Newton Message Pad. Image credit: Apple

There’s been an incredible amount of speculation recently about whether or not Apple plans to release some kind of new tablet-like device in the upcoming weeks. Theories abound with regards to what this rumored tablet computer will be able to do.

With that in mind, it’s worth looking back at Apple’s original tablet-like computing device, the Newton. The Newton shipped in 1993, and was considered to be a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), a new device at the time. It featured a pen-based interface, large LCD screen, and could handle your calendar, to-do lists, email and notes, among other things.