Re: [NTLK] Definitive List of Newton 2100 Unique Capabilities

From: Ed Kummel (tech_ed_at_yahoo.com)
Date: Fri Aug 19 2005 - 13:23:48 PDT


OK...I can't remain silent on this subject any longer.

Like it was said on this thread earlier...you will
find that most of the PDAs out there will all of the
application that the Newt has and probably even many
more. And that is true. But it's not *what* the PDA
can do...heck, you can always add a new program to a
computer, but adding a program doesn't necessarily add
functionality. And here is where the Newt shines. The
Newt has a unique capability to interconnect
applications to enhance a single application's
functionality. And it's not just a dynamic link to
another database like it is in other PDAs, but it is
an *awareness* of the other application's ability to
share data. I guess the best example of this is the
Assist feature. Not only is there a knowledge of
twelve o'clock, but there is an awareness that the
words "lunch" and "noon" mean the same thing! Same for
08/20/05 is the same as "tomorrow".
At issue here is that *ALL* other PDAs are not PDAs at
all, but instead PDOs (personal digital organizers)
They are nothing more than a portable window of the
information that resides, is created and sent from
your desktop. They are not autonomous and not designed
to create data remotely. The Newton is designed from
the ground up to be a complete seperate entity. I am a
good example of this. I don't sync my Newt. It hasn't
been connected to a computer in years. Yet, everything
I have on my Newt is quite up to date. If I need to
add a contact, I send an email to my Newt with a VCD
of the contact information and then drag that
information to my Address book. Adam Tow's Drag and
Drop Names makes this a simple task. Installing
packages is a no brainer with my internet connection.
There is a term I learned from using my BlackBerry.
"OTA" This stands for Over The Air. It means
installing sn application with no physical connection.
This is someting that WinCE (at least the ones I
played with) just can't manage. (I don't know enough
about the Palm to know if they do this)
The same technique works for the Newt as well.
It's this level of autonomous existance coupled with
the ability for interaction between applications that
makes the Newton more than a PDO, and more than a PDA.
I like to tell people that it's a Pocket Computer.
(and yes, it does fit in my pocket...if rather
bulkily)
Ed
web/gadget guru
Download Newton packages directly onto your Newton:
http://newton.tek-ed.com

--- Marcus Hammerschmitt
<Marcus.Hammerschmitt_at_t-online.de> wrote:

> At 19:43 19.08.2005, you wrote:
> >Communications. Like the old ad says, Newton
> Communicates.
> >
> >I've done things with my newt that I could never do
> on my old palm.
> >
> >Email, like real email,
>
> (...)
>
> >Or RSS or web surfing to get news, wired, wifi or
> modem depending on where I
> >work or travel.
>
> (...)
>
> >Or telnet.
>
> Well, I'm quite confident the newer Palms can do
> most or all of this,
> I've been able to do some of it (E-Mail, for
> instance) on a quite outdated
> model
>
>
http://concord.antville.org/static/concord/files/soviet2.jpg
>
> (yes, that flip cover is a very cool voice recorder,
> and that
> thingie attached at the bottom is a modem).
>
> And yet: all advantages combined (for me those are:
> HWR,
> form factor, battery life, that unbelievable
> potential of Newton
> OS) the MP 2100 only leaves one thing to wish for: a
> modernized
> version of itself.
>
> Best,
>
> Marcus

"I'm not an expert, but I *did* stay at a Holiday Inn Express once..."
     --Holiday Inn Commercial

                
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