Case file: a category that formed
Why did GO Corporation's pen computers fail, and when did tablets become viable?
Formed since 2026-10-25 · ledger #66
The iPhone's multitouch and ARM stack (2007) made the iPad (2010) possible.
Short answer
GO Corporation (1987) built PenPoint, an operating system for pen tablets, and was sold to AT&T in 1994 before being shut down. Pen recognition, weight and battery life were not good enough for a general computer. The iPad (2010) used capacitive multitouch, an ARM chip and a lithium-ion battery: the stack the iPhone had just proved.
- Killing constraint
- Touch input and battery life
E3 Device install base - Crossing
- 2007
Capacitive multitouch and ARM SoCs proven in phones. - Who won
- iPad (Apple)
founded 2010
Pen recognition of the early 1990s was error-prone, and the hardware was heavy with short battery life.
Graveyard
Companies that died proving people wanted this. Capital shown where it was disclosed.
| Company | Years | Capital | How it died | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GO Corporation | 1987–1994 | — | Sold to AT&T in 1994, then shut down | source M |
Who won once the constraint crossed
- iPad (Apple) (founded 2010) — launched April 2010 source