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tacojohnellenich · Jan 23, 2002, 08:53 AM

I'm in the market for a new PDA (the old palm III is starting to die). I was looking at a clie, a pocket pc, or a newton off of ebay.

The reason for this is I am looking for something with a bit more functionality than a plain jane plam or visor- I want good sound/video playback/a big screen so I can take notes in class.

Overall the Newton seems to be the right choice if I can find a good one somewhere.

Problem is I have a dual USB iBook and I want to sync somehow. Is this at all possible?

macfool2002 · Jan 23, 2002, 04:43 PM

Yup! It's totally doable and fast!

All you need is the ethernet card for the Newton and you link to your computer just like you would on any network. I've got my MP2000 synced with my B&W G3 over my network at home. When it's connected to the network, I can browse the files and folders on my B&W just like using the chooser. It's really cool. I use it alot to transfer pics to my newton. The best ethernet card for the MP200X is the one from Farallon. I got mine from them last year so you better hurry before they are gone. You could probably also find one on Ebay too. Let me know if you need the specs. I've got it at home but I could check it for you.

pkatt · Jan 23, 2002, 05:51 PM

Like macfool said, very doable. I do it all the time with my 2100 and the iBook Dual USB. Just get a ethernet card (like this one http://www.computer-show.com/Modern/...ET008&tpc= ) and install Newton Connection Utilities. There are a lot of 2100s on ebay right now. I just got mine with a 33.6 modem, 32mb PC card, dongle, case, cables, battery, and adapter for $249 from the seller ILUVMYGTO (GEM Enterprises). Some people on Newtontalk list have been happy with the $149 ones from MR2NDHAND, but those only come with 4mb and no case, but I think they have a keyboard. Good luck with a Newton. I just switched from a Handspring, and I'll never go back.

Jan 23, 2002, 06:51 PM

If I need to install stuff don't I need to do this from another computer? Or can I just buy the network card, stick it in the newton, and I'm good to go? Or do I need to sync it with a computer, get drivers for the card, can then download the software to the newton?

As you can see I don't know much about them right now- I'm reading up on-line about this

thanks for all of the info so far

pkatt · Jan 23, 2002, 07:42 PM

First, make sure the Newt has Newton Internet Enabler 2.0 installed. Then you have to install the drivers for the card. Chuma has a lot of info on Ethernet on a Newt. To install it, either have to find a way to connect it to a computer over serial to install the packages or I think you can download them and install them right from the Newton itself.

P.S. If you're going to have a lot of questions, join the newtontalk message list http://www.newtontalk.net/ . You can ask a lot more newton users questions and get more answers. They were great a while ago before I bought my first newton. You can also look at thisoldnewt.com for answers in their FAQ (it's very extensive and updated frequently). Check out unna.org for almost any software you need.

btober · Jan 23, 2002, 09:26 PM

Originally posted by pkatt:
 or I think you can download them and install them right from the Newton itself.

Well, you'd have to have the drivers installed for the ethernet card or modem (depending on the model) already, wouldn't you?

pkatt · Jan 23, 2002, 09:54 PM

Perhaps, but I know that I didn't have to install any special drivers for my Hayes Optima 33.6 modem. NIE already had them, but you have to install drivers for the ethernet card. I did however have to hook it up to my LC 575 to install NIE 2, since as soon as I got it I did a hard reset so I didn't have nie 1 on it, but I believe it did come with it on, so I COULD have done everything without hooking up to a mac.

btober · Jan 24, 2002, 09:06 AM

Originally posted by pkatt:
Perhaps, but I know that I didn't have to install any special drivers for my Hayes Optima 33.6 modem. NIE already had them, but you have to install drivers for the ethernet card. I did however have to hook it up to my LC 575 to install NIE 2, since as soon as I got it I did a hard reset so I didn't have nie 1 on it, but I believe it did come with it on, so I COULD have done everything without hooking up to a mac.

True, but even then, you would have to install a web browser or e-mail client...

pkatt · Jan 24, 2002, 04:28 PM

Originally posted by btober:


True, but even then, you would have to install a web browser or e-mail client...

Yeah, but I think it probably had nethopper or enroute on it or something. Since it came with a modem, I know that the previous owner used it on the net, so I assume it had a browser on it. I know the 2100s had one when they were new.

jb8748 · Jan 24, 2002, 05:31 PM

You don't have to sync using serial if you have access to a Mac with infra-red. With my Newton 2000 I used Newton Data Browser (check Versiontracker.com) and a rev B iMac. The functionality was limited at the time but it allowed me to download some packages so that I could then use the modem and browse the web etc.

I don't have the serial dongle for my Newton so serial was out of the question even if the iMac had a serial port.

Hope this helps answer your question, James