[Elvin]

I guess we can really believe Jobs about Apple not unveiling a new Newton, when their digital hub only listed iTunes, iMovie, iDvD, Pictures. But does this mean a new Quicktake down the line, plus better Image Editing programs?

[ctt1wbw]

Apple would do much, much better with a new Newton on the market instead of an MP3 player. I mean, come on. Who cares about MP3, it's a fad! Everyone I've talked to says the Newton still beats the Palm of today...

[Elvin]

I agree with you there! If I were to go out and spend the same $600 Canadian for either an iPod or a iNewton, the choice is rather simple. The iNewton would actually serve a purpose, and help me with my life.

[ctt1wbw]

Just imagine a Newton with a powerful cpu and based on a portable version of OS X with a Firewire port....

[Elvin]

I own a Quicktake 200, and eventually I want to pick up a Newton (eBay is my best bet, since some even come in their original boxes). I think Apple it thinking along the right lines with the iPod and using Firewire.

- you make it an Apple-only, which (hopefully) brings new customers in
- You tie it in to OS X to make it easy as pie, even for your Grandma
- you use Apple technology that they already own
- it's fast & cutting edge
- you recharge the unit without the need of a power connector

So it looks like an iPhoto is down the line and maybe a new QuickTake, but going back to the Newton...just think of the possibilities of a Firewire Newton! Maybe Apple is waiting to see what Palm does with BeOS?

[Elvin]

I remember MacWorld Boston, way back in 96, when there were Newton stuff everywhere. I picked up a lot of loot, and most of it is gone now, but I still have all the Newton Developer papers, and stuff. It looked like the ability to program and expand on the Newton was only limited by it's technology. So what killed the Newton in the end? Was it funding? Who pulled the plug?

[WTWolfe]

PLAIN AND SIMPLE STEVE HATES THE NEWTON!!!! It wasn't his idea and I think that truly grates on him! He knows how bad we (the Mac community) would love to have an OS X based Newton with a color screen and firewire! We would fall all over ourselves to get our hands on it and it could even cost more than the MP2100 did and I know it would be a huge seller! Probably better than the ORIGINAL!!!! I don't know who it will ever see the light of day. This makes me more sad than you will ever know. I own a MP2000 (upgraded) and a MP120 and the thing that drives me completely crazy is trying to find support for them...oh well I guess this is all history now. Maybe Steve will have a change of heart someday....hopefully before it's too late. Just my .02¢.

[SMacSteve]

I think that a new pda might still be a possibility. You can bet it won't be called Newton 2 or iNewton though. If some type of pda would be released by Apple it would have a version of OS X and it would have alot more to offer than Palm. They need some alternative to MS Pocket PC 2002, but this must happen 1st. Apple needs to expand their market base, which I'm certain they will. MS is just going to go downhill from here. Windows XP is not going to be the great upgrade that everyone thinks it will. We know it and soon they will to. How many other OS's are there. Linux? Let's be real. There are to many idiots out there for Linux to be a serious alternative. That leaves the Mac. It may be a year or two, but it will happen.

[Elvin]

Yeah, I can imagine controlling a skimmed-down version of OS X with a stylus and I think that would be pretty cool. You see all the tiny limited (although still cool) apps on the MacAddict cds, and wonder what a true Mac port could do. We've already seen how small a hard drive can be in the iPod, so bring on a 5 gig HD in a Newton

[anthology123]

I think this iPod is just a stepping stone towards a PDA that will surpass Pocket PC. An MP3 player is practically a small computer. If he can make a PDA with a hard drive and still have long battery life, it could do a lot more than those Pocket PCs with flash memory cards.

If he is slowly devloping a PDA out of this, then its worth the wait. They are not going to do it like Newton, trying to give everything at the same time and coming up with half baked tools in a small unit. Of course, Newton 2000 was already working towards that, SJ doesn't want to do anything with a Sculley device. Remember, in an interview, he would not tolerate a PDA that did not give the full internet experience (ie, no WAP).
I don;t seem them doing it until the technology is there and the cost to make it affordable.

Hey boys,
some stuff is to mention:
The newton was no success, it was way to expensive, because it was way cooler even than the most latest pdas.
Steve did not shoot it, because he did not invent it, steve also did not invent firewire but keeps and pushes it. Steve stopped the newton because he cleaned up the product line. what were about 30 computers before is now a smart 4 one thing, which is cool and hey: without steve apple would not exist anymore.

Anyway, what is the most expensive part of the iPod? right, the hard drive. If you would throw in this hard drive in a pda, using os x, firewire and other stuff, this thing would be a lot more expensive than 400 US $.

BTW did you know that the iPod includes a game? press the big button in the middle for some seconds and breakout comes out - this is coool!

Stevee

[BigMark]

I agree. The Newton basically sucked unless you were an uber-geek/ tech freak.

For the last time to all you winners out there who harp on about bringing the Newton back---IT IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. Stop dreaming.

[Dr. Wahnsinn]

Greetings,
I don't think it's realistic to hope for anything "Newton" from Apple while Mr. Jobs is in charge.
He didn't kill it because it wasn't his idea, he killed it because it was the product that John Sculley supervised and pushed to the market. Read your Apple history books on why anything to do with Sculley isn't good for Jobs.
Also, simplifying the product lines was probably a Gil Amelio idea and some of it might have been started even before he arrived. Steve arrived in time to get the credit.
You know, when Apple bought NeXT, Jobs wanted all cash for it. Amelio told Jobs that to make the deal look credible, Jobs would have to take some stock. It was this very big lump of stock that Jobs soon sold, which screwed up Amelio's position with Apple and resulted in his being fired. I wonder if Amelio ever regrets not letting Jobs have all cash.

Hey boys, especially the two little ones above this post, Apple has many press releases indicating the 'success' of Newton OS 2.0 and 2.1. Even the 'woz' states this recently. Since you boys believe what is printed this post should change your little minds. I will post the 'press releases' URL's if you can't find the 'facts' yourselves. Why don't I just post them right now? Because you believe what you read, not research. If you think the 'press/media' should have released this info., HAH! You want the same 'press/media' to tell the truth instead make headlines about the 'demise' of a 6 billion+ revenue company, then you really can't 'read between the lines'. Losing profit means less money coming 'in' than expected, NOT LOSING MONEY, money is still coming in. Steve Jobs didn't trim the production of excess lines, Gil Amelio did that, Gil also cut many jobs so that stock holders and Mac-heads would blame the only one that knew how to cut the 'fat', Steve waited till the last drop of blood hit the newspapers to pushout Gil and appear to be head-honcho. Remember, he was 'i'CEO until Apple had a profitable quarter.

'BugMark', you're right, the Newton sucked, the OMP, the 100, the 110, the 120(OS 1.3). BUT after that OS 1.3, OS 2.0 and 2.1, Apple was selling as much as Apple/Sharp could make(read the press releases). True the Newton OS 2.0/2.1 was more than most people needed, that's why sales of Palms/Handsprings have 'tanked'. The Newton OS 2.1 is still advancing. There are still programmers adding simpler(i.e., simple like a PalmOS) apps., ATA drivers, JAVA/WABA, and VNC. Yeah, it's way too techie/geekie for most people, but I'll still be using my Newts. way after the last Palm is made.

But, of course, the problem with Apple releasing a PDA with a propriotory OS, is the issue of applications for the damn thing. Sure, we can almost touch one of these iPads right now, with a bright screen and connective tissue with your iPod and iPix, but people are going to want other uses, and can Apple take the risk of not adopting the Palm OS as an operating system?
I personally would love it if they didn't and went on their own, the integration and the use of the thing would be miles beyond what the boring Palm has become. Where's the innovation?
The problem for Apple is that they would have to have some sort of Palm emulation, but would people be willing to code for the thing? Perhaps if it kept X's Unix roots, it could get interest, but if Apple can't compete on price as PDA's are going down in price and there is no profit to be had, what's the point?
Other than sticking the same old Palm in a [url="http://www.handspring.com/promos/edgealumcase.jhtml">white case</url>, what can Apple hope to do? I would be interested to know what people think about the future of functionality of PDA's and if Apple wants to enter a market that has become sour and contrived.

Very true, sunoxen. The iPod however does have some 'new' features. It should be interesting.

[ctt1wbw]

The iPod. Wow. Blow me down. An MP3 player. Whoa!!!

The only reason I'm thinking about the iPod is this the OS.