My Newton: Why I Won't Buy an iPhone or iPod touch
Low End Mac Reader Specials
Memory To Go Special: MacPro 8 Core Memory 4GB kit $154 / 2GB kit $94, New 2008 iMac 2GB $46. MacBook Pro / MacMini / iMac Intel Core2 DUO 2GB $44 / 1GB $23--Free shipping available.
Download Typestyler, still the Ultimate Styling Tool for Internet, Print and Video Graphics. Works great in Classic with a Native OS X Version on the way. Free Tryout: www.typestyler.com
LA Computer Company: LA Computer Company: Specials on AppleCare, Apple Displays, MacBooks, iMac's, MacBook Pros, Laptop and iPod accessories and more. Apple A/C Adapters for laptops starting at $25.00 Call 1-800-941-7654 or Click Here.
OWC: NewerTech miniStack FireWire/USB 2.0 HD & Hub Up to 1.0TB of Performance Storage + FW/USB2 Powered Hubs - convenient & sleek 6.5" x 6.5" x 1.5" Featured: 500GB $169.99; 750GB $209.99; 1.0TB $339.99
Mac users can finally play Party Poker for Mac. Not only that, they can also learn how to play PokerStars for Mac.
Laptop Hardware Provided by TechRestore - Overnight Mac & iPod Repairs.
Compare products like desktop computers, laptops, and LCD TVs side by side! All the information and reviews to make the best purchasing decision for a new cell phone GPS products or MP3 players. The Ciao network makes searching products easy for you.
New MacPro Memory 800Mhz With Apple Spec Heat Sink 2GB $104 / 4GB $172 / 8GB $338. Click to Maximize your Macs...
- 2007.09.06 - Tip Jar
Bookmark in del.icio.us
Suggest to
Slashdot
I find myself once again in the deserts of the Middle East. I have been here a long time and am almost ready to go home.
One of my best friends (other than my wife, who I talk to through emails and Skype calls) is my Newton. I have both my PowerBook G4 and my black MacBook, but what I carry on me as part of my gear is my MessagePad 120. This is my second deployment with it, and I have it custom painted tan to match my old desert camouflage uniform.
In one sentence, I am waiting for Apple to replace the Newton.

The iPhone, with its email and Internet capabilities, is great, but most of Iraq doesn't have cell towers. I need an Apple-based PDA. The new iPod touch seems good, but it's still missing email, fax, text editing, and handwriting recognition like my Newton can do.
My Newton doesn't have a WiFi card, but it has a good fax/modem card. I haven't tried to get my Newton to work with Mac OS X, but it's simple enough to store everything I need on hand in this hectic combat zone.
Things I have on my Newton:
- Email contact list
- Phone numbers
- Addresses
- Notes
- Poems
- Serial numbers
- LEM articles brainstorms
- A letter in case something happens to me
- Unclassified job related notes
- Training notes
I also have a few games that keep me busy.
My Newton helps me do my job better, and I keep backups of documents on my 5G iPod.
GIs
love it when I pull out my Newton while I'm instructing or
troubleshooting equipment; they often ask what the NSN (National Stock
Number) - commonly know to civilians as a part number - to order one.
People don't believe me when they see the Apple logo up close and I
tell them its not a piece of military gear.
I want Apple to simply update the software on the iPhone and iPod touch to have these capabilities. I would go out right now and buy both and simply take the iPod touch with me overseas.
Sadly my Newton's screen got crushed a few weeks ago, when I had it in one of my cargo pockets and had to get in the prone position unexpectedly. I know that many people believe that the Newton is obsolete and that the only ones worth using were the 2000/2100, but I loved my MessagePad 120.
I got my MessagePad 120 in the summer of 2000 after a successful summer at the business I was running. I paid around $100 and really wanted something better, like the 130 with its backlit display or the all powerful 200/2100, but that was all I could afford back then. And I just got used to it and never upgraded.
I already mailed my Newton with a bunch of other things home while I
am in the process of redeploying. If anyone wants to say hi to boost
morale, feel free to email me at mulderbean (at) gmail (dot) com.
If you find Joe's articles helpful, please consider making a donation to his tip jar.
Recent Mac Fallout Shelter articles
- Network administration tools for Mac OS X users, 06.25. Thanks to Mac OS X, today's Macs are great network citizens and excellent tools for doing network administration.
- Apple's secret battery reset utility for WallSteet and Clamshell iBooks, 07.05. If your old 'Books battery isn't taking a charge like it used to, Battery Reset 2.0 could help recover its useful life.
- Replacing Lombard with a TiBook: Which one is enough?, 04.19. Nice as the Lombard was, it has a new owner. The new 'Book should have FireWire, G4 power, and run Tiger nicely. How much TiBook is enough?
- More in the Mac Fallout Shelter index.
Recent Content on Low End Mac
- Apple gave Psystar enough rope to hang itself, Frank Fox, Stop the Noiz, 07.18. By not filing suit against Psystar immediately, Apple allowed the company to do enough to give Apple an air-tight case.
- Google's 'really good' iPhone App, 10 alternatives to the iPhone, Car Care app, and more, iNews Review, 07.18. Also iPhone 2.0 gives new life to original iPhone, free and low-cost apps, 3G 'tough to kill', inside the iPhone 3G, accessories for the iPhone 3G, and much more
- 4-core Core2 Extreme mobile CPU in August, 256 MB SSD coming to MacBook Air, and more, The 'Book Review, 07.18. Also Centrino 2 shipping, OS X running on tiny MSI Wind notebook, fuel cell notebooks one step closer, free laptop tracking service, bargain 'Books from $150 to $2,649, and more.
- Best Power Mac G5 deals, Low End Mac Deals, 07.18. Used 1.8 GHz single SuperDrive, $600; dual, $799, 2.0, $979; 2.3, $899; 2.5, $1,100; 2.7, $1,249; 2.5 Quad, $1,500.
- Best 17" MacBook Pro deals, Low End Mac Deals, 07.18. Used 2.16 GHz Core Duo, $1,275; 2.33 Core2, $1,888; refurb, 2.4, $1,899; new, $1,949 a/r; 2.5, $2,558 a/r; 2.6 Santa Rosa, $2,449 a/r; more.
- Best Mac OS X 10.5 'Leopard' deals, Low End Mac Deals, 07.18. Mac OS X 10.5.1 single user, $99; 5 users, $158; 10.5 Server, 10 users, $450; unlimited, $900.
- Mac of the Day: 12" 'dual USB' iBook 500, May 2001 - This compact, squared off, all-white, 500 MHz iBook was nicknamed the iceBook.
- List of the Day: Panther List is for anyone using Mac OS X 10.3.
- July 20 in LEM history: 00: Optimizing Mac software - 01: Moore's Law, new Macs, MHz myths - Power Mac 6360 or 7500? - 06: Apple selling Parallels - 07: iPhone backlash - Why Apple is limiting the iPhone market - Software to darken iMac display
- PowerBook Duo and DuoDock problems, no TPM on most Intel Macs, iTunes for Linux, and more, Dan Knight, Low End Mac Mailbag, 07.17. Also a Mac mini that displays some Web images in grayscale, vintage Mac desktop patterns, where to sell a used Mac, dithered images, and more.
- Best Mac Pro deals, Low End Mac Deals, 07.17. Refurb 2.66 GHz 4-core, $1,888; 2.8 8-core, $2,399; new 4-core, $2,124 after rebate; 8-core, $2,589 a/r; 3.0 $3,399 a/r; 3.2, $4,169 a/r.
- Best titanium PowerBook G4 deals, Low End Mac Deals, 07.17. Used 400 MHz DVD, $500; 867 MHz Combo, $550; 1 GHz Combo, $678; SuperDrive, $899.
- Best iPod nano deals, Low End Mac Deals, 07.17. Used 2 GB iPod nano, $70; refurb 4 GB, $99; new, $139; refurb 8 GB, $149; new, $180.
- More links in our archive.
About LEM | Support | Usage | Privacy | Contacts


