Bring back the Newton as Apple PDA
The Newton 2100 is a great handheld computer. It's power still rivals the Pocket PC handhelds of today.
What Apple needs to do is add a color screen to the 2100, Airport wireless in place of a PCMCIA slot, and more onboard memory.
If Apple was able to sell this type of device with a price tag of under $800, it would be a major hit.
What Apple needs to do is add a color screen to the 2100, Airport wireless in place of a PCMCIA slot, and more onboard memory.
If Apple was able to sell this type of device with a price tag of under $800, it would be a major hit.
Comments
BTW, great to see you around, Fran441!
<strong>Beats the heck out of the Palm, huh?
maybe if they duked it out physically with all that mass behind it
I just do not think there is a big enogh market for it right now. Like Steve jobs said "200 years ago people did not have orginizers, but they did have music, music is in ower DNA" I totaly agree, but that dose not mean we could not use a Great apple PDA. But I just think apple is going to wait on this and not take any big risks.
<strong>The Newton 2100 is a great handheld computer. It's power still rivals the Pocket PC handhelds of today.
What Apple needs to do is add a color screen to the 2100, Airport wireless in place of a PCMCIA slot, and more onboard memory.
If Apple was able to sell this type of device with a price tag of under $800, it would be a major hit.</strong><hr></blockquote>
They might as well make it a tablet and compete head on with Microsoft rather than put it into thet overcrowded pda space. The size would be more suited for a tablet as well.
<strong>...dose...</strong><hr></blockquote>
Does, Mike, does!
Check out some of my work on Newton Movie Player and Newton Audio Player at <a href="http://www.handshakecompanies.com/newton/"; target="_blank">http://www.handshakecompanies.com/newton/</a>;
I have never used nor seen a Newton, this is not a troll.
What I do know is that for a PDA to be really sucessful it must sync with Mac, Windows and Linux. This is essential.
Many of us use a PC at the office and Mac at home, or visa-versa. My ageing Palm III is the only way I can keep the address book up-to-date on different machines etc.
In my opinion a Mac only soloution would limit the market for such a device to the small number of Mac users and may in fact not be attractive to them. If such a device was introduced it must be aimed at the biggest market possible.
Apple can't really add anything to a PDA that isn't already available. That's what they seem to like doing--giving their devices an extra edge over the competition.
There isn't really any ground left for a PDA. The OS, features, and form factors are pretty competitive.
However, fran411, I first read this topic back in 1999. I admire your tenacity and devotion to such a cool device.
<strong>The newton can sync with Macs and PCs but I don't know about Linux. Hmmm.</strong><hr></blockquote>
Actually, you can do this. -snip-
EDIT: OK - link is messed up. Search on google for "Newton and Linux"
[ 11-12-2001: Message edited by: btober ]</p>
What do you mean about the newton turning on 6 computers?<hr></blockquote>
The Twentieth Anniversary Macintosh (TAM) has built-in Infrared sensors, like many Performas/Power Macs with built-in TV cards. So, by using "Sony Remote" on the Newton, and situating the TAMs in a semi-circle, I can press "Power" on the Newton and all the TAMs will simultaneously startup and play their wonderful startup sound fully synchronized.
In reality, most Sony TV remotes will control the TAM and other Macs. Not only can you turn them on an off, but you can adjust the volume, launch Apple Video Player (if you have a TV tuner) and switch channels, etc.
I don't think the iPod was in Apple's particular best interests either! But there it it.
I think if they had someone as superbly efficient as Wozniak around it'd be just the right thing to assert Apple as the innovator of the new millenium.
A "Newton" of some sort able to run a highly optimized GUI, unlike Aqua, with upgradeable AirPort socket, a new-age handheld device socket, static hard disk, water-proof, digital-display support, cellular module and built in camera and/or firewire port.
Imagine, Apple Innovation....revolution of communication!
Tired of not being able to communicate your ideas? The ability to visualise by distance...instantly.
What is this thing missing...floppy drive! ah...no wait..
If Apple (back in "the day") were to have scaled the Newton back to something they could have made a profit with, they would have had a Palm... and now you can't even profit with those. Frankly, I think Apple is much more likely to release a phone with Newton features, than to re-enter the handheld market. It seems much more reasonable that in a few years the iBook might morph into something smaller and tablet-like as components become cheaper and smaller... the price isn't too far off from what the Ùber-Newton would cost anyway. So in the end, if you own Apple stock you would be wise to applaud Apple's restraint.