2010 Problem

[LCARS]

I found myself eying a boat load of Newton accessories when I remember the 2010 problem. I've read about it but I haven't figured out if there is a definite fix for it. Is there? I read that the 1st attempt worked for some and threw other Newtons into chaos. I've become very dependent on my 2000, I would hate not to be able to use the date functions after next year. Are there new solutions on the horizon?

 

[beachycove]

A different solution appears to be under development. There is a reasonably active open source development community around the Newton OS, so hopefully this nut will soon be cracked.

All the same, I'll wait until sometime in the Autumn of 09 before updating, I'll be sure to backup first, and I'll likely backup more often for a while afterwards than I tend to do at present.

For those with scruples about applying patches of the sort linked, there is another option that I have read about: put the calendar back 10 years.

I've used my Newton 2000 (now 2100) daily since 1998. It is a wonderful and interesting little machine that I wouldn't want to do without from January 2010 either.

 

[LCARS]

Thanks for the reply, beachycove. I'm glad the problem is being tackled by people who know what they're doing. I, too, will wait until the last possible moment to install the patch. I've only had my 2000 for a month and a half, and I love it.

 

[returningmacuser]

Thanks for the reply, beachycove. I'm glad the problem is being tackled by people who know what they're doing. I, too, will wait until the last possible moment to install the patch. I've only had my 2000 for a month and a half, and I love it.

Speaking of the 2010 problem, I think we should spare a thought for all those poor Zenith Supersports, which are no longer able to keep the current date and time (their clocks only go up to 2007). Maybe a BIOS hack should be arranged for them.

 

[beachycove]

This Blog also seems to be providing a running commentary on progress being made on solving the 2010 problem. In fact, it's a great Newton site in general and well worth a visit if you are a 'Gussie Fink-Nottle' (a.k.a. Newt fan).

 

[beachycove]

Attention all 'Gussie Fink-Nottles'!

Eckhart Köppen's new fix for the 2010 problem on the Newton MessagePad 2100 is now available here. Development is, I gather, also underway for the eMate 300 and the MP2000. Evidently these will all be different packages when released.

I still counsel waiting a few more months before installing, while watching the Newtontalk forum for discussion of any anomaly.

 

[alk]

Sorry for interrupting with non-Newton talk, but Gussie Fink-Notle?! Awesome! Did you make that up? Long time fan of P. G. Wodehouse here...

Peace,

Drew

 

[beachycove]

Gussie Fink-Nottle is, in the inimitable words or Bertie Wooster, a 'Newt fancier'.

As Jeeves might put it, however, the MessagePad appellation is of my own invention.

 

[beachycove]

That should be 'of'. Dammit, I can't edit.

 

[Hrududu]

So has anyone heard of any recent developments in solving the 2010 bug? Aside from the very crude alpha software thats been floating about for the last year or so, does anybody know of a solid patch for this? I'm just wondering as we're heading into the last month of 09.

 

[beachycove]

A very solid patch has been released for all relevant devices and it works fine.