Macintosh PowerBook Duo® tablet computer (code named "PenLite")

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.

• Company

  Apple Computer, Inc.

• Design Engineer

  Gary L. Embler

• Product Design and Development Areas

  Pen digitizing tablet interface

  Designed the controller and interface connecting the embedded Logitech Gazelle electromagnetic digitizing tablet to the system's internal Apple Desktop Bus (ADB) port. Designed and developed the tablet controller and interface, using a Motorola M68HC05 microcontroller and associated components. Managed the microcontroller firmware development by an outside contractor.

  Display backlight power supply

  Selected backlight power supply components including a Linear Technology power supply controller chip 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.

• References

  1. "PowerBook Duo - PenLite". Wikipedia. 24 March 2023. Retrieved 2023-05-17.
  2. "Apple Design: The Work of the Apple Industrial Design Group," P. Kunkel and R. English, Graphis, 1997.