actually yes it did. It plugged in to the serial port on the side. I should know, i'm typing this on my newton Messagepad 2000 over a wifi card. Woot for old skool tech.
Man! look at the size of that screen on the Newton. Someday, PDA's will have screens that big. And WOW! The batteries still work on that thing? You'd think they'd be dead and not able to hold a charge any more. I bet that newton wishes it could be operated by finger(nail) touch like the iPhone, that the screen could be switched from portrait to landscape, and that it could do WiFi and browse the web...
Oh wait! It has dirt-cheap user replaceable batteries, you don't have to use a stylus, and it _can_ do WiFi, and rotate the screen? And you can use a full-size (ADB) keyboard with it! Damn. I bet it had a durable, built-in screen protector AND it could recognize handwriting too. That sucker was way the hell ahead of its time.
It's the same handheld computer that the Newton was, even down to those home shortcuts along the bottom. It really proves that most new tech is just shoehorning the latest and greatest in a smaller chassis: Phones, TVs, PVP/music players, laptops (although the original PowerBook 100 was the slim, trim JesusBook of its time).
Engadget... please, for the love of God, settle down with the iPhone posts that aren't even news. It was one thing to post a lot about it when information was new or there were some unknowns that became known, but now we're getting posts like this? Please don't turn into an iPhone worship site. You guys are crossing that line.
I understand posting REAL information about the iPhone, but this is getting absurd... Surely something has happened in the tech world today that's not related to the iPhone. I never thought I would see the day that so much noise was made over a cellphone. But I guess Apple fanboys are used to overpaying for average technology to look "cool".
Nothing else much happened in the news today. A couple of car bombs discovered in London, a few dozen bodies turned up in Baghdad, Lebanon army soldiers kill protestors in street. Boring, boring, boring.
Let's see some more iPhone unboxing videos and splayed iPhones stripped down to their nakedness. Now that's some interesting stuff. Anyone out there gonna do a unboxing in 3D? I never knew there were so many ways you can unbox an iPhone. Some use keys to remove the plastic, some use razors, some just rip it open with their fingernails. Awesome stuff.
all i know is that, with the exception of EDGE, the iPhone is freaking sweet... I'm using it right now to post this. It makes every other phone on the market look archaic. Something tells me that this is not going to be another Newton.. Personally, im typing better on this than i did on my blackjack.
whatever. the iPhone doesn't deserve to hold the Newton's jock strap...if it had one that is. In terms of overall functionality it runs rings around the planet around the iPhone.
On the left, the first Apple product designed by Jonathon Ive, on the right, the latest. It look like the only thing that carried over (in spirit at least) is the Notes application.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
robert.stewart2 @ Jun 29th 2007 10:00PM
where can i get a newton
Ed @ Jun 29th 2007 10:02PM
eBay?
Fred @ Jun 29th 2007 10:13PM
They're all over ebay. You'll want a 130 if you want on in that form factor. Newt OS 2 I think, and backlit!!! WOOO!
jbresp @ Jun 29th 2007 10:43PM
newton ftw.
elan @ Jun 29th 2007 10:01PM
The entire iPhone appears as if it could fit inside the screen of the Newt.
Rayarub @ Jun 29th 2007 10:02PM
Look, the Newton didn't have a keyboard either.
iamdigitalman @ Jun 29th 2007 10:10PM
actually yes it did. It plugged in to the serial port on the side. I should know, i'm typing this on my newton Messagepad 2000 over a wifi card. Woot for old skool tech.
SteveMB @ Jun 29th 2007 10:03PM
iPhone clone... Oh wait...
Keymaster @ Jun 29th 2007 10:03PM
Without people like Mile there would never be a second post. Think about that. Really mull that one the fuck over.
Mickey Jones @ Jun 29th 2007 10:04PM
That's the one you get if you show up at the Apple store tomorrow.
Marcus @ Jun 29th 2007 10:08PM
We've Come a Long Way, Baby
Anthony @ Jun 29th 2007 10:10PM
Man! look at the size of that screen on the Newton. Someday, PDA's will have screens that big. And WOW! The batteries still work on that thing? You'd think they'd be dead and not able to hold a charge any more. I bet that newton wishes it could be operated by finger(nail) touch like the iPhone, that the screen could be switched from portrait to landscape, and that it could do WiFi and browse the web...
Oh wait! It has dirt-cheap user replaceable batteries, you don't have to use a stylus, and it _can_ do WiFi, and rotate the screen? And you can use a full-size (ADB) keyboard with it! Damn. I bet it had a durable, built-in screen protector AND it could recognize handwriting too. That sucker was way the hell ahead of its time.
When did those Newton things come out, anyway?
krizoitz @ Jun 30th 2007 3:37AM
1993
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_Newton
unkone @ Jun 29th 2007 10:11PM
pwnt
Anton @ Jun 29th 2007 10:11PM
We have came so far, and still over-priced and over-hyped...
History does indeed repeat it self...
Dan @ Jun 29th 2007 10:19PM
"note my comment under "Engadget is giving away a free Iphone" *cough* *cough*"
Oh yeah, lemme search through the 75 pages worth...
patrick @ Jun 29th 2007 10:29PM
Amazing.
jilie @ Jun 29th 2007 10:25PM
not that far really
Beau Giles @ Jun 29th 2007 10:25PM
Hey Ryan, take a memo on your Newton: beat up Martin.
Lito @ Jul 14th 2007 10:23AM
Newton: Eat up Martha
Aaron @ Jun 29th 2007 10:25PM
glad I can adblock the "iphone at Engadget" icon....geez enough already
ein stein @ Jun 29th 2007 10:32PM
It's the same handheld computer that the Newton was, even down to those home shortcuts along the bottom. It really proves that most new tech is just shoehorning the latest and greatest in a smaller chassis: Phones, TVs, PVP/music players, laptops (although the original PowerBook 100 was the slim, trim JesusBook of its time).
adam syty @ Jun 29th 2007 10:36PM
What a difference betweent the two.
adam syty @ Jun 29th 2007 10:37PM
Magic!
Andy Kloc @ Jun 29th 2007 10:42PM
Engadget... please, for the love of God, settle down with the iPhone posts that aren't even news. It was one thing to post a lot about it when information was new or there were some unknowns that became known, but now we're getting posts like this? Please don't turn into an iPhone worship site. You guys are crossing that line.
jilie @ Jun 29th 2007 10:53PM
the newton was a fiasco, let the tradition continue
Al @ Jun 29th 2007 10:54PM
Eat up Martha
Simon @ Jun 29th 2007 11:03PM
LOL!
Simon @ Jun 29th 2007 10:56PM
atttha sisi awhda djoswj dadsgha (sorry, was using handwriting recognition on my newton) ;)
Huey2k2 @ Jun 29th 2007 10:57PM
Hey look, another pointless iPhone post!
I understand posting REAL information about the iPhone, but this is getting absurd... Surely something has happened in the tech world today that's not related to the iPhone. I never thought I would see the day that so much noise was made over a cellphone. But I guess Apple fanboys are used to overpaying for average technology to look "cool".
Are there any real posts coming sometime soon?
I.M. Yerpappy @ Jun 29th 2007 11:15PM
Nothing else much happened in the news today. A couple of car bombs discovered in London, a few dozen bodies turned up in Baghdad, Lebanon army soldiers kill protestors in street. Boring, boring, boring.
Let's see some more iPhone unboxing videos and splayed iPhones stripped down to their nakedness. Now that's some interesting stuff. Anyone out there gonna do a unboxing in 3D? I never knew there were so many ways you can unbox an iPhone. Some use keys to remove the plastic, some use razors, some just rip it open with their fingernails. Awesome stuff.
Huey2k2 @ Jun 29th 2007 11:19PM
Wow no wonder there is so much iPhone news. I didn't even realise today was such a slow news day. Forgive me Apple fans around the world.
kyle allen @ Jul 1st 2007 1:58AM
hey! look!, you read and commented on "another pointless iPhone post!"
Brad @ Jun 29th 2007 11:06PM
I'm confused. How do I install software on the one on the right?
Robert @ Jul 19th 2007 9:21PM
Jobsy said it's insecure to be able to install apps on iPhones saying that it may take down the AT&T network or something. Just web-based apps.
Mike Klein @ Jun 29th 2007 11:13PM
Shouldn't it instead be "new school meet old school"?
At least the Newton could copy/paste text.
brendan Sheehan jnr @ Jun 29th 2007 11:13PM
I love the iPhone. I'm calling it - the iPhone will sell 100,000,000 units too!
Craig @ Jun 29th 2007 11:18PM
all i know is that, with the exception of EDGE, the iPhone is freaking sweet... I'm using it right now to post this. It makes every other phone on the market look archaic. Something tells me that this is not going to be another Newton.. Personally, im typing better on this than i did on my blackjack.
Matt @ Jun 29th 2007 11:16PM
And it has a stylus!
Why doesn't the iPhone have one of those?
vectr @ Jun 30th 2007 3:37PM
Hold your hands up in front of you. Focus on the sausage like appendages.
Josh @ Jun 29th 2007 11:19PM
man, that makes the iPhone look extra tiny!
Scott Abernathy @ Jun 29th 2007 11:24PM
And yet the screen isn't much smaller...wonderful times
Jake @ Jun 29th 2007 11:37PM
Guys, this was a joke. And a damned good one. Don't give it the "-"
Amhkwan @ Jun 29th 2007 11:40PM
Guest what, Newton can Beam!
(Actually newton is smarter than iPhone.)
That's not so nice
Michael Leung @ Jun 30th 2007 12:22AM
a meaningful picture!
Don't Panic! @ Jun 30th 2007 12:32AM
What's that black whip on the iPhone?
anthony @ Jun 30th 2007 12:36AM
WOW! :-D
Like Pismo vs. Macbook Pro!
Peter @ Jun 30th 2007 12:52AM
The Newton did things the iPhone can't, like Copy and Paste text.
John Doe @ Jun 30th 2007 2:30AM
whatever. the iPhone doesn't deserve to hold the Newton's jock strap...if it had one that is. In terms of overall functionality it runs rings around the planet around the iPhone.
Christopher Mahon @ Jul 1st 2007 4:21AM
On the left, the first Apple product designed by Jonathon Ive, on the right, the latest. It look like the only thing that carried over (in spirit at least) is the Notes application.