physical object
Identifier
2018.17.1
Description
This is the Apple Newton MessagePad 2000, designed by Apple on the Newton platform. This is the 2000 model and a successor to the Apple Newton MessagePad 130. The MesagePad is a PDA with stylus touch screen capabilities and handwriting recognition (though not very great). This machine could also be used to send faxes, send data back and forth to other Messagepads, take notes, and save contacts. Some of these features were novel in 1997.
The idea for the first MessagePad, initially called the Knowledge Navigator, came from the then-CEO of Apple, John Sculley, because he was looking to innovate the tech market with devices that were more portable to increase the market shares and financial gains of the company. At the time, Apple was heavily reliant on the sales of the Macintosh, which was primarily accredited to Steve Jobs. Tensions between Sculley and Jobs had led Jobs to temporarily leave the company.
One of the greatest struggles of creating the MessagePad was the limited handwriting software capabilities at the time which made it difficult to convert the stylus writing into onscreen text. However, due to a stroke of luck, Apple was able to license advanced handwriting software from a Russian firm. Sculley announced the MessagePad in 1992, boasting that it was the first personal digital assistant (PDA). This would prove to be a mistake as many competitors rushed to release PDAs of their own which significantly reduced the uniqueness and revolutionary hype that came with the MessagePad.
With the initial design of the MessagePad, it would’ve cost around $6,000 or more so John Sculley scaled back on some of the technology to make it more affordable. The released original MessagePad came with a 20 MHz ARM processor, 640 KB of RAM, 336 X 240 black and white display, and power from four AAA batteries. The MessagePad 2000 had an upgrade and was equipped with a 162 MHz ARM processor and the screen resolution was also improved to 480 X 320.
Related Term
Handheld Computers (describes)
