The Macintosh PowerBook Duo® Tablet computer is a portable tablet-style pen computer. It runs standard Macintosh® software and works with PowerBook Duo docks and accessories. Apple withdrew this computer from production prior to the Newton MessagePad® 100 introduction to avoid market confusion caused by multiple different pen computer platforms. This computer eventually morphed into the Freestyle™ tablet computer from Assistive Technology.
Designed the interface for connecting the embedded Logitech Gazelle electromagnetic digitizing tablet to the system's internal Apple Desktop Bus (ADB) port. Selected a Motorola - M68HC05 microcontroller and associated components. Designed and developed the microcontroller system and tablet interface circuitry.
Selected backlight power supply components including a Linear Technology power supply controller IC for powering the CCFL backlight. Worked with Jim Williams of Linear Technology to develop a backlight power supply having low electromagnetic interference with the digitizing tablet sensor.
"Apple Design: The Work of the Apple Industrial Design Group," P. Kunkel and R. English, Graphis, 1997.
"World PC Expo 96 (in Japanese)," PC Watch, impress Watch, 1996.
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Gary Embler (remove the "-nospam-" in the address to email)
October 14, 2002