Smart Design's iPad ... Circa 1989

As we all await that moment when we can finally get our mitts on an actual iPad, it's important to realize that the idea of a tablet computer is not a new one. In fact it's been over 20 years in the making. How do I know this, you may ask? I know because a little over 20 years ago Smart Design (along with a few other firms) was asked by Apple to develop concepts for a tablet device.

The Mac products at that time were basic and beige by today's standards.

The Macintosh portable had been...