How did you get into this?

[carguyty]

The meat of this post is because I keep getting beat out of auctions on ebay and I'm wondering how you all got into your Newts.

Do you just keep increasing your budget till the stars align? Do you get lucky and find one in a junk heap? Are you one of a declining few that still carries your brick from its first launch? 

I'd love to hear some stories.

 

[BadGoldEagle]

The meat of this post is because I keep getting beat out of auctions on ebay and I'm wondering how you all got into your Newts.

This happened to me nearly every time. Out of the 20-odd items I tried to get, I only won 2....

How do I add more stuff to the collection? I just don't use ebay anymore that's all.   jk.

The trick is to set the absolute maximum price you'd pay for an item in your mind. Then increase the price by 15% and after that if you don't get it, you won't be so mad. This actually worked for me once, and I won it. It's one hell of a stupid method but it sure is effective. 

I have to admit, I have tried to snipe a couple of items before, but never succeeded... eSnipe always crashed on me at the last second.

I use my local craigslist for about 95% of what I buy. I live in France and the "local craigslist" I'm referring to is called leboncoin. Lots of Macs there!

Unfortunately I wasn't born yet in 1984... so I couldn't buy one at launch. I started collecting in 2014 if memory serves... Just bought a MacBook Pro at that time and I loved it. The old PC laptop I had in 2012 was as heavy as a Mac Plus!!! And it took considerably more time to boot!! That's why I replaced it with a Mac Plus. And let me tell you, I don't regret it. 

BTW, I read your community status message and 6502 is the name of the group you belong to.

Exceed 1,000 posts and you'll get a shiny 68000 processor under your avatar. Exceed 2,000 and the 68000 will morph into an 020... etc.

 

[rsolberg]

I've had my MP2100 since 2006. It was a Buy it Now item on eBay with cover, stylus, 4MB flash card, PC Card modem, DE-9 (PC) serial cable, AA tray, NiMH pack, and AC adapter. I thought it was a little spendy at about $80 shipped, but it was in nice shape and I really wanted one. If memory serves, it was from a seller specialising in Newtons. Shortly after, I bought an Orinoco Silver PC Card WiFi adapter for a whopping $20. I paid $5 for a Sierra aircard at a thrift shop. It's a GSM model for GPRS and EDGE. I played around with it, but never got it working on the MessagePad. I was able to get my Windows laptop of the day on EDGE though.

I recently came across a TDK Ethernet PC Card that has manufacturer supplied drivers for Mac OS and Newton OS, so I'm looking forward to playing with that when it gets here.

 

[Westinghouse]

Got my MP2100 in '05; case, keyboard, modem, flash card, power adapter - just over $100 with shipping. It was an experiment at a laptop replacement since one of my laptops had died... real work was done on my desktop, so something for quick notes and sketches was the aim.

It was ok in that regard; would have been better in the '90s - connectivity was a problem at the time, but manageable. Email still worked back then (no https), and some WiFi; both are not as workable in a modern context.

Got an eMate recently; a seller on eBay local to me has a large stash from a school board. They range from 'pretty good' to 'terrible', (scuffs, bad hinges) but their being local allowed a visit and a pick of the litter. $20, local pickup, stylus, no power adapter.

 

[Byrd]

I've had apple newton saved in my eBay searches for a while - just keep an eye out for a decent BIN sale and you'll get a decent one within a month. There was even a Newton EVT (2000?) that went for $50 recently.

Note that the only Newton that's actually of any use is the 2000/2100 and eMate. Or maybe a 130 running OS 2.0. The lesser models are great collectables but love sucking up batteries and the software isn't great < OS 2.0

 

[bibilit]

Do you just keep increasing your budget till the stars align

i have learned that if you want an item you will always pay too much for it in the end.

A couple of years ago i was looking for a Clamshell, in the end i paid too much for a broken unit, i found several afterwards for cheap.

Apart from very rare items, our computers are plentiful, it is just a matter ot time until the right one can be obtained at the right price.

 

[carguyty]

You guys are great. I love the high level of detail everybody brings to the boards. Your technical data is top notch and vital to keeping these things alive.

However, in my line of work, "sea stories" are traded like a valuable commodity. And again, you guys deliver!

Bibilit, I get it. It's very much like gambling against one's own feelings. I've done exactly that looking for a 900MHz iBook. Like you said, they get WAY cheap after you buy the expensive one. The up side to that is now I have so many machines I can setup a small museum.

 

[BadGoldEagle]

Argh... I didn't notice you had posted this in the Newton subforum. My last post was all about Macs... Sorry.

I only have one Newton in my possession, the original one. Complete in the box. But what I've said about my local craigslist still holds true for Newtons. I got it there for 50 euros, which is a good price for a brand new unused unit. The getting started card is corrupted but hey, it was still a steal in my book.

I agree with bibilit too. I really want a Lisa in my life and I'm sure I'll find a way to pay way too much for one.

 

[unity]

I have not bought a Newt in a LONG time. I have more than a few and many parts. But they are pretty much a side thing for me and I never tinker with them. I got into them when they first came and had then in practical use for a while. As for collecting. I still don't have a 130, but I have several of the others that I piked up cheap on eBay from time to time. Some boxed, some broke, etc. If you keep looking on eBay, you can get some great deals. But if you only look once a week, good luck.

 

[carguyty]

But if you only look once a week, good luck.

So like a constant hunt, poised for the kill.

*clearing calendar and canceling exams*

I'm ready! }

 

[Challenger 1983]

I got my mp130 NIB for 130CAD, it was pure luck

 

[carguyty]

I have more than a few and many parts. But they are pretty much a side thing for me and I never tinker with them. [...]  Some boxed, some broke, etc. 

If you're not much into using them why do you hold onto them, especially the parts? 

 

[carguyty]

I got my mp130 NIB for 130CAD, it was pure luck

I've seen 130s for around $100, but in the box?! That's pretty cool. I'd be pretty resistant if it was an earlier model though. Good find!

 

[Challenger 1983]

I've seen 130s for around $100, but in the box?! That's pretty cool. I'd be pretty resistant if it was an earlier model though. Good find!

thanks 

 

[cosmichobo]

G'day,

In 1993 when Apple unveiled the Quadra 840av and Newton MP, for some reason I ended up present at the local launch - a high school student amongst a room full of business professionals, a few teachers, maybe some press and tech heads... 

Even though the voice recognition was primitive, it was astounding to behold, but even moreso, especially to someone who loves writing, was the brilliance of the Newton MessagePad.  Something that could understand human handwriting?  Wow! 

It wasn't however until September 1998, just before my 21st birthday, that I happened to see that an Apple dealer in Melbourne was trying to sell off an ex display Newton MP2000 - half price. 

We were inseparable for some considerable time!  I loved the mobility the device offered, and often used to sit in parks writing stories, or even just in the lunch room at work. 

With time however it fell into dis-use.  After a few years in storage I kicked myself when I discovered I hadn't removed the batteries, then kicked myself harder after opening the Newton to clean it, and putting a finger-print permanently on the screen.

I still have my Newton, though I'm not sure what I'll do with it in reality.  I've had it for 19 years now... Can't bear to let it go.

cheers

cosmic

 

[beachycove]

I also had a Newton (2000) when they were still current, but only at the end of the run, as I  became an owner/user only from around 1998. However, I then used it daily as an organizational and database tool until around 2014, when it finally got replaced by an iPhone. I use the phone maybe 80% of the time for much the same purposes, truth be told, but it is obviously more versatile, e.g., it also serves as a phone, camera, and sms device when needed (which isn’t that often, my needs being pretty simple). The phone is MUCH harder and less intuitive to use, however, so I do wish there were more of the genius of the NewtonOS in its DNA.

The Newton 2000 had got battered after all those years of use, so a few years back, I picked up a pristine 2100 to replace it. The 2000 was handed on to a fellow collector in a trade, so I have it no more, but I have the 2100 by the bed these days, where I am attempting to learn NS Basic on the thing, for a lark. I also have the Newton HyperCard clone from the same software stable, along with some of the more usual bits and pieces of software. So it still gets hobbyist use, but it’s not used any more as part of the daily grind.

 

[twocargar]

Back in 1998 a guy at work (Olive Garden) said "Hey, you're an Apple guy.  Do you know what a Newton is?" I told him I did, but didn't know much about them other than the Simpsons bit.  I had a bunch of 68k Macs, so I knew some Apple history.  He brought in a beat up MP130.  No battery panel, no AC adapter and no stylus, but it had a rechargeable battery installed and the cover!  I told him I'd give him $10 for it and it was mine. 

When I got it home I took it apart carefully and cleaned out the dirt and sand.  The previous owner said that his sister used to play with it in the sandbox.  I happened to have a 7.5V (IIRC) AC adapter from a portable CD player that fit and magically it booted up!  I shut it down and found some Newton software online and eventually restored it to factory.

That was my first and since have  acquired an eMates, a 2000, OMP, plus a Newton keyboard, external modem, and lots of memory cards, bar code reader, cases, etc. I still have that MP130 too!  Good stuff.