Awesome Tips Apple’s Newton Was Ahead of Its Time — and Flopped. Will History Repeat Itself?
It’s been 25 years since Apple discontinued the Newton, a handheld computer with a stylus. Apple is once again about to launch into a new product category, but has it learned lessons from Newton?
It’s been 25 years since Apple discontinued the Newton, a handheld computer with a stylus. Apple is once again about to launch into a new product category, but has it learned lessons from Newton?
0:00 Apple Discontinues the Newton 25 Years Ago
1:18 The History of The Apple Newton MessagePad
3:29 Hands On with the Newton MessagePad 2100
7:18 The Death of the Apple Newton
8:25 Is Apple’s AR Headset the Next Newton?
Subscribe to CNET:
Never miss a deal again! See CNET’s browser extension 👉
Follow us on TikTok:
Follow us on Instagram:
Follow us on Twitter:
Like us on Facebook:
Deals for Days. Big home savings are happening now.
I have one in the back Closet….still works…I love the Flip Cover.. Kinda the First Flip Phone…. but not… K
I can’t believe the Newton had a calculator, and the new iPad Pro M2 doesn’t…
OMG, Bridget is forever young, she looks stunning.
Well, I’ve learned something new. I had never heard of a newton or its existence! I should have done, I was 32 in 1993! Anyway, I don’t think this headset thing Apple are imminently going to launch will be a success. Think it will not suit many people because of the nature of it covering the head like that. Ok, there’s the obvious ones like people who suffer from claustrophobia and all that, but I think it will cause fits and seizures in a lot of unexpected people! People that wouldn’t normally be aware of a problem! No, I think Apple are opening a can of worms here with Jonny public, more trouble and law suits they anticipate and can handle! Well, that’s my opinion anyway for what it’s worth! Have fun xx
Palm Pilot IIIxe also used for Outlook email.
I remember buying a Newton at Circuit City…now I really feel old.
I still own Palm Pilot IIIxe , I used it for work to store contacts and take notes. Purchased in May 2001 for $150.
I love my Palm Pilots, I still have a few. My favorites were the Palm IIIxe and the M515. The Tungsten series is okay, but the M515 was colored and thin and had a professional look. But the Palm IIIxe was the best as it still works today. I could easily use it to replace a planner if I wanted a digital writing tool. I took it everywhere.
😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍🤠🤠🤠🤠🤠😎😎😎😎😎
I use to have a Palm, and I guess it worked in a similar way. The handwriting recognition didn't mean you could write in any way. In the manual came the way you should write the letters to get recognized. Once you learned how to write in the way you suppose to, it recognize well. although was very time consuming
Try psion 5 mx that was one of the best keyboard of alltimes
I'm very happy CNET hasn't replaced you with AI…. Yet. I appreciate all your content.
So, the Newton had a calculator app, but the iPad….
Your newton has so much software on it. Wish mine had all that software. Sadly mine were factory reset back in the day.
I think the product testing segment was entertaining enough on its own, there is no need for the drum loop, that’s too distracting
Products are not “ahead of their time” they are suited for user at time.. or not.. so fails or not fails.. in product design there is a MAYA (Most Advanced Yet Acceptable) principle.. nascent products don’t adhere to this principle are DOOMED to failure.. deluded designer that don’t quickly learn this are doomed to repeated failures!
I remember Newton OS won the best OS category at Comdex 95. Yes, it beat out Windows 95.
Historically, it probably wasn't the first time apple was too early with an underpowered, overpriced product. See the Lisa computer by Apple before the macintosh.
These days it's kinda like a cable company
Palm pilot was ahead of its time.
$3000 to blind yourself to reality? It's bad enough that people deafen themselves to reality with noise cancelling headphones. Wrong way … go back! $0.02
I used a Newton 110 until I replaced it with a much smaller Palm Pilot. The handwriting could be augmented using Graffiti on the Newton, which was essentially the same as the Palm writing system.
PCMCIA on the Newton was brilliant but underutilized and the IR transceiver could control various infrared devices such as TVs, VCRs, stereos, etc. Most of my use was around notes, calendar and contacts — which is pretty much the same today on my iPhone. For most people at this time, the Day-Timer or a full sized calendar was the only way to track appointments – and your contacts were invariably on paper or in a Rolodex if you had the time… the Newton and it's predecessor (Psion?) revolutionized this space.
I don’t understand why they are moving ahead with such a design for the VR headset. Ideally it should be something where the design looks like a pair or normal glasses rather than the ski goggles design.
Failure or not, it was part of the journey that made the iphone possible.
Back to the future ❤
Galaxy Note 😢 hello 😅
I see the VR headset as a 'transition' technology (much like the Newton) where future enhanced reality will directly project information into our eyes through simply glasses, or implants. Once we have the tech ready (simple glasses or implant), then killer apps will take off.
Outstanding trip down memory lane!!!!!!