Apple Newton

Early portable digital devices were designed as a stand-alone computer, requiring the functionality of a desktop PC in a smaller package. Apple Computer developed the Newton, and Jeff Hawkins built an early version of a consumer hand-held called the Casio Zoomer, (short for "consumer").

These early attempts at handhelds sold poorly. One important insight gained from the marketplace failure of these pioneering devices was that hey should not be "little PCs," but accessories to PCs. Handhelds became successful when they focused on a narrower range of tasks, leaving other jobs such as print to PCs.