Newton MessagePad 120 (with OS 1.3 or
2.0)
Gallery Commentary
MessagePad 120 with Newton OS 1.3
In late January of 1995, Apple had a mini
NDA'ed (NDA= with non disclaimer agreements) conference for the local area
Newton User Groups (San Francisco Bay Area) to pre-announce the latest
Newton. This actually was fun (I enjoyed going to the Apple campus etc)
but everyone knew what the new device was because Apple had already released
it in Germany back in October of 1994. Germans missed the MP110 and got
the MP120 early due to the fact the German language really needed more
memory and the MP120 came in one flavor that had 2 Mb of RAM. After almost
a year passing since the MP110 release and the infamous reputation that
Newton had aquired for its handwriting recognition deficiencies the MP120
was nice but lukewarm indeed. Apple representatives (Susan Schumann?) announced
this was not a 'Revolution' but rather an 'Evolution' of the Newton MP
line. Its codename was "Gelato," because the new MessagePad 120
(MP120) came in two flavors 1 Mb (like the 110) and 2 Mb memory sizes.
The internal memory type also came in two flavors, ~540k SRAM for the system
memory and 480k (1Mb model) or 1510k (2Mb model) of Flash RAM (eeprom)
for the user's data memory. This was OK for the protection of the users
data, but put a cap on the possibility of increasing the amount of system
memory applicable to heap (heap could only use the faster SRAM). Flash
RAM kept its data even without any power supply thus protecting users data
(SRAM erases when the power is turned off thus if both main and backup
batteries go dead in previous newtons all data is lost).
This was the same 'form factor' as the MP110
in general, yet the lid was detachable, there was no rubberized skin anymore
(some people complained it peeled off in high use zones), and some of the
PCMCIA card release and lock switches were moved to the side so the lid
didn't cover them up (like in the MP110). The MP120 was enabled to use
a wide range of third party modems including the power hogs. Its PCMCIA
slot was still type II but could support higher energy demands (325 mA
vs. 115 mA of the MP110). There was a big push to make the Newton communicate
well and obtain wireless capabilities. You were no longer protected from
shortening your battery life if you wanted to do so. The MP120 was the
first Newton to have a socketed ROM chip so it could be easily upgrade
to the next version of the operating system when that became available.
The original MP120's had the same operating system (1.3) that was stable,
and had the same handwriting recognition and applications. Yet by this
time the built-in Newton recognizer wasn't the only HWR alternative availble,
Palm computing sold a numerous of copies of the handwriting recognition
software "Graffiti" to newton users who just couldn't get the
Calligrapher recognition engine to like them. "Graffiti" may
have kept the Newton from death at this time in its infancy.
The screen of the MP120 had quite a nice
difference from that of the MP110. This was one area Phil Baker and his
crew searched high and low for a nice bright supertwist LCD screen like
those seen in the OMP/MP100. They got a very nice one which made the 120
desirable. Overall the 120 with OS 1.3 was an nice upgrade for OMP/MP100
owners, but not so thrilling for MP110 owners.
Newton Operating System 2.0
Click here for a full review of Newton 2.0 Operating System (AMUG
review -many photos), MOBILIS review
The second generation OS for the Newton
platform rescued Newton from obscurity and infamy and brought it back to
the cutting edge technology it was intended to be. Of the seemingly infinite
changes found in a 2.0 newton I'll attempt to hit as many as I can.
With 2.0 all newtons shipped with cables
and software to back them up to Macintosh and Windows computers. Although
the Newton Connection Kit had previously done this reasonably well. It
was slow, cost $99, and not always backed up as dependably as it should.
The 2.0 version of the NCK was split into a 'free' Newton Backup Utility
(NBU) and a forthcoming Newton Connection Utility (NCU).
The greatest change that occurred
with an upgrade to 2.0 was the new PRINTED handwriting recognition
engine. Apparently a Xerox PARC genius now at Apple had developed a 'letter
by letter' handwriting recognizer that could only recognize PRINTED text,
but do it extremely well. Previously Apple had tested users and asked if
they would change their writing habits or print neatly for the Newton.
The users had said they would not purchase a product that would not accomodate
to their handwriting style. Thus the idea of a printed-only recognition
system was considered out of the question in the first newtons. Yet, as
it turned out, Palm computing's "Graffiti" recognizer that required
the user to print clearly and use a modified alphabet became acceptable
to users and quite popular thus blowing that original concept out of the
water. The PRINTED recognizer in OS 2.0 was flawless and required no dictionary
or learning period. It worked with familiar and strange handwriting styles
alike. It only required seperated printed characters to analyze. Even today,
its recognition system is unmatched in the computing industry. For users
that like cursive handwriting and enjoyed good success with the old Calligrapher
recognition engine, a new improved version of it was also included (as
well as a new Easter Egg a la Doonesbury).
The user could choose their HWR engine.
Various other things had been changed in
OS 2.0. Digital Ink that was unrecognized was improved to 'word wrap'
and cut and paste like true word processing of text. This newly named 'Ink
Text' feature is quite advanced and not really advertised greatly in the
newton world. The 2.0 newtons also came with an optional external keyboard
for those times touch-typists just wanted to type like mad (ie email from
your hotel room). An 'expand' feature was included in the OS where writing
'nsg' in the notepad could be automatically expanded to 'Newton Systems
Group' or whatever you wanted. This is a great user-programmable item in
newer machines. The display on 2.0 machines can rotate from the standard
portrait orientation to a landscape one (although in only one direction).
All built in applications had enhanced GUI
and capabilities. Names fields were user definable and thus very flexible,
the Notes application had a NEW button and various stationary types ie
'Note, Outline, Checklist' for different types of Notes. Stationary types
could also be created de novo by users with the Newton Development Kit
(NTK). This possibility has not yet been well utilized in the newton programming
community. There was a new application called "Calls" that helped
you write notes while making phone calls. Guy Kawasaki said this was the
neatest new part of 2.0. Now there was a CARET icon that showed you where
the text you wrote would be inserted on the page. The CARET also if tapped
had a menu of common punctuation for selection. The IN and OUT boxes became
connected. In addition, this newton could not only send faxes but could
also recieve them. Also on the communication front, there was a greatly
improved eWorld email client built-in that made email seemless from the
tiny handheld (unfortunately Apple closed its online Service 'eWord' in
June of 1996). Soon came the Newton Internet Enabler (NIE) software that
gave Newton a TCP/IP stack so it could run around the internet like other
computers. There were multiple folders everywhere including the extras
drawers, applications could be beamed back and forth to other Newtons via
the IR and moved about drag and drop style in the extras drawer as well
as deleted by the erase gesture.
Last but not least, the heap space that each
installed program slurped up that limited the memory available for running
applications could be returned by FREEZING installed programs that were
not being used. This process of freezing was included in the ROMS but not
explained to users by Apple. Some users that had been tested were so confused
by what freezing is that it is not ENABLED in new machines. Users wrote
tiny programs that ENABLED the process so it is ubiquitous in the newton
world today.
Original Product Specifications Announcement
(1995)
(underlined words link to other gallery photos)
The Newton MessagePad 120 puts easy-to-use communications, productivity and desktop connectivity solutions in the palm of your hand so you can work away from your office. Yet you'll find it far more useful than paper or electronic organisers because while it has a built-in notepad, to-do list, datebook and address file for organising personal and business affairs, with a modem it can also send faxes and gives you access to e-mail and on-line services. The Newton MessagePad 120 can receive pages as well as electronic mail. And its built-in infrared communications allow you to instantly exchange information with other Newton devices. The Newton MessagePad 120 lets you share and exchange information with either Windows-based or Macintosh computers.
Pen-based navigation and data entry make
finding information easy and fast. And it allows to you capture and organise
information in many forms: notes, sketches, schedules, lists and letters.
It also lets you enter information in many ways: digital ink, printed text,
graphics, on-screen keyboard or a combination. The Newton MessagePad 120
has printing capabilities that make it simple to print your information
the way it appears on its crisp, easy-to-read screen or as full-page formatted
letters. Its built-in recognition software can even transform your written
handwriting into typed text letter by letter or word by word. But best
of all - unlike paper and electronic organisers - your Newton MessagePad
120 can be expanded with software titles as well as accessories and on-line
services that can keep you organised, efficient, and very well informed.
Built-in software functions (with 2.0 OS highlighted)
Expandable functions
Newton Intelligence
Communications capabilities
Size and weight
Operating environment
Power requirements
Computer connectivity requirements
Printer support
Fax machine support