and MacBook Pro models!
Our first batch of drives is here and we've just made this hot product live on our website. You'll get 500 Gigabytes of storage, installed overnight with data transfer from your old drive. It's a beautiful thing.
I'm sitting in the Seattle airport, catching my connecting flight to Chicago for some business meetings - but I couldn't wait to share this news with you. Since my current 250 Gigabyte drive has been acting up, I'll be having our guys swap in one of the 500 Gig drives for me when I return. Really, it's acting up, I promise.
If you've lusted after the 200 Gigabyte drive upgrade for your MacBook or MacBook Pro, but were turned off by the 4200RPM disc speed, we have good news today from our friends at Seagate. The new Momentus 7200.2 series of drives will run at 7200 RPM with sizes up to 160 Gigabyte. For now, you're maxed out at 100 Gigabytes of storage if you want a high speed drive, but we expect Seagate to begin shipping the higher capacity 7200 RPM drives within 2-3 months.
Of course, this means you'll be able to get the high speed overnight upgrade from TechRestore during the same time frame. It's a great combination: the fastest drive on the planet for your laptop, coupled with the fastest installation service available.
Get yourself signed up for the Special News to get updated information about these new drives as they become available.
