Re: NTLK CompactFlash

From: Laurent Daudelin (laurent_daudelin@fanniemae.com)
Date: Thu Mar 02 2000 - 13:56:18 EST


Van Rooyen Leslie wrote:

> Hello
>
> Sorry if this message is repeated; I send a Q before subscribibing.
>
> Phew, after a struggle of 2 days I finally got to a place to ask a Q!!
> (thank you planetnewton).
> I currently use a Psion S5 with a 32MB CompactFlash card. Will this card
> work on the MP120? I can get a 120 for cheap(?) ($65 +S&H) with only 1MB (I
> presume it must be 1.3MB of RAM) and not of much use.
> The 130 is a better machine, but at what price?
> The best place to look for Newton stuff?

Hi Les!

No, a CompactFlash will *not* work on a 120, or a 130, or on any MessagePads.
MessagePads use linear flash ram cards. A CompactFlash is an ATA. We just had a
thread about what it would take to write a driver for the Newton in order to be
able to use ATA-based cards, BTW...

Make sure your 120 comes with the Newton OS 2.0, not 1.3 as you will quickly
discover that you're severely limited with a 1.3 based 120. I have a spare 2.0
120, but I don't remember how much memory it has. You need to know that, on a
Newton, there is 2 different memory types, the RAM and the ROM. The RAM is then
partitioned in 2 different areas, maybe 3. There is the storage area, which
lets you store data and application, there's the system's heap and the
remainder is the application heap. The application heap is needed when an
application is ran, to allocate temporary variables and stuff like that. On a
NOS 2.0 120, after a reset, there is about 60-70K of free application heap. On
a 130, it's more like 170-180K. This all depends on the number of applications
installed.

So, if you can go for a 130, go for it. You'll be able to receive internet
email a lot more easily with a 130 than a 120. In addition, the 130 has a
backlight, which the 120 is lacking. I've got a spare 130 that was brand new
for $165 on eBay a couple of weeks ago, so they're kinda cheap.

-Laurent.
=====================================================================
Laurent Daudelin
Developer, Object Factory, Substrate Fannie Mae
Phone: 703-833-4266 mailto:Laurent_Daudelin@fanniemae.com
Fax: 703-833-7555 Usual disclaimers apply

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