[NTLK] 13. Re: J&K Sales MP2000 eBay - $35 (James Fraser)

[Reilly001os at aol.com]

>You'll have to decide for yourself if the "Newton Technology" logo featured on the top left of the 2100 (which, AFAIK, is the *only* product that logo ever featured on) is worth any extra dough or not. :D

I actually prefer the more subdued logos on my UMP2000 (that's an MP2000 upgraded by apple to MP2100 guts for the new folks).

Joe Reilly
-----Original Message-----
From: James Fraser <wheresthatistanbul-newtontalk at yahoo.com>
Date: Sun, 3 Jan 2010 06:19:01 
To: <newtontalk at newtontalk.net>
Subject: Re: [NTLK] 13. Re: J&K Sales MP2000 eBay - $35 (James Fraser)

Hello,

--- On Fri, 1/1/10, Tim Chaten <tchaten at gmail.com> wrote:

> Yes this will be my first MessagePad :)

Right-o.  I asked because my reading/replying to the list is done rather sporadically, so I'm not always clear on whether a given poster is a long-time Newton user, or someone who discovered the comparatively recently. :)

>Is the difference between the 2100 and the 2000 worth it?

[smiles]

The relative value of something tends to vary from person to person.  However, if you're asking me, personally, the answer would be: yes, it is worth paying *somewhat* more money to obtain an MP2100 vs. an MP2000.

Besides the MP2100 having 4x the available heap, there is also a slight difference in cosmetics between the two units:

http://i49.tinypic.com/ctpw.jpg

http://i47.tinypic.com/219wjtl.jpg

You'll have to decide for yourself if the "Newton Technology" logo featured on the top left of the 2100 (which, AFAIK, is the *only* product that logo ever featured on) is worth any extra dough or not. :D
 
> What kind of things are possible on the 2100 that is not
> possible on the 2000.

Woody Smith covered this thoroughly in his reply, so I'll just sum up: anything heap-intensive, such as Internet access or working with large files, is easiest performed on the 2100.

> How much more would you spend to get a 2100

The easiest way to answer this is: I wouldn't be willing to spend more than $50 US for *either* model.

There's a metric diaperload of them floating around on eBay.  If you're willing to wait a while, (and pick and choose your auctions) you can, very likely, snag a 2x00 for under $50.
 
> Connecting a 2100 to a mac is it the same cables as using eMate cables?

Do the "eMate cables" you refer to have a serial connector on both ends?

I ask because the eMate has one advantage over the MP2000/2100: it has both an InterConnect Port *and* a serial port.  The 2000/2100, alas, have only the InterConnect Port:

http://i46.tinypic.com/105pml1.jpg

...and that dongle you see on the right that goes *into* the InterConnect Port (and which features a serial port on the other end) can be hard to come by.  Due to its small size, it tends to go walkies when Newton users bring their devices on the road.

What you *may* want to consider is the purchase of an MP2x00 with an SER-001 installed.  

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sonnyhung/101434937/

That is, some users have modified their Newtons and installed a SER-001 so that their Newton has a built-in serial port.  The kicker here is: a) such modified Newtons tend to cost more money and b) unless this mod was installed by someone knowledgable, it can potentially damage the Newton (though any Newtons that could develop a fault would probably have done so by now).  

Unfortunately, the InterConnect port is *also* a weakness in that it was (apparently) not soldered onto the logic board very well and, over time, installing and removing the InterConnect dongle can cause it to work loose.  However, there are steps you can take to mitigate this (like filing off the retention "bumps" on the male part of the dongle so that it slides into the InterConnect Port with less stress on the port).


Best,

James Fraser


 

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