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Once again writing a web page on the Newton, and it still strikes me as a cool thing to do. Maybe you're less impressed, but so what. After all, it's my machine... This weekend, I ended up hearing the usual "what sort of machine is THAT?" It was with family, and the group split predictably in two lines: computer loving kids and non-computing parents. A few challenges came my way, the main one being "why don't you just use paper?" Well, uh, ah dunno, why? Maybe it's because this thing serves (in my head) as the ultimate paper pad. It even has lines like ruled paper. Depending on how I tap, I get all sorts of neat software to act like all sorts of different types of paper - and they all come out on the same surface. That's just plain convenient, you know? No more lugging around sheets of paper to lose. Thing is, I'm not talking about this machine just as some modified day planner. Hell, for that I COULD just use paper. Sure, I could use the Newt as an alarm-based date book, but a 20 dollar el cheapo 128K organizer could do that. too. This machine goes way way way beyond that, which is why it's become indispensable to me. See, what I want and use the Newt for goes back to why I wanted the Tandy Model 102 in the beginning. I can write, and keep my writing organized. I can run a music database and have access to the information during my radio show. Plus, I can enter new information as needed. And I have tons more storage space than on the old Tandy boxes, so I don't even have to upload all the time. I can carry my info with me, have it ready when I need it, and can add new info as I please. With or without a keyboard. In other words, what they mean by PDA is actually that a totally transparent system makes your life easier by serving multiple purposes and serving them well. It's the UI, stupid...So what is it about the machine that makes it so flexible and simple to use? Primarily the transparent user interface. You simply don't notice that this computer has an operating system. It just plain works. As I watch a new addition to my research group learn how to use a computer and a mouse, moving from a typewriter paradigm into full Microsoft hell, I realize that I shouldn't take supposedly simple GUIs for granted. Still, what could be more natural than writing and tapping on a screen? It feels natural, it feels normal, it's a beautiful piece of work. Sure, in the very beginning I had my problems (like learning to scroll through a Book... duh, use the fargin' arrows like everywhere else!), but then I learned how uniform the system is. Each app uses everything, and if all makes sense from app to app. Easy access to apps, info in the apps, and sensible use of the screen real estate. That lets me tune the machine to my style, and gives me the flexibility I want from a personal computing platform. |