Apple Newton MessagePad 2100
Since last week I featured Apple’s first-ever ARM laptop showing a Zscaler logo (the NewtonOS-based eMate 300), I thought I’d stick with that family this time around too. This is the Apple Newton MessagePad 2100, which was released in the fall of 1997.
The 2100 was the final model in the Newton family, and incorporated the bleeding edge of pocket-computing technology of the era. It was built around a StrongARM processor running at 162MHz (compare that to last week’s eMate 300, which ran at 25Mhz), and had 8 megabytes of RAM plus two “PCMCIA” card-slots on the side, which made it remarkably expandable. Those slots will accept a huge variety of expansion cards, including additional storage, modems, Ethernet, and even 802.11b WiFi.
Despite its age, using the MessagePad 2100 today is quite pleasant: apps load instantly, the handwriting recognition is shockingly accurate, and the backlit greyscale screen feels similar to reading on a modern Kindle.
Displaying this graphic on these Newton devices was surprisingly challenging, because NewtonOS is quite unlike any modern operating system. Specifically, NewtonOS doesn’t have a concept of “files” - rather, it has a concept of “books” (tiny application packages that contain text, graphics and interactive elements) and “soups” (freeform databases with content which can be used or modified by any app on the device). Getting the Zscaler logo onscreen required finding an ancient piece of Mac software called Newton Press, running it on my Macintosh Performa 575, converting the logo from color to black-and-white, and then using Newton Press to author a Newton Book containing the logo as the first page. Once this was done and the new package was synced to the Newton over a serial cable, I used a brilliant piece of Newton software called Avi’s Backdrop to set the logo-book as the background picture. Fun!
The Apple of the mid/late 1990’s was a very different company than the Apple we know today. They were losing billions of dollars per year, and a long string of aimless leadership and lackluster product design had badly diminished their relevance in the consumer market. With the Newton product line maturing even as Apple overall was struggling, the decision was made to spin the Newton product line into a wholly-owned subsidiary called “Newton Inc.,” - the MessagePad 2100 was the only product formally released under this arrangement. Of course, all this coincided with the return of Steve Jobs, who openly detested the Newton product line and concept, seeing it as a clear example of Apple’s lost focus. Within 6 months he’d completely killed the Newton product line. Amusingly, the only Newton device that Jobs reportedly found value in was last week’s eMate 300 - he thought the see-through plastic case was interesting, which directly lead to the iconic iMac G3 and its colorful see-through case.
Anyway, Happy Friday, everyone! Have a great / safe weekend, and don't forget to take your favorite piece of RetroComputing technology on a refreshing hike in the great outdoors 😃
