Get the most out of it

[LCARS]

Hi everyone. I have recently acquired a beautiful Newton 2000. I only have the factory programs on it right now, and I'm wondering if anyone has any advice on how to get the most out of the device. I want to use it for my daily schedule, PIM, notes, email, and maybe Internet news, but I'm also interested in any other programs people have made for it: games, utilities, etc. I have all the original software, keyboard, and an Orinoco WiFi card (but no drivers). Any advice, tips, or links would be greatly appreciated. This PDA puts any Palm Pilot I've ever had to shame. Thanks!

[Rodus]

Pretty much all the software you'll ever need is here: http://www.unna.org
And for a wifi driver, this does the trick with many different cards: http://www.ff.iij4u.or.jp/~ngc/eng/newtwave.htm

Enjoy your Newt, they are great little machines.

[LCARS]

Thank you for the links. I can't believe I've gone this long without a Newton.

[freudling]

Join NTLK list

As for advice, the Newton is great, but takes a LONG time and a lot of patience to learn and get working properly. Once we have a proper knowledgebase site working, that clearly details how to get up and running, it will take some time until you have conquered the device.

[LCARS]

it will take some time until you have conquered the device.

I've been learning that, but each time it does something I don't want it to, (I learn) and am amazed at what it can do. The phone dialer for example worked and wowed me. Is it more extensive than just emitting DTMF tones? The handwriting recognition seems to be learning to read my horrible handwriting very well.

I have come up with a few more questions. Can I use a CF card with a PCMCIA adapter in the Newton, or does it require a Newton-branded card? And as far as faxes go, does it only work with a card modem? I've noticed under the top lid next to the connector port, there is a small black square- about the size of a phone jack. Is there an internal modem upgrade? Thank you!

[Hrududu]

it will take some time until you have conquered the device.

I've been learning that, but each time it does something I don't want it to, (I learn) and am amazed at what it can do. The phone dialer for example worked and wowed me. Is it more extensive than just emitting DTMF tones? The handwriting recognition seems to be learning to read my horrible handwriting very well.

I have come up with a few more questions. Can I use a CF card with a PCMCIA adapter in the Newton, or does it require a Newton-branded card? And as far as faxes go, does it only work with a card modem? I've noticed under the top lid next to the connector port, there is a small black square- about the size of a phone jack. Is there an internal modem upgrade? Thank you!

I believe there was an internal modem available for the 2x00 MP. There's even some space inside where one could possibly have fit. So far I've had zero luck faxing with an internal card. I'm not sure if the external Apple Fax Modems are any better. The card I bought is a 14.4MHz Megahertz Fax Modem Xjack model XJ1144. Each time I try to send I just get an error. I have been able to call phones with it though.

[Hrududu]

it will take some time until you have conquered the device.

I've been learning that, but each time it does something I don't want it to, (I learn) and am amazed at what it can do. The phone dialer for example worked and wowed me. Is it more extensive than just emitting DTMF tones? The handwriting recognition seems to be learning to read my horrible handwriting very well.

I have come up with a few more questions. Can I use a CF card with a PCMCIA adapter in the Newton, or does it require a Newton-branded card? And as far as faxes go, does it only work with a card modem? I've noticed under the top lid next to the connector port, there is a small black square- about the size of a phone jack. Is there an internal modem upgrade? Thank you!

I believe there was an internal modem available for the 2x00 MP. There's even some space inside where one could possibly have fit. So far I've had zero luck faxing with an internal card. I'm not sure if the external Apple Fax Modems are any better. The card I bought is a 14.4MHz Megahertz Fax Modem Xjack model XJ1144. Each time I try to send I just get an error. I have been able to call phones with it though.

[LCARS]

Thanks for your reply. That's a bit disappointing that the fax function hasn't worked well for you. I have yet to try it out.
I answered my CF card question but I have come up with yet another. The Newton I bought was suppose to be a new open box. It came with unopened manuals and all the disks, however all the floppies say Beta software. When installed (on OS 7.6.1) it says that the Beta expired in 1997. There are no CDs or anything that would install the Newton Connection software. Can I download this anywhere? I'm a bit surprised that in 1997, the same year Apple nixed floppies in their computers, they shipped a Newton with no CD (unless I'm missing something).

[beachycove]

You want www.unna.org , as an earlier post said.

There was no internal modem, because the MP was made to use PCMCIA expansion cards. The square cover you mention is more or less irrelevant, as nothing was actually manufactured back in the day to go in there, unless you want to go the way of hardware hacking and install, say, a serial/ localtalk port (it can be done). Since it was designed to use PCMCIA cards, it is to be expected that a great many PCMCIA modem/ fax cards will work perfectly well in a MP2000, but you have to have the system set up right for one of them, and some cards will likely work with the thing better than others.

The Preferences pane has some modem settings that can be tinkered with, and there is a modem modifier program (try unna) that will allow you to tweak some more if it comes to that, or if you want to use something that the machine doesn't like.

I have long experience of the Newton platform, but so many around here do not that it is almost a waste of time asking anything. The best place to ask questions is the Newtontalk list, which also has a searchable archive.

[Nathan]

Thanks for your reply. That's a bit disappointing that the fax function hasn't worked well for you. I have yet to try it out.
I answered my CF card question but I have come up with yet another. The Newton I bought was suppose to be a new open box. It came with unopened manuals and all the disks, however all the floppies say Beta software. When installed (on OS 7.6.1) it says that the Beta expired in 1997. There are no CDs or anything that would install the Newton Connection software. Can I download this anywhere? I'm a bit surprised that in 1997, the same year Apple nixed floppies in their computers, they shipped a Newton with no CD (unless I'm missing something).

I hope that means you found the ATA driver over here: http://www.kallisys.com/ It works well with my 16MB CF card and a generic CF-PCMCIA card. The newton brand cards are weird linear flash memory, whereas the driver allows the use of CF cards (which are essentially ATA compatible). Not sure what the upper limit is, I expect 64MB might work, but I have no idea.