Apple Newton vs Samsung Q1 UMPC

An anonymous reader writes "CNET has run a comparison between the 1997 Apple Newton and a modern Windows ultra mobile PC, the Samsung Q1. Remarkably, the Newton comes off as the winner. From the article: 'An operating system designed for a desktop computer will rarely shoehorn well into a portable device, yet that is exactly what Samsung has tried to do with the Q1. Very little consideration has been given to the differing priorities of desktop and small-form computer users. Windows is a one-size-fits-all solution, whereas the Newton OS is very specifically built for the efficient use of a small screen and stylus.'"

MS falls victim to one of the classic blunders

[blueZ3]

The most famous is never get involved in a land war in Asia, but only slightly less well-known is "Never use a desktop OS, when your device isn't a desktop." (maniacal laughter)

How many situations do you know of where something that was a good solution to one problem has now become the default solution to every problem? It's the old saw about when your only tool is a hammer, every problem looks like a nail.

When you choose Windows as your OS, every device works like a desktop. It doesnt' matter that the screen is tiny, you use the "desktop" metaphor and the "Start" menu. It doesn't matter that there's limited memory and a slow processor, you use the Windows applications (lite versions, but still bloatware). This is why I've never seriously considered a WinCE device, even though I've owned a PDA since 2000 and a phone/PDA combo since 2004, and two of the computers in my house run Windows.

I want something that's designed for the use it's being put to -- fit for purpose, we used to call it. If Microsoft's vaunted usability expertise were real, they would have abandoned the "Mini Windows" metaphor on mobile devices long ago.

The Newton Already Lives On...

[mattybinks]

just in segmented form. It's sprinkled throughout OS X and the iPod. One can only hope that an iPhone would bring the bulk of that functionality and organizational power back in one device. And if you're really obsessive about using a Newton on newer technology, check out the Einstein project [kallisys.com]. It's moving along at a good pace.

Re:I've often thought that OSX would make a good

[Nimey]

ITYM the OSX interface. The OS itself is too heavy for a mobile device that won't cost $$$. It needs 512MB of RAM and a couple GB of hard drive space for the whole thing if you don't want it to crawl (granted, you wouldn't need /all/ that for a PDA).

I currently have a Newton 2100...

[Cheerio Boy]

The last of the Newton line. And I regularly use that with WiFi, networking, faxing, as well as any appointments I need to make.

I also share the opinion that the handwriting recognition on the Newton is the best I've ever seen. A friend of mine writes fantasy novels in her spare time and with all the weird names and spellings the damn thing had about a 90% recognition rate for her out of the box. And that was without a lot of training up front. And the thing learns so it's only going to get better.

Plus there's still people developing for the Newton - not too many but they're out there.

My only complaint is that the person who wrote the ATA/CF storage drivers [kallisys.com] wants almost $100 per Newton to be able to use large CF cards. :-(

But from that same site people are even emulating the Newton on other hardware [kallisys.com]. That say something in my mind as to how "right" Apple got it with the Newton.

Re:I currently have a Newton 2100...

[Cheerio Boy]

My apologies. It's $60+ US for a single Newton and $85 for a multiple-Newton license. [kallisys.com] Still expensive but not as bad as I thought.

Re:I love my Newton

[PowerMacDaddy]

The Newton was far to big for a address book and calendar device.

As the popular Newt-owner saying goes: "Palms & PocketPCs are the right size when you're not using them, but too small when you are, whereas the Newton is too big when you're not using it, but perfectly-sized when you are." As an avid user of both (and I have an eMate 300, too), I can say that this statement hold absolutely true.

I do agree with you, though, that there's not much that Apple would have to do to improve the Newt: give it about 4GB of flash memory, a faster processor, built-in Bluetooth, WiFi, and USB, and get the syncing working with iCal/Address Book/etc. Throw in a WebKit-based browser, QuickTime support, and a VGA video-out dongle and you're done. (And I only added the last two so that you can use it for presenting Keynote-created presentations on LCD projectors.)

And yes, I agree with keeping the screen monochrome so you can still power the thing with cheap AAs for 20 hours continuous.

Re:"Winner?"

[podperson]

An LCD screen should be reviewed based on the qualities of the goddamned screen.

True, but the way the article was written each side tries to defend its position round by round. While the pro-Newton side made that argument in the screen round, Newton was judged to have lost that round.

Re:I currently have a Newton 2100...

[Cheerio Boy]

Well the wifi card I use is an Orinoco Wavelan Gold that I've borrowed from work but the driver and compatibility list is here: [iij4u.or.jp]

As for other cards I'm using a generic CF->PCMCIA adapter - the kind that the entire CF card is inserted into so nothing sticks out. The part number is PANMCFC2C and it cost me all of $12.

My fax/modem card is a Gateway 2000 Telepath 33.6 with an X-Jack connector on it and requires no added drivers to work.

There is a list of software I have somewhere but I don't have it handy.