[Steph]

I just got an eMate 300 through ebay, and I was wondering if any Newton users have any tips / advice for me. I've never used the platform before, and it doesn't have any manuals with it.

Also... does anyone know how 'hackable' are they? Any hacks / mods that might be good / fun / useful?

Thanks!

--Stephanie

[SupahCoolX]

www.info-newt.com and members.aol.com/thisolnewt are good, current, Newton info sites (with software downloads too). They also host a HUGE newton FAQ that should answer just about anything you ever wanted to know. I would LOVE to trade in my Handspring Visor for a Newton if it would only fit in my pocket...

[WL2100]

Try unna.org and NewtonLinks

------------------
!ooW ÷)

Welcome to Newton! :-)

[Steph]

Thanks for the info!

Picked up the eMate on Saturday, and I've been having fun since then. I fixed the backlight today, when I got it the backlight didn't work, was just a broken wire, but I had to take the thing completely apart to get at it, and had a good look at the motherboard.

I'm still looking around for hardware hacks, but haven't seen anything as of yet.

Thanks again!

--Stephanie

[TimmyDee51]

There is a hardware "hack" for the eMate. It's really more of an upgrade than anything, but it gives the eMate a little more power. NewerTech made a memory upgrade for the eMate that bumps up the user RAM to 4 MB (like the 2100). You should be able to find that on eBay, too.

[Steph]

Thanks, I had read about that upgrade one one of the sites. I checked out NewerRam's website, they listed not just 4MB upgrades, but 8, 16 and 24MB ones too. I've ordered an 8MB upgrade, so I'm eager find out how that works... Also on the eMate's motherboard, I found the onboard RAM chips, there was one of one kind and two of another kind, but I couldn't tell from the part #'s which was DRAM / Flash. Anyhow, the kind that had just one chip, had an empty slot next to it for a second chip. If that slot is for Flash then there's a possibility of upgrading further. Also by the interconnect port is an empty position for another chip, possibly another serial driver or something. Too bad there aren't schematics or the sort available.

Thanks again!

--Stephanie

Stephanie,

Newertech's website stated that they are out of business. can yo post a url for the RAM upgrade?

thanks!

[Steph]

Hi Milhouse, the url is as follows:
http://www.peripheralconfigurator.co...rram/internal/

or
http://www.newerram.com/

You can then do a search on either Newton or eMate.

I should point out this is NewerRam, not NewerTech. Somewhere-or-other on their site I came across a 'bulletin' explaining that Newerram and Newertech were two different companies etc. etc.

There is also currently a NewerTech 4Mb eMate upgrade on auction at eBay, for those who're interested... I've been watching it, but already ordered the NewerRam from outpost.com

--Stephanie

[Steph]

Grrr I should have known it was too good to be true. What they call an 'eMate Upgrade' card at NewerRam is actually just a PCMCIA card... so now I have an 8MB Linear 5v PCMCIA card, and when I put it in the eMate I get a message that the card is unusable.

Anyone know what that means?

--Stephanie

[TimmyDee51]

The eMate has some specific requirements for voltages from its cards. A 5v card should work just fine, unless it is a 5v/12v card. Check http://hometown.aol.com/thisolnewt/F...-hardware.html and halfway down the page there will be a list of the compatible flash cards. Oh, check if it's an ATA card. If it is, it will probably be able to work with Paul Guyot's ATA driver.

[Steph]

The card that they sent me was a Type II card. 5v/12v. After a lot of telephone-work last night, and some e-mailing, I have heard from representatives from NewerRam, they say the internal DRAM & Flash upgrade is no longer available, period. Also got the same info from Lifetime Memory, and SmallDog.

Anyhow, thanks for all the help here!

--Stephanie