Linus Technologies, Inc.

Founded	1985 in Reston, VA by Dr. Ralph Sklarew with $11M in venture capital
Status	Closed down and liquidated in early 1990

Write-Top

Product	Write-Top
Introduced	1987
Production Count	About 4000 built, 2000 shipped, rest destroyed
Patents	4972496 (1990) 5157737 (1992) 5297216 (1994) (patents sold to GRiD)
Weight	9 lbs
CPU	7.16MHz 8088
Display	backlit monochrome 640x200 (CGA-compatible) LCD
Memory	640K CMOS static RAM, 32K ROM, internal 3.5" floppy
Price	$2,795-$3,600

Timeline

five generations of prototypes

pre-1984	Skarlew worked with Robert Nadeau, Professor of George Mason University, to expand a patent application he had developed for an electronic book. It evolved into a test-taking tablet and then into a handwriting tablet. The original name was "Techbook."
1/17/84	First patent application
2/1/84	First development contact signed
2/84	Specifications documented in business plan
4/84	First-draft patent application
7/84	Demonstration programs in BASIC using a PC and Touch Technologies glass input panel
end of 1984	portable pen PC mock-up makde from portable PC