From: Bill Miranda (bill.miranda_at_gmail.com)
Date: Fri Sep 24 2004 - 08:12:33 PDT
There have been some very good points raised in this thread, which I
have thoroughly enjoyed reading. I am very much a www junkie. I
would not be satisfied without being able to view graphical websites.
I also like to use my mac for music recording and post-production,
which aren't very practical. Even listening to music on the Newton
isn't up to acceptable standards in my book, due to the memory and
processor speeds that the activity devours. At the same time, I don't
believe that any PDA does a good job in this space. Sure there are
wireless-enabled Palms and Pocket PC's but it's no fun to view
websites on the tiny screens and the activity devours batteries.
Another limitation that my 42-year old eyes must deal with in the
Newton is the difficulty in reading the screen. I find it difficult
to use screen protectors because it makes the Newton even harder to
read. I usually require the backlight to be on most of the time to
read the screen. Color would be nice, but I mostly yearn for a higher
contrast, brighter display that is easier to read.
Printing is another way I wish I could learn to use the Newton. I
have that print pack cable, but I no longer own any printers that have
parallel ports, everything is USB. I have the printers connected on
my network at home but they are ink jets. Is there a network printing
solution to an HP USB ink jet that I'm missing?
Being a relative newcomer to the Newton, I have come to realize that
some of the more established Newton users have identified software and
ways to use the Newton that I have not previously even considered. I
found the earlier post where the guy was tracking time, issuing
invoices, keeping books, etc. fascinating.
FInally, I find that I am somewhat self-conscious about using the
Newton at what it does best, note-taking, in a business meeting.
While I often have my MP 2100 or MP 130 with me during the business
day, I find it disruptive to whip out this retro-technology in a
meeting to take notes. It is sort of a meeting stopper, even more so
than using a laptop to take notes in meetings, which I don't typically
do either. Maybe in more tech-oriented professions it is no big deal,
but in a partner meeting at a large accounting firm it gets noticed.
Just my thoughts. Your mileage may vary.
Bill Miranda
P.S. I'm all for losing the dongle thingy too.
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