While people now can easily carry around their Apple iPad, the device's original design may not have been as mobile-friendly. Reports are now out that are showing what is believed to be the original design for the iPad, or the 035 iPad prototype. Images posted on BuzzFeed show that the old iPad is about an inch deep compared to the thinner iPad 2 and also featured a larger screen. Fortunately for fans of the “slim is in” mantra, these behemoths never hit shelves.
The newer iPad is 0.34 inches thick and comes with a 9.7-inch backlit LED display. Apple was recently in court explaining the original design of the iPad due to a legal battle between the company and Samsung.
“My recollection of first seeing it is very hazy, but it was, I'm guessing, sometime between 2002 and 2004, some but it was, I remember seeing this and perhaps models similar to this when we were first exploring tablet designs that ultimately became the iPad,” Apple Senior Vice President of Industrial Design Jonathan Ive said in a December court deposition, according to CNET. “I actually don't know which model shop made this, but I recognize this as a model that was produced during our exploration.”
Although the models that have hit stores are sleek and fairly durable, they aren't impervious to cracks or hardware malfunctions. If you've got a slim and slender iPad, but it's got a huge gash across its screen or the headphone jack has stopped working, don't give up hope. Seek out an iPad repair specialist at iResQ for a free quote and diagnosis.