The Unabridged Project

The Unabridged Project is a digital archaeology initiative curated by the Digital Hub at Colorado State University, through the College of Liberal Arts. The project looks to chronicle and archive the evolution of the modern "tablet" "pad" and "e-reader" subcategory of computers. The Digital Hub is interested in the intersection and interplay of technology and the liberal arts in the realm of the digital humanities. Tablets, pads, and e-readers constitute a medium by which these interactions take place.

"Next-generation tablet computers, which have not been considered in previous studies of data collection methods, most closely approach the ease of use and simplicity of paper, while gaining the benefits of computer-based approaches."

Adam Wilcox et. al, Research Data Collection Methods: From Paper to Tablet Computers

Computers of the Future

From Star Trek's PADD terminals to the tablet computers of today.

Palm Inc. Palmpilot

"The first wildly popular handheld computer", released in 1996.

Amazon Kindle

The first generation Kindle sold out in 5 hours during its debut on 11/19/2007.

Apple iPad

During the first eighty days of sale in 2010, 3 million iPads were sold.

Microsoft Surface

Microsoft's 2012 Surface introduced the idea of a "hybrid" tablet computer.

GRiD Systems GRiDPAD

Considered the world's first tablet computer, released in 1989.

Mircrosoft PocketPC 2000

Released in 2000, this pocket-sized PC debuted Microsoft's mobile OS.

Android Tablets

Tablets running Android OS dominated markets in the early 2000s.

Samsung Galaxy Tab

The Galaxy Tab's release in 2010 prompted a lawsuit from Apple.

Samsung Galaxy Fold

Samsung's foldable "phablet" faced a few kinks in its design on launch day.

Apple Newton

The iPad before iPads, released by Apple in 1993. 

Modbook Inc. ModBook

A Macbook conversion and the only tablet to run Mac OS, 2007.

Barnes & Noble Nook

Barnes & Noble released their competitor to the Kindle in 2009.

Samsung Galaxy Note

The first widely popular "phablet", released in 2011.

The Future of the Tablet

Where do tablet computers go from here? What can we expect next?