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Newton MessagePad 2000 + keyboard

A MessagePad 2000 with stylus and keyboard.

The MessagePad was a series of touchscreen mobile devices and the very first tablet computer released by Apple Computer as part of its Newton platform.

History[]

Development[]

Three Newton models were originally planned for release: a large 9 x 12 inch version codenamed Senior, a mid-sized 6 x 9 inch version that was quickly cancelled, and a small 4.5 x 7 inch version codenamed Junior which would go on to become the MessagePad.[1]

Release[]

On May 29, 1992, Apple CEO John Sculley unveiled the first device, tentatively called the Newton NotePad,[2] during the keynote address of the Consumer Electronics Show in Chicago, Illinois.[3][4] However, it was still beset by thousands of bugs when 4,000 prototype units went into production on May 26, 1993 for use at point-of-purchase displays at retail stores. The first MessagePad finally began shipping on August 3, 1993 at Macworld Expo Boston for the base price of US$699.[1] It ran a monochrome version of Newton OS, which was advanced for its day, and came with a stylus similar to the Nintendo DS.[5] By 1995, tepid sales of the MessagePad 120 forced Apple to resort to rebates to help move inventory of devices and accessories.[6] The MessagePad 2000 and eMate 300 introduced grayscale support in March 1997. Though this helped improve sales,[7] the Newton platform was discontinued on February 27, 1998.[5] Around 200,000 units had been sold.[8]

Legacy[]

The iPhone and iPad, released in 2007 and 2010 respectively, are considered to be spiritual successors to the MessagePad.[9] A similar stylus did not appear from Apple until 2015 with the Apple Pencil for the iPad Pro.[10] In 2020, iPadOS 14 introduced handwriting recognition for Apple's iPad line.[11]

Models[]

Model Processor Memory Newton OS Released Notes
MessagePad
H1000
20 MHz
ARM 610
640 KB static RAM 1.0 to 1.1.1 1993-08-03 to
1994-03-04
also known as "Original
MessagePad" or "OMP"[12]
MessagePad
100
20 MHz
ARM 610
640 KB static RAM 1.2 to 1.3 1994-03-04 to
1995-04-01
same hardware as "OMP"[12]
MessagePad
110
20 MHz
ARM 610
1 MB static RAM 1.2 to 1.3 1994-03-04 to
1995-04-01
second form factor[13]
MessagePad
120
20 MHz
ARM 610
1 or 2 MB static RAM 1.3 to 2.0 1994-10-01 to
1996-06-01
improved display[14]
MessagePad
130
20 MHz
ARM 610
2.5 MB static RAM 2.0 1996-03-25 to
1997-04-01
added backlighting[15]
eMate 300 25 MHz
ARM 710a
1 MB dynamic RAM
2 MB flash RAM
2.1 1997-03-07 to
1998-02-27
mini-laptop form factor[16]
MessagePad
2000
162 MHz
StrongARM 110
1 MB dynamic RAM
4 MB flash RAM
2.1 1997-03-24 to
1998-02-27
final form factor[17]
MessagePad
2100
162 MHz
StrongARM 110
4 MB dynamic RAM
4 MB flash RAM
2.1 1997-11-07 to
1998-02-27
final model[17]

Gallery[]

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 The Story Behind Apple’s Newton by Tom Hormby, Low End Mac. 2013-08-06.
  2. Apple gets to the core of a consumer division by Mark Potts, The Washington Post. 1993-01-17.
  3. On this day in 1992: Apple CEO John Sculley unveils the Newton, Apple's personal digital assistant, at CES in Chicago by Jon Erlichman, Twitter. 2017-05-29.
  4. Happy 25th birthday, Apple Newton, you beautiful failure by Stan Schroeder, Yahoo! Finance. 2017-05-29.
  5. 5.0 5.1 Why did Apple kill the Newton? by David MacNeill, Pen Computing Magazine. 1998-06.
  6. Apple Announces Nationwide Rebate Program for MessagePad 120s, Apple Computer. 1995-05-10. Archived 1999-01-16.
  7. The Fallen Apple by Owen W. Linzmayer, Apple Confidential 2.0: The Definitive History of the World's Most Colorful Company p.200. 2004.
  8. Apple Drops Hand-Held Newton Line, Abandoning Plans to Spin Off the Unit by Jim Carlton, The Wall Street Journal. 1998-03-02.
  9. Remembering the Newton MessagePad, 20 years later by Benj Edwards, Macworld. 2013-08-27.
  10. Review: Apple Pencil is the best iPad writing tool yet … if you can handle the Pro’s size by Zac Hall, 9to5Mac. 2015-11-24.
  11. iPadOS 14 introduces new features designed specifically for iPad, Apple Inc. 2020-06-22.
  12. 12.0 12.1 Luckie, Douglas. Newton MessagePad. Michigan State University. Archived from the original on 2014-02-26.
  13. Luckie, Douglas. Newton MessagePad 110. Michigan State University. Archived from the original on 2014-03-23.
  14. Luckie, Douglas. Newton MessagePad 120 (with OS 1.3 or 2.0). Michigan State University. Archived from the original on 2014-03-23.
  15. Luckie, Douglas. MessagePad 130 with Newton 2.0 Operating System. Michigan State University. Archived from the original on 2014-03-23.
  16. Luckie, Douglas. Apple eMate 300. Michigan State University. Archived from the original on 2014-03-23.
  17. 17.0 17.1 Luckie, Douglas. MessagePad 2100/2000 with OS 2.1. Michigan State University. Archived from the original on 2014-03-23.

See also[]

  • eMate 300, a Newton device in a mini-laptop form factor.

External links[]

Articles[]

Tutorials[]

IPod Nano 6 This article is a semistub. You can help by expanding it with some more information.
Newton OS logo   Newton
MessagePad : H1000 · 100 | 110 · 120 · 130 | 2000 · 2100
eMate 300 | MessageSlate | Newton, Inc. | Newton OS | StarCore
Third parties : Digital Ocean Tarpon · Seahorse | Harris SuperTech 2000 | Motorola Marco
Schlumberger Watson | Sharp Expert Pad PI-7000 · 7100 | Siemens NotePhone · Online Terminal
Open source community : Einstein | Worldwide Newton Conference
Discontinued in February 1998
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