The predecessor to the iPad was this instrument, the Newton, a joint venture between Apple and Sharp, a personal digital assistant described as a handheld communications assistant that managed data, and allowed a limited input of information. What it turned into was a frustrating and short-lived appliance that made you look like you knew what your were doing.
The achilles heel of this device was its handwriting recognition software touted to streamline the way the user took notes during meetings or classes. It worked if you had the impeccable script of a school marm, not to mention that if you're left handed, the Newton would all but slap your hand with a ruler.
Enter the iPad Touch concept, the earliest version that never made it to market pictured here. This was slated for release at Mac World in 2008, but didn't make it to market for a number of reasons, whetting the appetite among Macphiles for a device that promised connectivity for email and Internet access, as well as a platform for entertainment. It was Apple's iPod that paved the way along with the iPhone for the iPad's tablet market domination of 95 percent, according to Strategy Analytics.
This smashing success is due in no small part to the device's usability. Once the paradigm of navigating the iPad is understood, operating it is very intuitive. It ships with iTunes and YouTube connectivity and management along with powerful IP access using Wi-Fi. The current version lacks ethernet and USB ports, staying true to the intent of the device, mobile access.
Thousands of applications have been developed from gaming to productivity to increase the iPad's usability. The latest 4.2 version of its software allows multi-tasking and wireless printing via Bluetooth.
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