🚀 go-pugleaf

Hello,

  Having read this thread, I thought I'd add a word or two.

  First, I'm glad that Richard came back and read replies, and responded.

  Second, let's all be happy that Newton 120/130s are not marketed with
the same hype as the Classic.  I think that OS 2.0 Newtons get a lot
farther toward meeting the expectations set by marketing these days.

  Third, I have to wonder what Richard wants in a "more mature package",
and how much he'd be willing to pay for it.  There's (MUCH) better
technology just around the corner: it'll make MPs faster and more capable,
among other things.  I haven't the faintest idea of what it'll cost.  But
I wonder if he's found another hand-holdable device at about the same
price-point (or less) that is somehow "more mature"?  Does it exist
today?  Do we really expect MS to give it to us soon?  I'm not so sure. 
What does "more mature" mean and what does it cost?

  Lastly, I love my Newton, and it basically goes where I go.  I use it to
take notes (I've developed a small shorthand dictionary using the "expand"
feature) in interviews, send/receive e-mail, manage my money, keep track
of time on projects, names, dates, etc.  But that's just me....

  Thanks,

  Todd

In article <32304B02.1EBA@wharton.upenn.edu>, Richard Van Nostrand
<richar88@wharton.upenn.edu> wrote:

>George Crump wrote:
>> 
>> My comments below:
>> 
>> richar88@upenn.wharton.edu wrote:
>> >
>> > 1.  The screen emits a high pitched whine.  I called Apple about this.
>> They said it was a known but unrepairable problem.  According to customer
>> service at Apple, the whine is caused by transistors in the display.  The
>> severity of the whine varies from unit to unit.  In some it is very severe
>> and people can't stand to use the machine and in others it is nearly quiet.
>>  Mine is pretty bad, but Apple will not REPAIR their product.
>> 
>> I have never even noticed it. In fact I'm  holding it up to my ear  and I
>> still can't hear it.
>
>Apple did indicate that the whine is nonexistant in some Newtons and
>"can clear a room" (the customer service representative's words not my
>own) in others.  My Newton is somewhere in the middle.
>
>> you the embarrasment. My summary is that the Newton is just a starting
>> point. ou have to add some software (just like our PC) to really make it
>> kick. I'm a Windows 95 user and thinks it an OK OS but I find myself using
>
>My beef with the Newton is that it is marketted not as a "starting
>point" but as a Palm-top with all sorts of power "out of the box".  I'm
>looking at the back of my box right now.  It shows all the nifty
>software which comes on the thing.  It says nothing about the
>development environment and nothing about any of the third party
>software you mentioned (except Equate).  When I bought the Newton, I
>fancied it to be four things:
>
>1.  A day to day organizer
>2.  A note pad
>3.  An Address Book
>4.  A plug and play device, I buy an application and it expands the
>functionality.  
>
>The key word here is "expands".  I was foolish in believing that the
>functionality of the prior three embedded packages (the first three
>points) would be sufficient for MY needs.  If they meet YOUR needs, then
>great, but nearly everyone responding to this thread has indicated a
>variety of expansion packages each prefers.  Most people are not only
>expanding the functionality of their Newtons but also supplanting the
>functionality of the packaged programs.  I wanted to bring this point
>out explicitly because I believe a number of consumers have the
>expectation that they can buy a Newton and use the software shipped with
>it as the core functionality of the Newton.  What I'm hearing from many
>of you expert users is that the Newton is best used with third party
>software.  It's all a matter of core competencies.  With the exception
>of the screen noise, the hardware seems to be great.  The user interface
>is nice.  Maybe some of you in the know think the development
>environment is good. I'm glad it is, because it appears I will need to
>buy some software from these third party shops.
>
>The Newton is not right for me.  I expected a more mature package.  When
>I buy a laptop now.  I open it up, plug it in, and put in a CD. 
>Everything is taken care of.  My needs on a PC are rather simple.  I
>need to write letters, to perpare presentations and to run numbers.  My
>needs on a PDA are rather simple.  I need to take notes, to schedule
>meetings, to collect addresses, and to run numbers.  My PC needs are
>met.  My PDA needs are not.  I believe in another generation or two of
>products, they will be.   The trick is to figure out how to manage with
>the Newton 120 until then.
>
>For the record, I was kidding about lobbying Microsoft. (I guess I need
>to become more proficient with the smilies:)

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All above opinions are my own: often sad, always true.