In Pictures: Pocket marvels - 40 years of handheld computers

From the first pocket scientific calculator through '80s organisers to today's tablets, check out 15 ingenious devices that have driven the handheld computing revolution.

2010: Samsung Galaxy Tab

"Apple's got a tablet?" said Google, "Well, let's get Android on something smaller, lighter and less expensive! And to sweeten the deal, let's name all our new Android versions after desserts!"

The first Android tablet of note was Samsung's petite Galaxy Tab. For $400, the 7-in. tablet delivered a crisp 1024 x 600 display and some nice bonuses such as Flash support, panoramic photography and automatic photo geotagging.

Best, it opened a market for Motorola's $500 Xoom and a flood of other Android tablets, which may soon dip below $200 for high-quality hardware. Looks like the next 40 years of handheld computing are shaping up to be pretty interesting too.

But wait, what's this? A handheld computer from 1617? See the next slide.

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