Re: Newton vs UMPC

zoara wrote:
Specifically, a shootout between the Newton Messagepad 2000 and the Samsung
Q1.

http://digitalliving.cnet.co.uk/specials/0,39030785,49282099,00.htm

I'm actually kind of tempted to get a Newton off eBay, if only to see what
all the fuss was about. Maybe get it all networked up and doing useless but
cool things.

-z-

Well, I've got both, and broadly agree with the article (I didn't know about
nSync though, and nearly creamed myself until I found that the downloads have
gone awol).

The Q1 is a very portable Windows PC, with all that implies - runs modern
apps, and modern hardware - and modern malware. I use it extensively as a
network analyzer on both wired and wireless networks, as I can get all my
admin progs (ethereal, 3Com Network Director, Languard NSS, Trapeze wireless
tools, Java-capable browser) on one device that fits in a (large) pocket (but
then I usually wear combats at work :-) The fact that I can admin my Novell
system from it is the killer app for me.

I couldn't face doing userland things on the Q1 though, like word processing
or spreadsheets, it's too small and needs a keyboard. Watching movies is a bit
optimistic too, but it's good for connecting to a digital camera, slurping off
the photos and previewing them at a reasonable size. I'd say a photographer
would find the portability and screen quality very useful, though whether
you'd want to go any further and edit the images is debateable given the UI
issues. I just use it to store and browse, then upload to something with a
keyboard, trackball, and big screen. It has a CF slot which is handy, as well
as USB2. And given you can connect it to a VGA monitor, you can preview at
larger sizes. It'll go to 1024x768.

There is also a cut-down quick-booting OS which is essentially the same as
FrontRow, where you can use it as a media center. It's almost as fast starting
up as the newton is, and handy for taking your photo collections around.

The Newt is actually useful outside of work though. Notes, lists, addresses
are all dealt with very effectively.

Handwriting recognition is good on both devices, but you can't write anywhere
on the screen on the Q1 - you need to pop up the input window, which takes up
1/3rd of the already small screen. Accuracy is good, but there is an extra
step to doing the input, which the newt doesn't have and I find it more
useable because of this. Tap where you want the caret, and write.

The Windows on-screen keyboard is tedious, but often necessary. I've made
several tweaks to the Windows UI to improve things - single-tap to execute
icons, made the actual interface elements smaller (title bars, text, scroll
bars and buttons, start bar etc) The extra 'thumb keyboards', two quadrant
keyboards that pop up in the lower left and right corners of the screen are
dire, and I haven't used them.

They are spot on about the battery life though. 2.5 hours? You'll be lucky. It
has an internal hdd (1.8" like the iPod) and a very powerful backlight which
sucks juice.

The Newt is still brilliant at doing Personal Information Management, and any
number of Smartphones and portables have just died in comparison. But the Q1
is a good multipurpose tool, if you've got the right uses for it. As a general
portable pc it's not as good as a laptop, but there are specific areas where
it is really useful.

</0.02p>

Cheers,
--
James Dore
IT Officer,
New College, Oxford University,
it-support@new/james.dore@new
.

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