Newton on PocketPC
Yes, I'm still whining about the Newton. But a thought occured to me; the newton 2000/2100 was based on StrongARM processors and the PocketPC uses X-scale, a new version of the StrongARM. Provided someone had legal access to Newton source code, how difficult would it be getting the NewtonOS running on PocketPC hardware? As long as the OS runs fine on it, all the apps should run with no modification, that's the nature of newton script. I'm sure some low level things will need to change, but wouldn't a robust HAL allow the NewtonOS to run pretty much seamlessly?
Comments
b) nobody outside of apple has legal access to Newton sourcecode
c) apple won't 'port' newton os to pocket pc
other than that, it's an interesting suggestion. maybe somebody could write an emulation on linux (which can be installed on some pocket pc models).
maybe apple will someday - when everybody has accepted newton's death - bring on the killer of all other PDAs, the Newton X?
I wonder if all the work could be done on an abstraction layer, and run NewtonOS on top of that, sort of the way VirtualPC works on another PC. PocketPC OS would be the boot-strap...
Imagine NOS on this... <a href="http://www.samsungelectronics.com/pda/nexio.html" target="_blank">http://www.samsungelectronics.com/pda/nexio.html</a>
[ 11-22-2002: Message edited by: Outsider ]</p>
<strong>If ever, Apple will bring out the next Newton the moment everyone expects it the least.</strong><hr></blockquote>
Well, given past history, I expect this moment to be exactly when there is no market for it.
<strong>Why bother with Pocket PCs? The new Palm OS 5 devices use ARM processors too.</strong><hr></blockquote>
Um, because Palms have itty bitty screens and you can only write on that little corner. I heard that the upper screen of palm devices do not have the accuracy and touch resolution to handle anything close to decent handwriting recognition.
<strong>There was work on a color version of NewtonOS. I think it was part of version 3.0.</strong><hr></blockquote>
Actually, NOS 2.0 has full color support. Only the hardware is greyscale.
<strong>
Actually, NOS 2.0 has full color support. Only the hardware is greyscale.</strong><hr></blockquote>
has anyone ever modified a newton to take advantage of this?
<strong>Um, because Palms have itty bitty screens and you can only write on that little corner. I heard that the upper screen of palm devices do not have the accuracy and touch resolution to handle anything close to decent handwriting recognition.</strong><hr></blockquote>
Not true. Have you seen the screens on the Sony Clies? That's certainly not going to fit in your pocket.
Also, the whole screen is touch sensitive. If we're emulating the Newton OS, it doesn't matter where you write. It'll interperet it the Newton way.
And for the record, you can write anywhere on a PalmOS machine's screen, you just need extra software (one is called Jot) to do it. By default, they only use the Graffiti area, but even that's changing. The Sony Clies use 'virtual graffiti'. Rather than an actual seperate area, they just pop up a software area at the bottom of the regular screen when needed.
Maybe it's just a pipedream, but for some reason I don't think this is undoable. Hell, people got MacOS to run on PCs!