8 ms·
Actually, Microsoft did move to the tablet before anyone else. They created a tablet version of Windows 10 years ago. Do you remember those? I had some friends
by lambda 14y ago
Actually, Microsoft did move to the tablet before anyone else. They created a tablet version of Windows 10 years ago. Do you remember those? I had some friends who had those machines; mostly in the form of laptops that had a screen that would rotate into a tablet form factor, with a stylus for input.
Those were a market failure. It wasn't until Apple re-invented the tablet, and Android showed that there is actually a tablet market and not just an iPad market, that Microsoft re-entered the game with the Surface.
- archangel_one 14y agoYeah, I remember those machines and did even see one used in person once. Aside from any Apple magic and all the associated style factors, I think technology was just not ready then; they were just a laptop with a reversible screen, which was too heavy and bulky to be used in the ways people actually want to use a tablet rather than a laptop. You might have gotten two hours of battery life, for the first week of its life. And the stylus wasn't exactly inspiring either - it smacked more of a way to easily translate mouse-driven software than the best way to interact with the device. That's a lot more obvious in hindsight, of course.
- rbanffy 14y agoI believe they were reacting to competition, either the GridPad or the Momenta (I remember the Momenta getting lots of press for its innovative GUI - you can see it on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0XE08BjQDQ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0XE08BjQDQ)
- wildgift 14y agoThe Apple Newton was out around 1994.