[NTLK] Hi Newton users, question about the best way to go for getting connected

[Tony Morrow]

On Aug 17, 2011, at 7:21 PM, Steve S. wrote:

> I've had a used Newton for some time (since a little before the iPhone 
> era), and I previously followed this list fairly avidly in an attempt to 
> figure out some way to get connected to my network.  I tried to go the 
> cable route and after some misadventures, gave up.
> 
> I recently brought out my old Newton, which seems to work fine except 
> that the batteries are nearing the ends of their little lives.  And of 
> course, the calendar/time are now totally wonky and I need the 2010 
> patch.  I'd also like to get a WiFi PC card and eventually use the 
> Newton wirelessly on my home network.  Since I have no way to connect, I 
> have the typical bootstrapping problem.  My computers are both new Macs 
> (iMac and Air) running OS X 10.6 and 10.7.  My Newton is a Messagepad 
> 2100 with 1 4 mb PCMCIA card.  Backlight works fine, handwriting 
> recognition is good, no jaggies---I'm THIS CLOSE to having a fine little 
> unit.
> 
> I'm soliciting opinions on the least expensive and most hassle-free way 
> to connect and hopefully revive my Newton into the useful device I know 
> it can be.  Is the USB card from Newtonsales.com the way to go?  
> (http://www.newtonsales.com/usb-001.pdf).
> 
> Thanks for any thoughts.

1-2 years ago I would have said the cheapest and most successful way to get MP2100 connected to a Mac would have been to use a Keyspan USA-19hs serial to USB adapter and Newton PC serial cable (DB9 connector on one end and dock connector on the other. The Keyspan adapters are still cheap (about $20), but since J&K Sales INC no longer exists I don't know of a reliable place to get the serial cable at reasonable price. The total package would have cost about $35 and worked with OS 8, 9, X, Windows 98 through 7 64-bit, and Linux.

I have not had any experience with the USB-001 board so I will have to leave that answer to the rest of the list. My Newton 2100 has a SER-001 that I installed back in 2005.

-Tony Morrow