Apple Newton MessagePad

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The Apple Newton, or simply Newton, is an early line of personal digital assistants developed and marketed by Apple from 1993 to 1998. Some electronic engineering and the manufacture of the Newton was done in Japan by Sharp. The original Newtons were based on the ARM 610 RISC processor and featured handwriting recognition software. Apple's official name for the device was "MessagePad"; the term "Newton" was Apple's name for the operating system it used (Newton OS), but popular usage of the word Newton has grown to include the device and its software together. The name is an allusion to Isaac Newton's apple.
 
The original Apple Newton MessagePad features a 20 MHz ARM 610 processor, 4 MB of ROM, 640k of SRAM (150k usable), and infrared-beaming capabilities in a compact handheld case with a 336x240 pressure-sensitive monochrome display for use with a provided stylus. The original Newton MessagePad was one of the first handheld systems, or PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants), to attempt to recognize natural handwriting and use a basic form of artificial intelligence to 'tie' relevant information together. The Newton MessagePad models are technically not 'Macs', as they do not operate the MacOS, and instead use the NewtonOS (also developed by Apple).

Sold from August 3, 1993 to March 4, 1994 
Processor:  ARM 610 20 MHz 
Processor Upgrade:  N/A  FPU (Integrated):  N/A 
System Bus Speed:  N/A  Lookaside Bus Speed:  N/A 
ROM Size:  4 MB  Data Path:  N/A 
Level 1 Cache:  None  Level 2 Cache:  None 
RAM Type:  Built-in  VRAM Type:  Built-in 
Standard SRAM:  640k/150k 1.  Maximum SRAM:  640k/150k 1. 
Motherboard SRAM:  640k/150k 1.  RAM Slots:  None 
Standard VRAM:  N/A  Maximum VRAM:  N/A 
Standard Hard Drive:  None 2.  Int. Hard Drive Type:  N/A 
Standard CD-ROM:  None  Standard Disk:  None 2. 
Standard Modem:  9.6k (internal) 3.  Standard Ethernet:  None 
Case Type:  Handheld  Form Factor:  MessagePad (OMP) 
Exp. Slots:  1 PCMCIA (Type II) 4.  Exp. Bays (Free):  N/A 
Battery Type:  4 AAA/NiCad Recharge  Battery Life:  5-10 hours 5. 
Built-in Display:  336x240 B&W 6.  Supported NewtonOS:  1.0, 1.1, 1.1.1 
Dimensions:  7.25 x 4.5 x 0.75 7.  Avg. Weight:  0.9 lbs. 
Original Price:  $700 US
 

 

Timeline for Newton :

Date Event
3 Aug 1993 Apple releases the Newton MessagePad


Magazine Articles About Newton

 

Apple Newton MessagePad

 

 

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