The Atari / Newton Connection: The Theory
At a undetermined time, Apple would start work on concepts for an "all day organizer". They would start with a device nicknamed "The Bun Warmer" (not pictured) since it was device that got quite hot after being left on a certain amount of time.. This idea would be scrapped for a device of beautiful design called the "Cadillac" (Pictured right, second picture from the top). Much like the "STPad", it would sport a letter sized screen, a stylus attached by a wire, and PCMCIA slot to name a few similarities. Due to production costs, Apple would opt for a cheaper model to be built.
The next step would be nicknamed the "Bic" (Pictured right and center) which would keep the screen size, have a touch screen with was not as accurate as the stylus with wire attached but much cheaper, and while many of the ports were reduced to a few, a second PCMCIA slot would be added with the thought of having one slot for the modem and one for the ram card. A great idea that would later be used again with the production of the Newton 2000 in 1996. In truth, the "Bic" even looked somewhat like the Newton 2000 physically. It is easy to see why the development staff loved it (and why it would resurface in many ways years later). But at that time, the board wanted something still cheaper.
So the development crew would reduce the size of the screen, the phyiscal size of the device all total, and bring it down to a few ports, one PCMCIA slot, and a 20 mhz processor. The new device, that would actually make it to the market would become known to the Newton community as the "OMP" or "Original Message Pad". (Shown to the right, second from the bottom in clear casing)
The developers were not crazy about the device, but the board liked it, and so the device was shown and sold in 1993. The rest is history as the device would be loved by many, though the device would receive great critisizm for it's early operating systems and the handwriting recognition, which was only one of the Newton's many features.
Luckily the device would see many improvements throughout time. With the Newton 110 and then 100 the platform would gain a better operating system and handwriting recognition. With the Newton 120 it would gain the versitle 2.0 operating system, and with the Newton 130, the platform would gain more ram, and backlight.
As the platform would release the Newton 2000 (featured lower right) and later the Newton 2100 and E-Mate the dream of the pen based device would be realized as the Newton would jump off into hyperspace with a 162 mhz processor, 4 megs of rom, 4 megs of ram, two PCMCIA slots, an improved IR port, and sound recording with playback.
Just as I believe Atari may have inspired Apple (by the presentation at the trade show) or maybe even traded ideas (employees moving from Atari to Apple due to layoffs), so it would be that Apple and Newton would directly and indirectly inspire the rest of the pen based world.
Through Newton's example, other companies would take note and release devices that were simple, cheap, and effective. As time has drawn on, many of the people who were a part of "Newton, Inc." would find themselves being snatched up by other companies, and we have seen pen computing grow with impressive advances.
Will the Newton be forgotten? Considering the fact that Atari has been gone longer and still has a fanatical fan base only shows testiment to one fact. That great devices that dare to pioneer and be unique will have at least someone tinkering on it for a good decade or more after it's prime.
Thus one reason why the Newton and Atari communities are so much alike in my opinion. ;)
Last updated Doctor Clu, October 12, 2000
For more information on the "STPad" consult:
http://www.atari-history.com/computers/16bits/stpad.html
Information on the "Bun Warmer","Cadillac", and "Bic" are at:
http://www.a-in-a-circle.com/newton/
