iPod was only released in 2001, though, and the idea to make a PMP only really got steam in 2000, with much of the work only happening after Fadell was urgency is how Apple got to contract out much of the work, even he was initially contracted before getting fully hired when his proof of concept got the nod).

OTOH the ill-fated Newton was also ARM-based. As well as the emate pseudo-laptop.