Newton Die-Hards Move On

When Apple stopped releasing new Newton models, its fans stepped in to keep

the existing models running. The Newton fan base continued to develop software

and even devised hardware and software hacks to give their beloved product more

modern functionality.

But the membership of Newton groups is slowly declining. “We’re definitely

getting smaller,” said Morgan Aldridge, who runs two Newton-based websites,

including the United Network of Newton Archives, that share software, software

archives, and app-developing resources. “Now there are really viable tablet solu-

tions out there. For a long time, despite the age of the Newton, it still had a power

and software that was unrivaled. Once the iPhone came out, the iPad and the app

store, software and tablets began to diverge from the original Newton abilities.”

Aldridge has an iPhone and an iPad but still likes using a Newton — he owns

four — to manage personal information. He says some fans are working on ways to

bring SSL (Secure Socket Layer) encryption to the Newton so that users can use

email more securely.

Adam Tow, a tech engineer for Vox Media, loved the Newton so much that

he organized a picket outside Apple’s offices in 1998 in hopes that the company

would reconsider pulling the products off the market. Tow later poured his energy

into a user group that held yearly conferences. He has also written software and

designed apps to keep Newtons aglow. But now his Newtons rest in their boxes.

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A MessagePad made to work with a keyboard.

PHOTO: Adam Tow