Feedback from readers is what we like best...
I'm always delighted to get a note of feedback from the columns, but this response was amazing. Out of several dozen who responded to my "Newton Duz iTunes?" column, these seemed to be the most passionate and I pass them along to you today:
When the Newton came out, I really wanted one but they were expensive at the time and I wasn't really sure how I would use it. PDAs were a new thing. Later on, I got another PDA and used it for a couple of years. I wasn't completely satisfied with them but they (Palm Pilot and Hasdspring) were the primary PDAs at the time.
In the meantime the Newton was discontinued but I came across some information that made me curious about them. I had been using Macs for years and knew how user friendly they were. I suddenly realized that maybe the Newton was what I was looking for all along. I found one on eBay and bought it and have been happy ever since.
I love the handwriting recognition (no shorthand had to be learned) the built in recorder for making quick notes, the big screen, and the format of the address book. In other words, it just works and so well and it is easy to use.
My Handspring crashed 3 times and I had to restore all of the data. The Newton has been trouble free for years now. Sometimes it is a challenge to find things like new batteries, but thankfully there are some loyal users out there who are trying to keep things running. The Newton, like the other Apple products, just works so well and so intuitively. I'll keep using them as long as I can. They are more than tool, they are a way of life, a philosophy. They make my life easier instead of harder and that is what such tools should do. Perhaps we will have an updated Newton someday. Many of us are keeping our fingers crossed. Thanks. Kevin
Hi ! I'd like to comment on your thread/question, with a sidekick to the Tungsten one as well.
Celebrating the Newton's 5 Years End Of Life, a dozen of (dutch) NewtonFreaks gathered and talked about the possibilities of their old and beloved PDA.
The develeopment of Newton software is still not dead yet, and there are even recent apps that will hook up your old Newton (or eMate) to iSync (Ever Changing) and even iTunes (Pixell.net).
We also had a Sony Ericsson P800 mobile/PDA. Many Newton freaks sighed: this little wonder is going to cost them serious money ! See:
www.handango.com/sonyericsson/
www.symbian.com/
So who wants a Tungsten ? I'd pick the P800 ! And did you discover your Newton equivalent ?
I am a long time mac user (several machines starting with the Apple //c).
My affair with the newton began with a 120 which I received for christmas and continued to use as a PIM for several years. In 2000 I got a used 2100 which I use as a PIM, note-taker, car expenses recorder, and money manager.
I have an ethernet card and several memory cards for storing material. I use newtsync to synchronize the newton with my powerbook which is running OS 10.2.4.
Having had flings with palm PDA's, I've always come back to the newton.
As prices dropped and newtons became more available, my response was to stock up. I now have enough newtons to take care of my PDA needs into the distant future.
Why do I keep using this "dead" platform? It meets my needs better than anything else out there. Software development continues - I'm saving up for a wireless card so i can use the newton with the wi-fi networks at home and work.
I am glad that someone is interested in exploring Newtons, still! I am still a Newton user, but less and less often as time goes by. In all honesty, I use my Windows and Palm m125 more now, than my Macintosh and Newton 130. I still would like to get a Newton 2XXX some day. I keep three of my four children in Newtons; they all have 110's and 120's.
I think I am at the "back of the bus", as regards Newton owners these days, but there is one tidbit that I would like to pass on. Years ago, there was an active "Newton Classifieds" web page on the Internet, but it died. Now, the best place to purchase Newtons and accessories seems to be eBay.
Here are some of my old Newton web addresses. Perhaps the Internet archive function would allow you to peek at how they used to look www.archive.org , e.g. Apple pulled all of its Newton stuff when Jobs took over, but you can still find the old Apple files at Web Archive dot-org
Additionally, here are my old Newton links, probably most are dead today on the "active" Internet:
Any time you discover new resources, or even old resources for older Macs, portables, Newtons, and even clones, we appreciate your input and feedback.
Until next time, happy mousing.
Fred Showker, Editor/Publisher UG Net News
Fred Showker is co-editor of "MUG Info Manager," the User Group Network News service, and a founding Apple User Group Advisory Board (UGAB) member. He was an original founder of the User Group Forum on AppleLink Personal Edition which became America Online in 1988 ... read more
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