[bizzare]

Is it just me, or does it seem that Apple refuses to admit the Newton ever existed? I was just on the page that lists all of their previous hardware. It has everything; printers, computers, displays, etc. But not a trace of the Newton. For the people who think Apple will release a new PDA, think again. It'll happen after Apple admits they even made a PDA in the past.

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-Bizzare

[slboett]

I think the answer is that the Newt' was not Steve's baby - see what I mean?

Scott

[sine -''-..-]

I think jobs was even quoted saying "we make computers, and computers have keyboards."

Ah well, I dont mind that Apple isnt making another PDA. Its much cooler to be one of the elite few with the best handheld computer ever produced

s i n e
-''-..-



[This message has been edited by sine -''-..- (edited 08-16-2000).]

John Scully, Apple CEO from 1983-1993 was the power behind the original Newton idea and concept. He dreamed of a personal digital assistant (he coined the PDA term), because he saw its usefulness for other executives like himself. Steve Jobs historically has a way of getting even with people who screwed him in the past - and John really did screw Steve out of many years of work and energy.

It didn't make any sense for Apple to be selling the Newton in 1998. I agree that Newton was not a core technology to Apple, and only sucked money and focus away from Apple's bread and butter Mac OS solutions. The main reason why I believe Apple didn't sell it's Newton technology is because (A) no body was willing to bid anything near what the technology was worth, and (B) Apple has full intention to use bits and pieces (maybe more, who knows) in a future handheld, or in future new products. Newton technology may have been completely wrong for Apple during a time when they really needed to get back to basics, but the Newton technology itself was always very, very great.

I love my original Newton, and I think it was really sad that Apple was allowed (by poor management and corporate bozos) to degrade to the point where such a great technology had to be Steved in order to save the greater whole.

Have faith, Newton will live again, perhaps with a new name.

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Eliott Wolfe
Winnetka, Calif

[sine -''-..-]

I see somthing on the horizon as well... seeing as the Rosetta HWR is being made into an OS X application, we might be seeing a slate-mac of some sort.
Plus OS X is alot like Newton OS, the Dock is much like the soft buttonbar of 2.1, and the "poof" effect of a deleting item.

Well even if Apple DOES make a slate mac, I'd STILL perfer my Newton.

s i n e
-''-..-

I've got to say... I'm a critic when it comes to industrial design. The Newtons were some of the best displays of Apple industrial design for the 90's. If I ever want attention at a Technology gathering of any sort, all I have to do is take the Newton. People always ask how old it is, and can never believe that mine is 7 year old technology.

I'd love it if Apple made a tablet to compliment it's computer line - that's probably something, given a good price, that I'd buy.

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Eliott Wolfe
Winnetka, Calif

[Elderloc]

Atualy Scully is not the Brain behind the PDA or Newton it was Michael Tchao. He is the one that gave Sculley the Idea it was his dream child not Scullies.

Tesler wanted a large device and had rejected Tchao's idea of a small handheld device that was cheap. The orignal "NEWTON" was to cost 8,000 and work its way down to 2,000 over time. This is a long drug ed out story. Basicly Tchao changed the shape of Newton.

You should read the whole story it is pretty cool you can by one of the books on EBAY. "Defying Gravity" the making of the newton.

[bizzare]

You know what would be cool, but will never happen. If Apple bundled a new version of the Newton (iNewton??) with thier "pro line" (powerbooks and powermacs). That would be my dream. I know it'll never happen, but I like thinking about it.



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-Bizzare