Frog Design outs the Apple tablet that could have been... in 1983

We don't know about you, but back in 1983 we were still playing in the mud with sticks and learning how to read. Frog Design, on the other hand, well, they were busy creating zany gadget prototypes. The company -- which helped create such august products as the Apple IIc (which was unleashed in 1984) -- also worked on a tablet pc for Apple around that same time, and its recently let slip some photos of what might have been. The tablet you see in the photos (there's another after the break) was called Bashful, and it's a pretty slim character considering its birth date, boasting a full physical keyboard and stylus to boot. Several prototypes of this little lover were made, including one with a disk drive and even one with a phone. So that means, by our count, Apple's been mulling this whole tablet deal for... twenty-six years. Hit the source link for even more photos.

[neonn Posted Jan 24th 2010 2:24PM]

it looks a tad rendered .... :) btw

[sweet greggo Posted Jan 24th 2010 2:31PM]

@quag

Market failures? Depends on the market. If every tablet computer up until now was a "market failure" as you say, companies would have stopped making them long ago. Tablets do very well in the business sector, ie medical field, construction, etc. They haven't been heavily marketed at consumers so it makes sense that not everyone is carrying one around. If Apple somehow makes theirs (if it exists) shiny enough for the lemmings to buy it then bully for them. Personally I still don't see how I could justify carrying around a tablet computer, but hey, I've been thinking for myself for awhile now.

[Dusty Posted Jan 24th 2010 2:49PM]

Interesting... Thats old :P

[cosmicinglewood Posted Jan 24th 2010 3:03PM]

That is just tight! I wonder what this would have cost way back then ?

Hopefully the 26 years of R&D will pay off when apple finally drops the most anticipated gadget of this decade- the famed and heavily rumored (thus it better be tight) dare I say the name........ forth coming ....Apple Tablet~

^^ For this trip back in time :)

[BigD145 Posted Jan 24th 2010 3:17PM]

Apple really dropped the ball, didn't they?

[Phoenix Posted Jan 24th 2010 3:31PM]

That's actually pretty slick looking, considering the era.

[Denus Posted Jan 24th 2010 4:17PM]

Moses had the first tablet =)
Don't know about the specs tho...

[tadd Posted Jan 24th 2010 4:44PM]

In 1989 Apple came out with a LEAD-ACID battery based portable computer with an LCD display. The machine is pretty heavy. It is MUCH bigger than the tablet computer pictured above. The picture may have been from 1983 but I think Apple was at least 6 years away from producing a tablet that looked like the picture. Perhaps about the time the Mac DUO computers came out in 1991.

[cimota Posted Jan 24th 2010 4:50PM]

""also worked on a tablet pc for Apple around that same time, and its recently let slip some photos of what might have been. ""

Recently? Like in the Apple Design book that was published in 1997?

Man, 13 years is RECENT?

[MarkB Posted Jan 24th 2010 8:13PM]

Check it out! Couple more pics on the original Frog Design blog post - http://designmind.frogdesign.com/blog/from-the-archives-frog-s-early-apple-tablet.html

[fontendet Posted Jan 24th 2010 8:31PM]

It's sexy even today....

More apples please.

[xenacenon Posted Jan 24th 2010 8:43PM]

@Steve P Jobs A few months earlier, when the rumors were flying around about an Apple tablet; I could care less. But now, I absolutely can’t wait. Was it the build up of hype? Or maybe the prominent features it has to offer are really wowing me, even though they are only rumors. Could it just be Apple itself that has this effect? The Jan. 27 statement of Apple will surely be amazing. Compiled details: http://bit.ly/iphone-4g-apple-tablet-details

[killrz1 Posted Jan 24th 2010 9:22PM]

This may be the tool that creates the paperless world. Watch for the low price point...

[fnybny Posted Jan 24th 2010 9:43PM]

@vlad the inhaler
working men of the world unite!

[tadghostal Posted Jan 24th 2010 10:10PM]

@quag So, you're assuming they arm-twisted? Were the parentheses your attempt at subtlety?

Well, I'm assuming you're an Apple Fanboy (fuck face?)

[CJ Posted Jan 25th 2010 2:09AM]

It's because you were banned a dozen times for being a pathetic troll.

Let's hope history doesn't repeat itself, hmm?

[MSwillDie Posted Jan 25th 2010 5:38AM]

As usual, before any Apple announcements, I'll be shorting MS stock and make money in 24 hours...I love fundamentals!!! LOL

[endgadget Posted Jan 25th 2010 7:04AM]

@spyker3292
I didn't know that tablets are used in vacuum cleaners

[RONNiEpoe Posted Jan 25th 2010 12:11PM]

I agree that Apple didn't make a lot of money for being the first but for doing it right the first time. The have marketed their devices to appeal to consumers (business and non-business)

It doesn't matter anymore if you prefer a paper over a tablet device. Every piece of media (news, music, entertainment) will be available to every digital device, may it be Apple or not. It's all about convenience. I think having magazines and newspaper in digital format is a inexpensive way rather than producing mass amounts of paper.

Apple has done it right with most of their products. They have this reputation to hold. Most companies are eager to see what Apple will do, because they are the trendsetters of this digital age. When this new product comes out, you will either like it or not.

I like Apple and what they have offered so far. I guess I will like what they have to show soon

[ebgolfin Posted Jan 25th 2010 12:59PM]

I have to laugh at all the ridiculous comments and arguments over who is "first." Who the hell cares who came up with the idea to detach/remove the keyboard from the computer and use a touch-screen? Such devices have near zero market penetration, which obviously points to the fact that all such attempts have been complete failures.

IMO, first place is still wide open to the guy who can actually sell these things to the general public in large volume and attract developers to create compelling and unique software for the platform.

Has anyone seen such a device before? I sure haven't.