Was digging through some archives and found this choice response from Apple about people being upset at the cancellation of the Newton Messagepad. A time capsole of sorts:
"I'm sorry, but what is the problem here?
It's been over a year now since the Newton was cancelled. Why are people
still complaining about this? Nothing is going to change now. Almost all
of the Newton people are either doing different things at Apple or doing
them at other companies.
There isn't any point in complaining about Apple cancelling the
Newton....the fact is that it was costing Apple money to keep running, and
the simple fact is that nothing could be done with the Newton really to
change the way the market was going.
I'm sorry, but if Newton OS 2.0, and then the Newton 2x00 couldn't save
the Newton, Newton OS 3.0 and a Newton 3000 wasn't going to change
anything.
The newton isn't the only thing Apple had to scrap that was good
technology. But the reality is that if Apple hadn't made the cuts that it
did, it probably wouldn't be nearly as healthy as it is right now.
Also, keep in mind that Apple has been working on something in secret ever
since the Newton was cancelled....but, like the iMac, Apple is keeping it
completely secret, with no leaks, etc.
-More-
My personal feeling is that the Newton in and of itself is still the best
technology out there. Just because it is "dead" does not mean it can no
longer do the job. If you don't like the current situation, you're
perfectly free to go with Windows CE-based devices, or Palms, or Psions,
or any other number of things.
I just don't like continuing to hear people bitch about Apple as if they
are some incredibly evil company because they had to make the choice they
did. Do you think Tandy is still supporting the Zoomer? Almost every
computer company has products they've cancelled, and they have treated
former users poorly (and in many cases absolutely no support at all). The
Newton
lasted longer than any of the other copycats that sprung out soon after
the Newton launch...and the fact that it wasn't scrapped until february of
98 is really quite impressive.;..especially when you consider that it was
the first product in a new category....to last that long is really
incredible.
- -Justin"
(A time stamp in the message traffic, but probably not from the writer above)
Date: Tue, 2 Mar 1999 11:43:26 -0500
From: "wittmann" <wittmann@physics.umd.edu>
Subject: RE: Ntlk Re: Response from Apple
I remember from this time I was still paying off the Apple Student Loan for my Newton 2000 (originally unmodified) with keyboard and case that was $1,200.00 at the time. Was a sound investment, I liked it, got a lot of use out of it, but I was still paying that loan when the Newton was cancelled.
Apple, if I remember correctly, did honor their seven years of support for the product, but there was the aspect that no further software, or anything were going to be made for the product I was still paying more for. Also, we all hoped there would be a Newton with color at some point with some simple wood prototypes hinting it. So that was the funny thing when it was all cancelled there was also this feeling of "Whoo hoo! I have the latest and greatest Newton!!" As my Newton was modified by then.
That is one sad thing for those that get the unmodified Newton 2000s and eMates without the full expansion now. Those upgrade boards are quite difficult to find.
Anyway, a little blast from the past.
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