Modern handheld with Newton form-factor. Does it exist?

[Derek]

Hi All,

Does anyone know if a PDA exists with the form factor of a now
retired Apple Newton? I have a Message Pad 2000 but I would like to
find something running a more "modern" OS and hardware. Pocket PC is
great but for my use it is just too small a screen size. I don't need
to carry the PDA in my pocket but something the size of the Newton
would be great. Any ideas?

- Daniel sigma seven

[Jon Levy]

Until January of this year, I felt the same way that you do. I used my
Newton extensively for note-taking, starting with the old Newton 110 and
ultimately with the 2100, and I couldn't imagine how the smaller
screen/form factor could possibly work for me. Then I bought an iPaq,
and after a few very frustrating weeks (trying to figure out how to make
the Pocket PC be as easy and intuitive to use as the Newton was, by
loading up on utilities; unfortunately the Newton still wins hands-down
on ease of use and intuitiveness), I ultimately discovered that the iPaq
was in fact an excellent replacement for the Newton.

The iPaq screen is smaller, but also easier to read. I've come to like,
and even prefer, having a smaller device. And I take as many notes now
as I did with the Newton.

I've also managed to successfully move all of my Newton notes data (text
only) into the iPaq (using a product called HPC Notes on the iPaq ... I
highly recommend it), along with all my name and address book info
(using Outlook as an intermediate step ... exporting the Newton names
data into a CSV file).

If you make the switch, I also recommend Calligrapher over Transcriber
for handwriting recognition. Calligrapher has something called
"PenCommands" which lets you write a word or letters of your choosing,
draw a circle around it, and have it insert a text string or execute a
command. Not as good as the word expansion capability on the Newton,
but good enough to let me get by (almost).

Finally, Gigabar is a nice tool for placing icons at the top of the
screen that do things. Again, trying to mimic utilities that were
available for the Newton as well as the Newton's ability to place apps
on the bar at the bottom of the screen. Gigabar is a pain to figure
out, but once you get it set up, it works as advertised.

The last few times I've picked up the Newton, I've wondered "how could I
ever work with something so big and bulky"? I never imagined that I
would reach this point.

[Derek]

Thanks for the reply John,

You bring up many good points, however I have sort of come from the
opposite direction. I purchased an iPaq first (about 1.5 years ago)
and though I like the Pocket PC OS as a whole, the form factor has
always been limited for me. I then came across a Newton MP2K and I
loved it. The form factor, though larger than an iPaq, was just right
for me. The small screen of the iPaq has always been just that, to
small. I am just surprised that with the current PDA market there has
not been many units with the Newton form factor. To me the handheld PC
is also to small i.e. 200 px high :(

- Daniel sigma seven

Jon Levy <jl...@columbus.rr.com> wrote in message news:<3D4A048C...@columbus.rr.com>...

[r_z_...@pen_fact.com]

Maybe I'm being overly sensitive, or my earlier post was too terse.
But the Clio is/was an HPC Pro, and my 6 Aug contribution to this
thread (at least on comp.sys.handhelds) mentions HPC Pros and a few
sites with more info.

On Fri, 09 Aug 2002 18:26:35 GMT, Joseph Anape
<joejac...@yahoo.com> wrote:

>On 3 Aug 2002 06:37:46 -0700, netm...@newsguy.com (Derek) wrote:
>
><snip>

snip

>
>I'm amazed that no one has suggested you take a look at the Vadem
>Clio. It's slightly outdated now, and I don't believe that they even
>make them anymore, but you might be able to find some on an auction
>site for sale.
>
>It runs Windows CE v2.1 for its OS, and can be converted from a
>traditional laptop configuration to a tablet configuration. Its 640 x
>480 9.4" display should give you ample room to use handwriting
>recognition.
>
>You can check out an old review / preview of the Vadem Clio here:
><http://www.pencomputing.com/archive/PCM25/hardware25/vadem_clio.html>
>
>- Joseph
>
>"Both players [MPMan and the RIO] were able to withstand a vigorous
>shaking with no skips whatsoever"
>--Matt Rosoff, C|net
>
>"In the end the market will speak. Today’s market share and customer
>loyalty is the reward for yesterday’s performance, for the future it
>goes to those that earn it."
>--Derek Brown, Microsoft Mobile Devices Team

-----------------------------------------
To reply to me, remove the underscores (_) from my email address (and please indicate which newsgroup and message).

Robert E. Zaret
PenFact, Inc.
46 Beach Street
Boston, MA 02111
www.penfact.com

[Peter da Silva]

In article <7mkflu49ubomo8lec...@4ax.com>,
Joseph Anape <joejac...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> The Sony NR70V is a fine piece of hardware, but I really wish that
> they had gone with a clamshell style design. Portrait orientation for
> the tablet mode, and landscape orientation with a larger keyboard for
> the clamshell mode. I believe that you've expressed this very same
> opinion in the past when discussing the Sony design.

Yes, but I'm not so sure any more. I've been using the HP Pocket
Keyboard since then, and also thumbtyping on an old clamshell to get a
better feel for it, and I'm beginning to think I was wrong and the
narrower keyboard is better for a device that small: the Vadem Clio was
the size of a small laptop, with a keyboard large enough for
touch-typing, so the comparison isn't really that close.

There are still a couple of problems with the NR70 hardware design.

First, there is room for a fourth row of buttons, which would have
allowed them to include separate number buttons and reduce the
complexity of shift and function keys. Second, they should have
arranged things so you had navigation buttons (up/down and the 4
application buttons) available when in "traditional" mode.

I have a similar problem with the HP pocket keyboard, too. I'd use it a
lot more if I could still get to a cursor pad, action, and application
buttons when it's installed.

--
I've seen things you people can't imagine. Chimneysweeps on fire over the roofs
of London. I've watched kite-strings glitter in the sun at Hyde Park Gate. All
these things will be lost in time, like chalk-paintings in the rain. `-_-'
Time for your nap. | Peter da Silva | Har du kramat din varg, idag? 'U`