Long the mobile device flop punch line, the Apple Newton was a groundbreaking device that just didn't live up to the hype. The Newton is regarded as the first product to fully demonstrate the potential for handheld computing. But the Newton clocked in at a hefty one pound and its handwriting-recognition system, or "digital ink," became the butt of many jokes. The Newton also packed in a notepad, to-do list, date book, telephone log, address file and more functions. The first Apple Newton became available in 1993. Apple discontinued the Newton in 1998.