[Elderloc]

I'm looking to get a 2100 Newton off EBay and I don't know much about them. I want a Newton but I'm trying to compare them to things on the market today.

What Products compare to it feature wise?? The Palm VII or any of the Windows (Yuck) CE HDA's?

[Adam Silver]

The Psion and Windows handhelds are approaching the power of the Newtons. Get one of these if you want a little computer. (Be aware that you cannot sychronize a Windows handheld with a Mac without SoftWindows or Virtual PC.)

The Palm VII is a Palm III with an integrated wireless modem. It does not compare well to the Newton except when it comes to battery life, size, and Internet access.

Palm OS handhelds are the best organizers you can buy. However, they are not especially good at doing other things.

Palm OS handheld manufacturers:
Palm
Handspring
Kyocera (formerly sold by QUALCOMM)
Symbol
TRG
IBM

Microsoft has its own pages that will link you to Handheld PC and Pocket PC manufacturers. Be aware that many of the companies listed on the Handheld PC page have discontinued their products.

Finally, here's a link to Psion.

[pastusza]

I've used a Palm III and own a IIIX. I have also used WInCE and PocketPC devices and I have to say that NOTHING compares to a Newton. It was the greatest handheld ever. A little big, but MAN was the OS and HWR great! I can't believe that Apple discontinued them. A smaller Newton would have swept the market.

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Andy Pastuszak
andy_pastuszak@yahoo.com

[sine -''-..-]

Adam is correct, WinCE and Psion are probably the closest comparison to Newton. But they lack a few key features of the Newton 2100.

A) A simple, usable GUI. NewtonOS is much like MacOS as to its ease of use and expansion. Using an extension system, you can add features to the OS to make it more usable etc. It is much simpler than any other handheld OS, as it has a simple interface that is very efficient.

B) Handwriting recognition - NewtonOS's Rosetta engine has the best handwriting recognition of all other handhelds. Period.

C) Expandability/standards compliance. Newtons do not use any proprietary connections either than the keyboard.
It has standard Apple serial, Appletalk, Localtalk, PCMCIA type II, and (with extra software) IRDA so you can talk with Palms etc.
The serial port can be used to talk to any Mac printer and PC printers using a Mac serial - PC Parallel cable (aka print pack). The serial also alows for Appletalk/Localtalk connection and connection to external Modems etc thru serial.
PCMCIA allows for use of almost any PCMCIA modem, as is used with laptops. PCMCIA ethernet cards (a list of compatable cards here http://www.chuma.org/newton/ethernet/ ) can be used for syncing with desktops, or for connection to a TCP/IP connection (ie Cable internet.) The PCMCIA slots (2 of them on 2x00s) also allow for storage expansion through _linear_ flash cards.

[seanyepez]

The Newton is significantly heavier than the Psion and Windows CE devices. Lots of Windows CE devices also have color, too.

I don't know. I would go for an evil Windows machine if I were you. The Newton 2100 is old technology, but a great tool for its time. Someday we're going to have to give up the Newton for bigger, better things. Oops! In this area, smaller, better things.

Psions are cool. They're cheap and awesome.

[WL2100]

Try this great site... Dave's Newton Site

and... This Ol'Newt

and... Info-Newt

and... AMUG/Newton

...have fun...

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!ooW ÷)

[This message has been edited by WL2100 (edited 07-13-2000).]

[Elderloc]

I had heard somewhere that the last Newton the 2100 had the option of color added to it and could hand it. Although Apple did not give it a color LCD.

What would you guys say the best Windows CE device is? I looked at to at my local Best Lie super store. It does seem that there are too many places selling these things anymore.

The one that caught my Eye was the one from Casio the Casiopeha or some thing like that.

[Adam Silver]

The latest issue of PC Magazine says that the Compaq iPAQ 3650 Pocket PC is the best Windows handheld. Personally, I agree with them. It's smaller and costs $100 less than competing 32 MB Pocket PC's from Casio and HP. The only thing this model lacks is a CompactFlash slot (which you can add later).

That is unless you want an integrated keyboard or the Pocket Access database software. In that case, I would go with the MobilePro 780 from NEC. This model has a larger display and, more importantly, larger keyboard than other half-sized Handeld PC's. (As for a Handheld PC with a full-sized screen, go with a laptop instead.)

Again, remember that Windows handhelds cannot synchronize with Macs without SoftWindows or Virtual PC.