Kids today eh? Don't know they're born.

They pull out their shiny new iPhone and access the internet and email without a second thought. Thanks to Apple's revolutionary handset, more people than ever are accessing the web on the move.

But if you think this is the first time Apple have built a revolutionary device, you'd be wrong.

Think Different

22 years ago, Apple's then-CEO John Sculley sat down with his senior hardware and software designers and proposed a revolution in personal computing. Sculley's vision was of a hand held device capable of replicating some of the more common functions of a standard home computer.

Undaunted by the almost science fiction nature of the concept, Apple's engineers began work, and before long the Apple Newton MessagePad 100 was born.

The MessagePad 100 was the first PDA and an incredible device for it's time. It sported a monochrome touch screen, and it's operating system, Newton OS featured stylus input and handwriting recognition (although sometimes inaccurate!). It also had a PCMCIA (PC Card) slot, allowing for expansion such as storage and network connectivity.

Software in Newton OS included a calendar, a sketching application, contacts and scientific calculator.

As revolutionary as it was, the MP100 was hampered by its reliance on AAA batteries. Heavy Newton users would always have a spare pack hidden somewhere!

Apple continued the product line with the Newton MP110, MP120 and MP130 and introduced Newton OS 2.0. The new OS allowed for the device to be used in landscape mode and an optional hardware keyboard was produced, allowing for desktop like word processing without the need for a laptop.

The real breakthrough came with the introduction of the Newton MessagePad 2000 and 2100 models. These featured a larger, backlit screen, Newton OS 2.1 and a very fast (at the time!) 162 MHz StrongARM SA-110 RISC processor. The Newton 2k devices were true laptop replacements, and were fitted with rechargeable NiMH battery packs, giving 30 hours of use without backlight and 24 hours with the backlight in use.

Newton OS 2.1 was also employed in the eMate 300 - a MessagePad in laptop format. The eMate was designed for use in classrooms due to it's ease of use and fun yet robust design.

Whilst the Newton comes from a different time than modern iPods and iPhones, it's influence has still played a massive part in shaping Apple's success with their handheld products. The interface in the original iPod for instance was designed by the same team that designed the Newton OS interface.

I have been privileged enough to own an MP100, MP120 and MP2100 over the years, and I still miss them. It seems I'm not the only one - Project Einstein is working towards getting a working emulation of Newton OS on newer hardware such as the Nokia N800.

Apple finally called an end to 'Project Newton' in February 27th 1998, but the plucky devices had left their unmistakable legacy, a legacy we still reap today.

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