NMP 2000 (My First Newton, for reals this time).

[iamdigitalman]

after having the eMate slip through my fingers, I went on a riggerous crusade, watching the local autions, CL, freecycle, I finally found one on ebay.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=330117650901

not bad for $47. I got the messagepad, keyboard, interconnect adapter (yes, it is there. look in the picture at the end of the keyboard cable), and carrying case.

it's been payed for, it will be coming from Utah.

this time, I actually got it.

Now, what kind of batteries does it take? regular AAs, or something special?

-digital

 

[cangrande]

Sweet. That's a good price for that.

2000's have a sealed battery pack that contains 4 NiMH AA cells soldered together. Likely it is weak or dead, but you might be lucky. Go to pda-soft.de and look in the hardware section for instructions on how to recell.

There also is an available tray that holds four AA cells (of whatever type you want--they won't charge in the Newton, you have to charge them on your own).

I highly recommond the NewtonTalk.net email list--a great bunch of folks, and a request to buy a battery tray will probably answered for a good price. Any (and I mean ANY) question about Newtons will be anwered there.

 

[iamdigitalman]

OK, while I wait for it to arrive, I may as well do some prep work.

My 128mb CF card (in PCMCIA adapter) will be doing all the heavy lifting. I know I need an ATA driver, since it is not built in. where can I get this?

I also need the Wavelan driver, so I need to know where to get that too.

also, what format does the newton use for storage, so i can format the CF card and start loading it with stuff.

I know this newton is not arriving with the AC adapter, but I found one at rat shack for $40 that handles 3-12 volts, I know I need around 7. I just need to know what tip to use, but thankfully, they use adaptaplugs, and you can bring your device in and plug in the jacks they have on display.

-digital

 

[Bunsen]

rigorous

 

[John8520]

My 128mb CF card (in PCMCIA adapter) will be doing all the heavy lifting. I know I need an ATA driver, since it is not built in. where can I get this?

Google for 'Pauls ATA driver newton' and you'll find it. Its not free, if I remember right its something like $60. There is a demo, but it will only let you use 4mb of the card.

I also need the Wavelan driver, so I need to know where to get that too.

Again, google to the rescue. 'newton wifi driver' should be suffice. Also, not free, and it can no longer be bought (the dev went AWOL). After 30 days you can only use it on 100% open networks, and there is no stumber.

also, what format does the newton use for storage, so i can format the CF card and start loading it with stuff.

Not one that any computer can read. The only way to get info onto a newton formatted flash card is through a newton.

Hope that info helps, if it is a bit unfortunate.

 

[iamdigitalman]

no problem, my home newtwork is unsecured anyways.

sucks about the ATA driver. Are you sure there is not a free one? If not, I may have to write one myself.

I am currently downloading all 1.7gb of the UNNA archive, but it looks to be a dead torrent.

btw, payment cleared, so I should get a tracking number any day now...

-digital

 

[Kami]

Before you buy the Radio Shack adapter please do yourself a huge favour and buy a REAL Newton adapter. There have been too many stories about fried Newts and eMates. If the adapter is too expensive, find a AA battery tray and use rechargeable batteries.

 

[iamdigitalman]

I was thinking about that. does the newton charge the rechargeable AAs, or do you need to remove it and place it in some external charger?

also, what is the battery life like on regular AAs (non rechargable)? Hopefully it does not eat them. I have 2 8 packs of AAs just sitting in a closet, so i'd like to use them before they go bad.

meh, I think i'll go ahead and get the adapter. despite what people say, they are not rare.

-digital

 

[Kami]

The Newton doesn't charge the AA batteries in the tray. You need to pull the tray and install a new set of batteries. Keep 2 sets of AA just for the Newt and rotate when needed

I can't remember what battery life was like with alkalines - I've been using NiMH batteries for a long time

 

[iamdigitalman]

Well, I got up this morning, and according to my delivery status widget, it had already been delivered. So, I asked my dad, he siad I did not get a package. So, I walk outside to check the mail, picked up the junk paper, turn around, and there she is in this white box at the corner of the porch.

I run inside, open it, and she's here!! bigger than I thought, but oh well. The case is a newton branded case. The keyboard and interconnect adapter are there, and to my surprise, both PCMCIA blanks. To an even bigger surprise, it's got the battery tray in place of the battery pack. 4 fresh AA alkalines later, and I have a working newton, all set up.

I've been just messing around with it all afternoon, and it seems to recognise my handwriting pretty well now.

I have also installed a few packages from my Powerbook 1400 over serial connection. I almost have the wifi running, and the ATA works fine. The only major issue, is sometimes when I download a package in it's raw format (unstuffed), it does not show up in the install packages section.

also, the only piece of software I can't seem to find is NewtWorks. I found plugins, just not the actual program, even though it has been free.

lastly, can anyone recomend a good (free) web browser? I already got a IRC client, but it is plagued by the fact the newt can't find it.

-digital

 

[iamdigitalman]

ok, I found newtworks, the core, as well as quickfigure, the draw and graphic calculator modules.

I also managed to find courior, but it takes alot of extra packages to get it running.

boy, wifi on the newton eats batteries.

also, I figured out my problem to the packages (I think). the ones over at UNNA are not stuffed, so when I download them in X, and transfer them to my 1400 (8.6), it can't understand them because X associates .pkg with the installer. So, there is an app in OS X I can run to fix that.

also, when using NCU OSX version, and I attempt to sync my newton via IRDA, it fails with bad connection. anyone know why? i'm using my pismo to attempt it.

-digital

 

[beachycove]

Packager 2.1 might do the trick.

 

[iamdigitalman]

Packager 2.1 might do the trick.

exactly what I was looking at. I hope it works.

Don't think twice, it's alright.

-digital

 

[iamdigitalman]

ok, now my newton is doing something odd. from time to time, when I highlight part of a note, it appears to freeze, and the only way to fix it is to eject the battery cartrage, pop it in, and turn it on. Fortunantly, it does not delete anything. maybe it is because of all the packages I have installed, I don't know. I do have 2 web browsers, and am going to decide which one is better in a moment, and delete the other one.

also, how could I perform a backup to my CF card? it's 128mb, but the ATA driver only gives me 4mb.

-digitial