Newton OS Death--Editorial Comment

As carried on most sites Friday and Saturday, including Macs Only!, Apple discontinued development of the Newton OS and devices that use it like MessagePad 2100 and eMate. Here is Apple's FAQ on the issue. Steve Jobs explained that the resources are needed elsewhere in Apple. I absolutely agree with his explanation.

Still some people think killing the Newton OS is a bad idea, like Don Crabb in his MacCentral column. I almost always agree with Don or he with me, depending on who wrote first, but not this time. True, Apple pioneered this field with the Newton. But then it got seemingly "swamped" by much less able PC versions at one-third to one-half the cost--mostly not much more glorified pocket organizers. Why? They are not the same thing. I don't think many people really want what Apple's technology brings, at least not yet. I know exactly one person that really uses it (or the lamer PC versions) and then not that much. When I go to big meetings or conferences, there are a zillion full-sized PowerBooks or PC laptops being used for notes and virtually no one using a Newton or MessagePad or even the high-selling Palm Pilot. The same is true on airline flights and for the even more capable Windows CE half-sized "laptops." People bought small and lame and don't use it to boot. This is not the cutting edge and innovation where Apple should be. It is mass marketing of nearly useless junk. I think Apple was wise to use the Newton resources elsewhere.

K-12? Give me a break. Kids who have a hard time hanging on to their lunch money, Nike's and Eddie Bauer's are going to cart around an eMate or MessagePad--oh, right. More likely the devices that a few daring or naive kids would bring to school would find their way against some wall or to the local pawn shop, the one that asks no questions. K-12 kids taking notes in class? Well, I admit that it has been some time but the proportion that did so even in college during my schooling tenure wouldn't have been much of a market. Apple must have a better, more innovative solution for K-12 computing than the eMate or MessagePad. Again, I think Apple was wise to use the Newton resources to explore other solutions.

I know a bunch of know-nothing, self-proclaimed pudits (Don, if you read this, of course I don't mean you.) somewhere have said or are saying that killing the Newton is just another sign of Apple crashing. What could be further from the truth? It is in fact, a clear sign that Apple is continuing to use its cerebral brain lobes instead of its pituitary.

During the past two weeks I've extensively used Microsoft's Internet Explorer 4.0 web browser and Outlook Express 4.0 emailer to avoid successfully the double shut down problem caused by Netscape Communicator/Messenger. They have grown on me and I think I like them as well or perhaps even better than Netscape Communicator 4.0x. Here are some of my likes and dislikes from this more extensive use.

Likes:

• Interface look.
• Instant "Back" to previously visited pages.
• Less RAM usage.
• Favorites (Bookmarks) -- A window instead of menu that takes a long time to scroll.
• Download Manager.
• Mail icon on the browser, i.e. one click rather than a click, drag and release.
• OE easily configured to receive and send for multiple email addresses at the same time.

Dislikes:

• At 640x480 resolution @85 Hz on my 17" monitor, I have to down size the email window to read the message but OE doesn't remember the re-sizing. I have to click the upper right square on every messsage. The size is fine at 640x480@100Hz or 800x600@85Hz so I'm using 800x600@85Hz because I occasionally get pixel artifacts @100Hz. I suspect this is not a problem for 14" and 15" monitors.
• Heavy use of the refresh button is needed. Perhaps this is the flipside of the second bullet above or I've missed a setting somewhere.

The latest version of Internet Explorer is 4.0a and it's active setup installer is available here or if you're sure that want a preconfigured installer it is here.

Jason O'Grady's PowerPage, devoted to PowerBooks, is starting a Members Only site. If you want to join, an application is required.

For the third weekend in a row I haven't been able to update Macs Only's CompUSA Watch Page!. I've been flooded with reports of new Apple Stores in CompUSA's and I will get a list of them out sometime this week. Unfortunately, many still complain about the lack of staff in the Mac area. A few reported that CompUSA reported the opening of their Apple store in a small area of CompUSA's local Sunday newspaper supplement but most still complained about the lack of any advertising. However, I do get a few excellent reports like from Michael Coyle about the Downers Grove (Chicago), IL, store. Please keep the reports coming in

From Daria Aikens,

"Apple Wizards, is pleased to announce the release of our March issue. This month's feature article, written by David Cortright, teaches how one can harness the power of AppleScript to make for happier computing. This article can't be missed! Check out our informative reviews of SurfExpress, Alsoft's PlusMaker/Maximizer, Furbo Filters, and Microshaft Winblows 95. Last but not least, our MacJunkie takes up the task of uncovering who really stole the Pentium II chip during the SuperBowl! Visit the website and download Apple Wizards today!"

From Mike Weistein,

"On Saturday, I was inspired to write a new editorial by reading one of MacCentral's Macs In Higher Education Report. The Daily Mac's newest editorial focuses on the good attributes of the Mac and takes a look at the question, "Why do colleges discourage students from using Macs?"

Also, The Daily Mac http://www.dailymac.com has posted some more information regarding Apple's Think Different posters including when they are to be re-stocked and so on."

CopyPaste 4.1, the terrific clipboard extender is out. [Thanks Version Tracker.]

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