Newton

[Hans Franke]

Am 8 Aug 2006 23:47 meinte Don:
> CRC wrote:
> > On Tue, 08 Aug 2006 16:15:18 -0700, Don <THX1138 at dakotacom.net> wrote:
> >> Pulled a Newton (110?) out of the trash today
> >> (complete with power, faxmodem, carrying case, etc.)
> >> Appears to work.

> >> Can these be repurposed?  Or, is it just an oversized,
> >> underpowered "notepad"?

> > I've used my 120 as a portable terminal. Not too bad if you can get by 
> > the handwriting recognition or tippy-tappin on the little graphic 
> > keyboard with the provided toothpick.

> > A friend, a number of years back, hacked his box to be a TV remote.

> Can you "install" software (like on a Palm/Visor)?  Or, do you
> need to surgical "change it's mind"  :>

It's an open system. just unlike the Palm, it has an OS
worth the name, not just an underpowered bootloader.

Install the connection software on your PC/Mac (I prefer
an 68k as development platform for the Newt) search the
net, and install whatever you find - and there's quite a
lot to find.

Maybe first a freeze utility to 'unload' Apps would be a
good first choice - Storage is rare, especialy on the old
ones. But then again, huge (aka 16 MB :) PCMCIA memory
cards aren't expensive anymore. Unlike most other devices,
where you load and run programms like on a desktop, the
Newt never terminates an application - you install it, it
gets loaded, and it stays loaded and 'running' from there
on. The system is awsome - just not your standard crap.

Back then it was from outher space, today you might call
it a Widget-Environment with a plugin framework...

Whatever, don't forget to get the NewtonScript development
tools. Some OO knowledge and a bit learning required, but
it's realy worth.

H.

P.S.: Speaking of Macs, MS finaly dropt their VBA from
Mac Office and goes for AS :))
--
VCF Europa 8.0 am 28/29.April 2007 in Muenchen
http://www.vcfe.org/