Recycled Computing

The iPad Changes the Mobile Game

- 2010.01.29

Popularity: LEMLEMLEMLEM

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Once upon a time, Apple made the first PDA. I refer to the Newton MessagePad, of course.

Newton MessagePad 130I still have a couple of old MessagePad 2100s in my bag of useful (and probably useless) cords, accessories, and flotsam and jetsam. The Newton was conceived in the non-Jobs era of Apple, and Steve Jobs killed it as soon as he came back.

I don't use the MessagePad now; my iPod touch has replaced it as my "mobile device". However, like many other Apple products, the Newton was ahead of its time. It could sync contacts, calendars, and notes from your desktop to a small handheld device with a touch screen. I found that it was great for note taking, since I could draw (helpful for math, science, or art) and write on the same note! The optional keyboard was tiny, but I found it usable. The MessagePad had room for two PCMIA cards and can be adapted for a wireless card.

The Newton OS was a separate operating system that used the same database (called a "heap") for several different applications.

Another use that I found for the MessagePad was as a mobile data collection device. Compared to the Palm devices at the time, the Newton was easy to use to update your contacts. It was easy to fill in fields with the stylus, and the shared database would offer suggestions (in drop down boxes) for addresses and such.

Of course, when the iPod touch came along, it blew the Newton into the bushes in terms of size, color display, and compatibility with OS X. (The Newton user community has done yeoman work to sync the Newt with OS X, but I found that the applications I used with OS X 10.4 "Tiger" crashed and took forever to use.

Besides, I could see that the future was with the iPod touch.

Are there things that I miss about the Newton MessagePad? Yeah. I miss the larger screen size and the physical keyboard.

Enter the iPad

This brings me to the new Apple iPad. It addresses several needs that I feel the Touch can't deliver on.

Apple iPad with keyboardFor one thing, the iPod touch can show movies, but that tiny screen makes it more of a chore than my over-fifty eyes need. I like carrying around an Internet browser in my pocket, but since I frequent websites with large text content (like Low End Mac), extended browsing is tiring. I definitely lust after more screen real estate.

Of course, I use the iPod touch for email, but for typing an article like this - no way. I am intrigued by the iPad's built in keyboard, iWork apps, and dock (with it's full size keyboard!). I can picture myself on the dock of my uncle's lake cabin, typing out my latest missive for Low End Mac!

Don't worry, I'm not rushing out to buy one just yet. Frankly, my iPod touch is the first iPod I'm ever owned. I used to use my Motorola Razor to listen to my digital music on the go. I waited on Apple to produce an iPod with a browser, and Steve Jobs listened to my dreams.

I had no idea that he was still listening and would produce the iPad.

I want to touch one and see if it is usable. I'm not sure that it is a netbook replacement, but I also feel that we need to wait and see what the future holds for the iPad.

Does everyone remember that the first iPod looked like? Does everyone remember how many pundits panned the iPod?

I feel that the iPad will show that Apple and Jobs have made another game changer. LEM

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