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Long live The King of PDAs

Posted by Hemos on from the still-kicking dept.

x136 writes "Despite being cancelled over four years ago, the Newton Messagepad is still getting better. You can now connect to an 802.11b network, install packages from OS X, and play the MP3s that you transferred from iTunes to your Compact Flash cards. It's pretty hard to imagine how great the Newton could have become had it not been abandoned."

5 of 71 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Impressive for its day by RevAaron · · Score: 5, Informative

    I can't tell if this comment is in benign ignorance, or a joke...

    The most recent and most capable model, the one which is largely being talked about is the MP2x00 series. It has 162 MHz StrongARM processor, 5 or 8 MB of RAM and a luxurious 480x320 screen (compared to the piddly 320x240 res of so-called modern PDAs). However, the MP120 and MP130 running Newton OS 2.0, with their 20-25 MHz ARM and 2-4 MB of RAM are also still incredibly useful, although not as powerful.

    The MP2100 model is still impressive, not only in it's day, but today as well. :)

    --

    Working toward a usable PDA environment in the spirit of Newton OS: Dynapad
  2. Got a Newton 130 by PD · · Score: 2, Informative

    And I still use it. What a great machine it is. I'll probably replace it someday with something that can run a Python interpreter, but for now it's what I need.

    --
    If tits were wings it'd be flying around.
  3. Re:I've read an interview with interface developer by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative
    Unable to give URL, probably it even was a paper interview. Anyway it was in russian - you see, pen input interface was developed by Russians.
    Correction: the original handwriting system (Calligrapher) was developed by Russians. And it sucked. And it still sucks, even now on WindowsCE. It just sucked much much less than the alternatives at the time.

    Two years later Apple released version 2.0 of NewtonOS, with a far FAR FAR improved handwriting system (Rosetta) developed in-house at Apple. To this day, Rosetta is still basically the best handwriting system out there. Too bad it's only available on Newtons.

  4. Re:I have a newton, it won't power on. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

    When you have problems like this, THE place to check is the Newton FAQ. They have a whole Section devoted to this problem.

  5. Re:Impressive for its day by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative
    Instead of doubling the screen resolution by increasing pixel density, they should have kept the resolution 320x240, and cut the size of the unit in half.
    Just prior to Steve canning the Newton project, Apple was ready to release a small-size Newton to compete head-to-head with the Palm.
    Instead of going to the full 162 MHz processor, they should have used a slower, more power efficient one, so fewer batteries were needed.
    Actually, the StrongARM processor was ten times as fast as the ARM610 and it used less power. The Motorola DragonBall inside the Palm was a low-power processor to be sure, but the StrongARM was almost as good, and had tremendous features on top of it. Note that the StrongARM is now the dominant processor on the market, and the DragonBall will soon be dead. Apple had it right, even for making a smaller device than the Newts.
    Something to put up on the virtual "what could have been" shelf with my dual processor PowerPC NeXT system...
    Hmmm...I wonder if you can get one of those on eBay...