DIY Planner - Retro-Tech Planning with the Newton - Comments

Newtontalk

jonglass — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 09:09:37 -0400

Bob-

I heartily recommend that you go to www.newtontalk.net and subscribe to the mailing list there. This list is full of experienced users who will be able to help you, and the email format is much easier to respond to, and track than here.

As to your connection. If you are using the Keyspan adapter, you need to choose the Serial connection, not the TCP connection in the Dock app on your Newton. Also, you will need to open your Mac app, and make sure that the Keyspan option is selected or even visible. I don't remember if NCX allows serial connections, but I believe that Escale does. I've never done a serial connection in OS X, only wifi and wired Ethernet. (I have an older OS9 box for if I need a serial connection to "bootstrap" a wiped 2K Newton).

In any case, join the list, and ask away. I suspect that all your questions will be answered there---See you on-list. ;-)

-Jon

Need help connecting to my MP2k

Bob Bartz — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 06:01:28 -0400

Surfing the net at midnight, looking for help, I found someone who loves this green brick as much as I do. I have had three so far, a 120 a MP2000 and an MP2100. The 120 was easiest by far to connect to. I spent a lot of time using NCU2 on the 2000, but my 2100 is giving me fits. Only very rarely in the past five years have I been able to connect long enough to transfer a few packages and photos. This was effected using a Windows XP laptop.

I have since jettisoned the PC laptop and purchased two Apple computers, a Powermac G5 and an iMac Core Duo, running Leopard and Tiger respectively.
I am trying to connect using a Keyspan USB to serial adapter and a variety of OS X software ranging from NCX to Escale. I know the cable connection works because autodock lit up the TCP/IP Dock package I had previously installed. But my bete noire is that both the default Dock program and the TCP/IP Dock both timeout with the error message "The connection was stopped because there was no response." I had experienced the identical problem when I was using the PC, but I remember having success only after running an utility called Slowdown, which literally reduced the CPU heart beat to a snails pace. I have been searching the net for a similar program that would run on my iMac.

I have some other, less critical problems I could use help with also, if you don't mind. Again several years ago, I found a fellow in Canada who did Message Pad repairs. I sent my 2100 to him to install a serial port, a sound card and a new backlight. My query to you is concerning this last item. Your 2100 seemed to be in pristine condition, hardly used. I bought mine on eBay, and the backlight was all but exhausted. However, even after replacing my backlight, there was only minimal improvement, it had none of the green glow I remembered from my 120. This is probably the most disappointing part of my experience with this Newton, it is difficult to read. Was your backlight obvious?

I realize this is an unsollicited request for help, but if you have any suggestions I would be grateful.

Thanks

Optical Media

reepicheep — Sun, 23 Dec 2007 12:45:39 -0500

A question: Would an EMP destroy optical media ? CD and CD-R ? That might be a convenient loophole in the issue.

The media might survive but the pulse will probably reduce the electronics in the players to silicon. So your data is safe, 'til the silver oxidises, but you'd be unable to retrieve it.

Good point

ygor — Sat, 22 Dec 2007 10:40:04 -0500

A question: Would an EMP destroy optical media ? CD and CD-R ? That might be a convenient loophole in the issue.

The anonymous comment reeks of Troll, but I like the responses. Very thoughtful. Complements to Jon and Reep
-----------------------------------
"I think the surest sign that there is intelligent life out there in the universe is that none of it has tried to contact us." (Calvin and Hobbes/Bill Waterson)

No, not really...

jonglass — Sat, 22 Dec 2007 09:51:39 -0500

Going digital is an all or nothing accord.

It would only be so for someone approaching it from an ideological perspective, rather than for practical considerations. If you wish to approach "going digital" from an ideological framework, you are free to do so, but to attempt to force this on other people is to fail to see that not everybody sees things the same way you do.

For myself, and I've been using Newtons since some time in 1995 or 1996, the Newton is great at many things--and I've been known to say that the best paper planner I've ever used was my Newton--but it's not an end-all, be-all. And, to be frank, while a digital calendar has many benefits, immediacy is not one of them. When I'm talking on the phone with someone or standing somewhere, trying to schedule a date, the limitations of digital quickly come into play. For me, the best way to schedule is with paper. I print out dates such that I can fit a year, or maybe more, on a sheet of paper, with my whole schedule fitting on a couple/three sheets. I have an immediate overview of open and closed dates, and also have a framework of _where_ those meetings are (I don't want to schedule a meeting in Alabama between two in Michigan, for instance). On a computer screen (and specifically, a PDA/Newton's screen), such overviews, together with relationship are much more difficult to discern, thus taking my attention away from the caller, to the technology at hand, and thus creating a barrier to communication. Sorry, but communication trumps "going digital" in this circumstance.

Also, twice in my Newton experience, I've had my Newton suddenly go blank on me, leaving me dataless. It isn't pretty, to be 800 miles away from home, where your backup is located. If it weren't for my paper schedule, I would have been sunk. And actually, I like to not only have that quickie list, but also a printout of the meeting details, together with directions. That goes into a planner. I have yet to find a decent way to electronify that. I've tried it on my Palm, but the Palm screen is even _more_ cramped than my Newton screen was. Oh, and more frequently, my Palm has fritzed on me, leaving me dataless--although I have a solution for that finally--I back up to a card nightly, so I lose no more than a day's info, but again, paper has an immediacy that electronic lacks, as well as not needing batteries, etc. Although, digital wins in the dark--no need for light. ;-)

Which brings me to _my_ point to your ideological framework--you actually said it yourself--"Yes, there are negatives to going all digital, just like their are negatives to going all paper." So, since this is true, why force a false dichotomy? Let's let paper do what it does best, and digital do what it does best, and let them work together, thus negating or canceling their negatives? That seems to me to be the best path.

BTW, I think of your customers that you've "forced" digital--I wonder how many of them print out your "digital" forms to paper, thus negating your hoped-for benefits? Just a curiosity...

-Jon

Paper will survive

reepicheep — Sat, 22 Dec 2007 04:26:37 -0500

Why will it never replace your paper-based organizer?

Don't know about "the author's" answer to that question but mine would be because paper will survive the EMP (electromagnetic pulse) from a nuclear blast. Nothing, of course, will survive at ground zero be it digital or paper but EMP goes out a very long way and knock out digital devices while paper will be unaffected. The WikiPedia entry for EMP has several maps fromthe US goverment/army of the area affected by EMP; pretty much all of continental north America!

Though my fundamental reason for commiting to paper is ease of use. Never had a Newton but I did use a Psion Series 3 and later a Palm 501c for several years each. I always went back to paper. Much like my present car has an automatic gearbox when I replace it I'll be return to a manual.

To the author: Why will it

Anonymous — Sat, 22 Dec 2007 03:21:59 -0500

To the author:

Why will it never replace your paper-based organizer? This is what I can never understand about people. They tout some digital device, but, when it comes down to it, they stick with their paper-based solutions. Going digital is an all or nothing accord. There is no turning back, and no hesitation. Yes, there are negatives to going all digital, just like their are negatives to going all paper. I can proudly say that my business is 100% digital. There are times when customers push us for paper invoices, but we just say that we are digital, and it is not really possible.

The Newton is meant for someone like me that is willing to commit to going all digital. After working in a government office, I had had enough of paper, and all the waste an ridiculousness it entails. There is no need for paper, for the most part. And for scheduling, please, you can honestly tell me that even something so simple as a calender, in this day, is not replaceable with a digital device?

You are using NoteThing with

Marc White — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 13:28:13 -0400

You are using NoteThing with Classic? That's awesome! I doubted anyone was still using it.

BTW: I wrote NoteThing.

2010 is the doomsday

jonglass — Thu, 12 Jul 2007 15:44:59 -0400

for Newtons--unless, as ygor mentioned, you have the 2010 fix installed.

The simple explanation is that the Newton counts up (minutes, I think) from a certain day in the past. In 2010, the "odometer" rolls over, creating havoc. When Avi first put out the fix, I tested it for him. First i created a date sometime in 2010, and then set my Newton's clock to (whatever date it was in) 2010. My Newton went berzerk, going into a reset loop. I was forced, in the end, to do a "brain wipe" removing everything from my Newton. I was glad I had made multiple backups. :-) In any case, I then restored my Newton, installed the fix, and repeated the experiment. It worked fine. I also kept forward-dating my Newton a few more years into the future, and then used it for a few days using a year that matched the current year day-wise. No problems. Yes, it is a hack, but it seems to work. And you will want to be installing it. (So far, between Avi and me, I don't know anybody else who has stress-tested the "fix." If you would like to try it, feel free!)

I'll tell you what makes me feel weird is that when Avi did this, everybody, including myself, figured we would all be using something else by then, and that it wouldn't really be needed! But 2010 is coming, and my Newton sits behind me charging away, waiting to be picked up and used.... weird...

-Jon

2010 ?

ygor — Thu, 12 Jul 2007 09:32:24 -0400

What's this "2010 thing" about Newtons, please ?

Never mind.
Google is my friend
-----------------------------------
"I think the surest sign that there is intelligent life out there in the universe is that none of it has tried to contact us." (Calvin and Hobbes/Bill Waterson)

Macs & Newt

Rob — Thu, 12 Jul 2007 09:02:27 -0400

hi there guys
just stumbled on your page trying to find out about the 2010 year thing for Newton
I have had my Messagepad 2000 for a few years now and I have been syncing it with osx fine using NoteThing (under Classic) and NewtSync and Newten (OSX) I'm running 10.3.9 tho i have Tiger I haven't upgraded I use a regular USB to Serial cable with the dongle adapter for Newton Had to search for a OS9 and X driver for the cable on the net and install both so it would work

Connecting a Newton to a MacBook Pro

Tony Corasaniti — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 22:18:18 -0400

You mention you're connecting your Newton 2100 to a MacBook Pro. Can you tell what cable(s) you found to enable you to do this?

probably marked as spam

jonglass — Wed, 6 Jun 2007 11:34:36 -0400

Be patient, somebody will get to it sometime soon, and we should see it show up.

-Jon

Cool Related Article

avisolo — Wed, 6 Jun 2007 08:12:47 -0400

See:
My Newton
1996 – 2005
by Fletcher Lee Hartsell III
http://ambidextrousmag.org/issues/06/pdf/i6p52.pdf

Not allowed to add comments or questions

Steve * — Fri, 25 May 2007 13:49:33 -0400

Hi. Am I not allowed ot add comments or questions to this
group ?.

I wrote rather a long query regarding the pormlems I was
having with Newton Dates / Events but it doesn't seem
to have appeared on the comments list ?.

Please let me know

S. O'Neill

Retro-Tech Planning with the Newton

dougj — Wed, 9 May 2007 00:26:46 -0400

I have a little confession to make. Now, most people that know me well have no doubt that I'm a gadget freak and a tinkerer, although I do try at every moment to curb those tendencies. For example, after all those years of using several generations of Palms, I gave them up to use a paper planner, and have been quite happy about that decision. To this day, I refuse to carry a cell phone unless I'm travelling in the middle of nowhere or have to be on call for an urgent project. I eschew a workshop of testosterone-fueled power tools if I can use my Leatherman instead. And, although I've read a few shelves' worth of books about automotive mechanics, I resist the urge to prop open the hood, lest something explodes or some sharp bits leave me digitally impaired. I know my weaknesses and limitations.

But I've harboured an urge for twelve years that's never been satisfied. Every now and then, a product comes along that changes the face of the computing industry, like the Altair or the Apple II, and my coming-of-age as an IT professional was marked --from afar-- by the emergence of another one. It was a brick-shaped thing, barely able to fit into a trenchcoat pocket, and which emitted a gorgeous green glow. It was a thing initially of ridicule, but that quickly set a precedent for portable computing before being unceremoniously axed by Steve Jobs upon his return to Apple, leaving legions of fans supporting the device for a decade after its last production run. I'm speaking, of course, about the Apple MessagePad, also known as the Newton.

A month or so, a friend of mine was rummaging through the tech graveyard of his company when he found a two lonely but unblemished 2100s (the last, and most powerful of the Newtons) buried in a pile of PCMCIA cards and serial cables. Of course, he kept one for himself, but --knowing my long-standing desire-- the other made its way to me in short order. (The anticipation was incredible... I peered into my mailbox as frequently as a child peering into an oven of chocolate chip cookies.) Soon, my beloved green brick had arrived, and within an hour I understood why so many people have been petitioning Apple for a Newton II since 1998.

While the Newton is often called the first true PDA, it's arguably also the first tablet computer. It's about the size of a mid-sized paperback book, and 22 oz in heft. The fact that it was made in 1997 belies the astounding fact that many of its capabilities are still considered current today. I can attest that its handwriting recognition (yes, with real cursive script) is unparalleled among all the other devices I've tried, and it has two PCMCIA card slots that can accommodate and use memory cards, fax modems, network cards, wireless network cards, and even Bluetooth. I'm constantly amazed by the way it functions -- completely unlike most computers and PDAs I've owned, but far more intelligently. A keyboard attachment allows fairly advanced word processing, a typical battery charge lasts from 12 to 25 hours, and the slew of software available (including new titles on a semi-regular basis) is mostly free from sites such as the United Network of Newton Archives. Meanwhile, the NewtonTalk mailing list is one of the most active lists I've joined in recent years.

So why am I writing about the Newton here? Well, the Newton is essentially a digital equivalent of my paper-based planner. Unlike my tiny Palm Tungsten E, it is large enough to write comfortable, and has few frills to distract me from my day-to-day usage. In fact, it's rather Zen-like in a way, affording me a focus that allows me to concentrate on my words, my lists, and even my sketches in a holistic fashion, wherein all are joined, and nothing external exerts an undue pressure upon my thoughts.

I've only just begun to explore what the Newt has to offer, but have fallen effortlessly into the way that notes flow easily, that hierarchical lists (even checkboxed products and tasks) are constructed without impediment, that the built-in microphone catches scattered verbal thoughts, and that sketches mix with text mix with drawings mix with inked jottings. The address book and calendar/to-do lists are more than adequate, providing the basics without the clutter that comes from too many options. And the Assistant that correctly interprets "Remind me to take out the garbage" or "Lunch with Mary at the club" allows me to manage my time and tasks no matter where I am in any program.

I've managed to scrounge up elsewhere some cables to sync the Newt with my MacBook Pro, a wireless network card to browse the web and collect news, and a keyboard to write with, and while I do look forward to those packages in the mail, in the meantime I've begun to truly enjoy this antiquated but far-from-obsolete bit of tech history. So, was it worth the twelve-year wait? An unqualified yes. While it'll never replace my paper planner, it'll be an integral part of my work life for the foreseeable future.

D*I*Y Planner - Retro-Tech Planning with the Newton - Comments

Newtontalk

Need help connecting to my MP2k

Optical Media

Good point

No, not really...

Paper will survive

To the author: Why will it

You are using NoteThing with

2010 is the doomsday

2010 ?

Macs & Newt

Connecting a Newton to a MacBook Pro

probably marked as spam

Cool Related Article

Not allowed to add comments or questions

Retro-Tech Planning with the Newton

DIY Planner - Retro-Tech Planning with the Newton - Comments