Images of iPad prototype "Surface"...

As some of you will know, Apple - via Sir Jonny Ive, I think, not sure on that though - recently released some images of their original "035" tablet computer mock-up dating from 2002.

I was perusing this article at SlashGear, looking through all the pictures, and suddenly remembered one of the design features the Microsoft people had been so excited about during their Surface keynote; an all-round peripheral air vent slot, allowing the device to maintain ventilation no matter where the user held it, billed as a major innovation...



...well, this is awkward.

First off... shame on you for luring me in with that title! BAD Ctrl-Opt-Del! BAD! That said, I can't fault MS for stealing this particular idea, it's a great one if implemented properly. And from the looks of the Surface, it seems as though it might just be. And the important part is that it will need it for the Pro version, what with that processor and all... I say whatever, if it works... go with it. Unless of course it will get your pants pulled down in a major law suit.

Doug b said:

First off... shame on you for luring me in with that title! BAD Ctrl-Opt-Del! BAD!

Click to expand...

Sorry, I was just trying to go for "witty pun", but - in hindsight - I can see how it was a little unintentionally trollish

Doug b said:

That said, I can't fault MS for stealing this particular idea, it's a great one if implemented properly. And from the looks of the Surface, it seems as though it might just be. And the important part is that it will need it for the Pro version, what with that processor and all... I say whatever, if it works... go with it. Unless of course it will get your pants pulled down in a major law suit.

Click to expand...

It was your final sentence there I was thinking of. Given Apple's propensity towards trying to patent certain case/chassis shapes & geometries (to such a degree of generality that even quite a few people on this site reacted with incredulity to said cases), I wouldn't be surprised if these images are soon in court again being used as proof of "prior art" in an Apple vs. Microsoft / iPad vs. Surface lawsuit; as this is a case where even the most hardened Apple critic would have to admit that Microsoft's "innovation" has been done years before, and that it is actually a clear piece of engineering design IP, not some argument about the brand-identifiablity of certain corner radii...