_protoReality
The North Atlanta Newton Users Group Newsletter



Volume 1, Number 4
May 3rd, 1994



Notices 
Apple, the Apple Logo and Newton are trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc., 
registered in the United States and other countries.  MessagePad is a 
trademark of Apple Computer, Inc.  All other products mentioned herein are 
copyrighted/ trademarked by their owners.  

The editor and the NANUG (The North Atlanta Newton Users Group) staff are 
responsible for the opinions expressed in this newsletter, unless specifically 
by-lined.

NANUG cannot be held responsible for any damages that occur due to use or 
misuse of the information contained in this newsletter.  It must be 
distributed free of charge, and the original contents remain intact.  Portions 
may be reprinted, quoted, or adapted as long as proper credit is noted.  
Individual portions may bear the copyright of their original authors, who 
should be contacted directly.  All such copyrighted material appears in this 
newsletter with permission of the original author.

Contact Information For more information about NANUG, meeting times, or 
newsletter submission  guidelines, please write:

Mark Underwood
President
The North Atlanta Newton Users Group
3381 Claire Circle
Marietta, Georgia  30066
USA

or E-mail:

InterNet:		marku@aix3.ema.com
AppleLink:		EMA.COMPSV
NewtMail:		MarkU
eWorld:		MarkU



NANUG Membership Application Form

Below is a membership application to join NANUG.  There is currently no  
membership fee.

The benefits of joining, as opposed to just reading the newsletter?  Well, you 
get on our exclusive mailing list and can take advantage of our user group 
discounts on hardware and software.  Even better is the idea of belonging, 
donUt you think?  ;-)

You can also join by obtaining our membership package from our ftp site,  
ftp.amug.org (thanks to our best friends at the Arizona Macintosh Users 
Group!).   After logging in anonymously, change directory down to:

/ftp/pub/ftp2/newton/nanug

The sub-directory RmembershipS contains a copy of the membership card and  
instructions on how to join us.

NANUG Membership Application Form

Name:					

Address:				

City/State/Zip:			

Country:				

Phone:				

Fax:					

NewtMail:				

E-mail address:			

You can:

% Print this page and mail it to:

Mark Underwood
NANUG Membership
3381 Claire Circle
Marietta, GA 30066
USA

% E-mail your personal information to Rmarku@aix3.ema.comS with a subject of  
RNANUG MembershipS



From the Orthogonal Office
Mark Underwood

Yes, AprilUs a little late--but I have a legitimate excuse--my Newton was away 
for upgrading right in the middle of it!

Some announcements, firstIand if youUre already a member, you can skip a few  
pages, since these could be classified as Rold newsS for you guys!

NANUG has an ftp site!

Through the fantastic efforts of our friends at the Arizona Macintosh UserUs 
Group (home of the RBBS in a BoxS CD), we now have space on a ftp site!

Host: ftp.amug.org User ID: anonymous Password: <<none required>> (Note:  
common convention is to use your e-mail address as the password) Directory:

/ftp/pub/ftp2/newton/nanug

On this directory are four sub-directories:

best_of 	contents of the RBest OfS diskettes membership 	NANUG basic 
membership materials newsletters 	_protoReality issues and associated 
	materials projects 	working space for the group 	programming 
projects

Right now, only the RmembershipS and RnewslettersS area are fully populated, 
but more files are being added.  In addition, you have access to the entire 
AMUG Newton area (go up a level to /ftp/pub/ftp2/newton), as well as their 
massive library of Macintosh files!

AMUG stores almost all of their files in StuffIt* format, so if you have a 
PC,please be sure to obtain the version of UnStuffIt* for the PC, as well as 
the version of BinHex for the PC.

If you have any questions, please e-mail me, or fellow NANUG (and premier 
AMUG) member Ashley Barnard Armstrong at Rashley@amug.orgS

Happy ftp-ing!

NANUG on America On-Line 

Because of our large number of AOL members, and through the courtesy and hard  
work of Joe Balsamo, AOL/PDA Guru and fellow NANUG member, we now have a  
message board on America On-Line!

Not only will this be a way of keeping closer in touch for our AOL users, but 
itUs the beginning of what we hope will be a series of on-line service areas 
devoted to NANUG (BMUG, watch out!).

Use this board to post questions, comments, newsletter submissions, opinions,  
reviews, etc.  IUll make sure to let you know when NANUG events (both local 
and on-line) are coming up, as well as other special things.

To reach our board, keyword to RPDAS, click on the RMessage BoardsS button, 
click RList CategoriesS, scroll down to RPDA-Palmtop ResourcesS and open it.  
Our folder is called RNANUGS, for some strange reasonI   ;-)

If you donUt have an AOL id--donUt worry!  WeUre in the process of setting up 
similar services on the other major sites (and donUt forget about our new ftp 
site!).

The Upgrade Mines are Open

Have you sent your original MP off to the Upgrade Mines for a refit?  If not, 
DO IT!!!!

My turn around was four working days.  They send you a normal-sized Fed-Ex box  
which contains the two software packages you asked for, plus a smaller, 
postage-paid  Fed-Ex box to ship your Newt back to them in.  After making a 
backup, you remove  your PCMCIA card, put the original RspacerS into the slot 
that came with the Newt,  remove the main batteries (or the rechargeable pack) 
-- but not the backup battery,  and then put it into the form-fitting foam 
padding inside the return box.

When you get it back, examine everything closely--thereUs a single sheet of 
paper  which acts as your warranty for the RrepairS work done, and you must 
have it if you  have any problems with your unit.  Yes, you do get your 
original Newt back.

Deferred recognition was something IUd played around with when I looked at the 
MP  110, but having it on your familiar MP makes all the difference in the 
world!  There  are some other small changes--your personal preferences are 
slightly different, for  example--but a quick restore of your backup and 
youUre ready for the new world!

By the way, be sure to take a look at the RsecondS startup/sleep screen thatUs 
in the  ROM now--itUs not the original newt any more!

Newton Toolkit 1.0.1 Arrives

The RfinalS version of NTK has started shipping, and itUs been worth the wait!  
In  addition to some nice bound documentation, the new version is very solid 
and adds a  few new features, such as being able to take a Newton screen 
RsnapshotS while  connected to the Inspector.  Next month, weUll have a full 
review of it.

Corrections

In our RWe Hate to Admit It, But We Sometimes Get Things WrongS Department, 
Bert  Mayo writes:

In your interview with Steve Weyer in _protoReality 1.3 you compared Newt to 
MS-Basic  (shudder) on the Mac.  Your comparison was grossly in error, sir!  
The first stand-alone  programming language on the Mac was MacForth from 
Creative Solutions Inc.  Some of us were  happily programming on our Macs as 
early as April of 1984 using MacForth.  One of the  earliest commercial 
educational/game programs, RChipWitsS, was written in MacForth.   MacForth is 
still around, and Creative Solutions is still cranking out upgrade versions.

True enough!  I suppose I was trying to draw a closer parallel with MS Basic 
for the  Mac because of its RruntimeS component, but being one of those 
original MacForth  (and ChipWits) owners, I stand corrected!



A NANUG Overview
Mark Underwood

Founded in October of 1993, NANUG was created with these ideas in mind:

% To provide timely and correct information about the Newton and all of its  
accessories, software packages, and other Newton-related products

% To assist new and experienced Newton users in getting the most out of their  
purchase

% To provide (hopefully) an un-biased forum for the exchange of user tips, 
hints, and  suggestions

% To provide free or low-cost resources for small to medium Newton development  
projects

There is currently no membership fee to join NANUG.  Meetings are normally 
held  the second Tuesday of the month.  We also hold Ron-lineS conferences 
from time to  time to allow our remote members to participate directly.

_protoReality, our newsletter, is published one a month (normally during the 
third  week of the month) in three formats:  a Newton Book Reader package, a 
Rbinary  enhancedS text document, and a RplainS text document.  Each format 
strives to convey  as much information as possible within the constraints of 
the media.  The RplainS text  version, for example, is posted to InterNet, 
while the RbinaryS and Rbook readerS  formats are posted to on-line forums and 
ftp sites that support binary up/down loads  (AppleLink, CompuServe, America 
On-Line, etc.).

NANUG also has a shared InterNet ftp site, ftp.amug.org, where we post all of 
our  files--including membership materials and Rbest ofS selections.  The site 
supports  anonymous log in, and is located in the directory:

/ftp/pub/ftp2/newton/nanug



Minutes of the April Meetings

Local Meeting

Because of vacation commitments and a personal bout with the flu--as well as 
losing  our former meeting location--we were not able to hold a RlocalS 
meeting during  April.  :-(  We are still reviewing prospective meeting 
locations and hope to have  plans firmed up before 5/17, which is the 
tentative date for the next local meeting.

America On-Line Meeting

There was no on-line meeting for April, either.  We plan to have one early in 
May, as  well as possibly our first meeting on eWorld!

The next scheduled local meeting will be on May 17th, 1994.

Details on locations and times of all local and RremoteS meetings will we 
posted to all  NANUG locations and sent via e-mail to members.

 NANUG Membership Statistics 

Total number of members:		251
	RLocalS	25	RRemoteS		226

Members by state (US):
	AZ		3		NH		1
	CA		38		NJ		4
	CO		3		NY		7
	DC		2		OH		4
	FL		9		OR		1
	GA		25		PA		9
	IL		7		RI		1
	MA		11		SC		1
	MD		6		TN		3
	ME		1		TX		13
	MI		4		UT		2
	MN		3		VA		6
	MO		2		WA		4
	MS		1		WI		1
	NC		2		WV		1
	NE		2

Members by country:
	Argentina	1	Italy			2
	Australia	10	Japan			3
	Austria	2	Macau			1
	Belgium	2	Mexico		1
	Canada	12	Netherlands		1
	Croatia	1	Singapore		1
	Finland	2	Spain			1
	France	2	Sweden		2
	Germany	11	Switzerland		2
	Hong Kong	2	UK			6
		USA		187



The Extras Drawer

A surprise!  One of our RremoteS members, Alex Mehlmann from Vienna, Austria, 
has  contributed the first piece of fiction to the newsletter, in the form of 
a poem!  If  youUre wondering why itUs special enough to include, read it 
first, and then youUll  understand why!


The Mad ReviewerUs Song

by Alexander Mehlmann (in the manner of Lewis Carroll)

He thought he saw an hecatomb  
Of textbooks just in press: 
He looked again, and found it was  
So Startling a Success. 
TEach copy sold at student price  
Means earning (more or less)!U

He thought he saw a book of height  
(In inches) almost twelve: 
He looked again, and found it was  
An MIT Press Elf. 
TI won't be able, Lord,U he said,  
TTo put it on my shelf!U

He thought he saw a wise advice  
On publishing for free: 
He looked again, and found it was  
An Unknown Referee. 
TIf you reject my work,U he said,  
TWho else will pay the fee?U

He thought he saw the reason why  
Each author was to blame: 
He looked again, and found it was  
A Long Prevailing Shame. 
TA lot of reference,U he said,  
TBut never to my name!U

He thought he saw a strategy  
Undominated, strict: 
He looked again, and found it was  
Quite Easy to Depict. 
TDon't do a bloody move,U he said,  
TSo simple to predict!U

He thought he saw a Newton hack  
Remaining unrefined: 
He looked again, and found it was  
Induction from Behind. 
TBefore more doubts arise,U he said,  
TApply it! Never mind!U

He thought he saw a dirty face  
In common knowledge rage: 
He looked again, and found it was  
A Game Without a Sage. 
TJust read this book,U he faintly said,  
TFor blushing at each page!U

He thought he saw a strange review  
With pages more than eight: 
He looked again, and found it was  
An Unexpected Fate. 
TI know, at last, why Shakespeare failed  
To write his Kiss me Kate!U



Interviews

An Interview with Maurice Sharp Mark Underwood

Maurice Sharp is another of the PIEDTS Newton gurus, and has the distinction 
of  being able to say the Newton is partially a RSharpS product.  We caught up 
with  Maurice one busy afternoon on the phone.

PR:	Maurice, can you tell us what you do in PIEDTS and a little about 
yourself?

MS:

What I do:  Developer Technical Support Engineer at PIE DTS. Basically, same 
as Kent.  My areas of TexpertiseU are Routing, Views, Protos. I am coming up 
to expertise in  optimization as well.

Where I come From:  Born in London, England.  Family emigrated to Canada when 
I  was 11.  Lived in Calgary for many years.  Did the University thing, BSc 
and MSc  (bachelors and Masters of science) in computer science.  Director of 
a Consulting  firm for several years (at the same time as Univ.).  Took 6 
years for the BSc, 4 for the  MSc (though I wrote it all in 3 weeks!).  
Managed to work sociology, art and  philosophy into a computer science MSc.  

Did lots of gaming stuff (strategy war games, D&D, Traveler...) in my youth 
(and later  too).   Have most of the strategic war games put out for Mac.  
Have an ever-growing  pile of summer reading books.  Did the virtual reality 
thing while it was still cool (too  pass now).  Used to instruct martial arts 
(Aikido and various traditional stuff).  Ex- member of the Loose Moose Theatre 
Company (home of Theatresports,  improvisational theatre).

Have 2 pictures in Defying Gravity, one is obvious, the other is on the stage 
at Boston (my famous Tright earU picture, right beside Sculley!)

Like to watch small circular things that go boing!

PR:	How did you initially get involved with the Newton project?

MS:	Well, I was originally a summer intern with Apple, working for ATG 
(AppleUs  Advanced Technologies Group - Ed.), and I was looking for a way to 
extend that job to  full time.  IUd just finished my MasterUs degree.  
Originally, I was assigned to  prototype the original NTK.  ZZ (Scott 
Zimmerman, the first Apple PIEDTS Engineer -  Ed.) and I had worked together, 
so when I went to talk to my manager about the job,  the RfixS was already in!

PR:	Currently, adding routing to your Newton app is fairly tricky--I used 
the  RLittle PrintsS example, but still had some minor tweaking to do before I 
could get my  stuff to print.  Will we see an easier routing proto, one that 
automatically handles all  the details, such as with the revised endpoint 
proto?

MS:	Right now, probably not.  In the future?  Well...actually, itUs much 
easier to use  the existing protos, now that the documentation has been 
perfected in NTK 1.0.1,  which is making its way out.  In my copious amounts 
of free time, IUm also working  on making better examples that are fully 
documented, such as the RSoup ShowS and  RLittle PrintsS.

PR:	An obvious Rvalue addedS app for the Newt is to be able to "customize" 
the  existing, built-in print formats.  For example, the ability to add a 
corporate logo.  Will  we see this in a future version, or can you suggest a 
hack?

MS:	I believe such a hack is rolling about right now, but IUve not seen it.  
You find  the print format frame, then clone and change it.  You probably 
canUt see all of what  you have to do, though.  To do it right, you have to 
worry about reflow--which is  something we havenUt been able to document yet.  
It will show up in a future Q&A  doc--and yes, those will still be needed, 
despite the re-write of the docs.

PR:	As the first RofficialS Apple PIEDTS person we've spoken to since the 
intro of  the MP 110, can we ask you the logic behind the reduction in screen 
size?

MS:	Ah!  ThatUs an easy one.  We wanted to move towards industry standard 
sizes.   The MP 110Us screen is one-fourth the size of a standard VGA 
monitorUs resolution of  640 by 480 pixels.  This isnUt unusual--in Europe, 
for example, paper sizes are all done  through fractions.

PR:	Outside the US, Canada holds our largest group of members.  Do you have 
any  special greeting/comments you'd like to pass along to our Canadian 
Contingent?

MS:	Really?  GUday, eh?  And special greetings to those of you in the 
Calgary area.   Oh--Hi, Mom!  ;-)

PR:	Okay, the fascination with Llamas has been explained by Kent--but are 
you of  the RNedS or RRegS political party?

MS:	The circumstances of the original naming--I was there!  Bob (Ebert), 
Mike  (Engber), and ZZ.  YouUve seen both Ned and Reg in Monty Python and the 
Holy Grail- -DTS preferred one of them.  I wonUt say which, but hereUs a clue-
-the documentation  mentions the wrong one--hunt it down and youUll find out!

PR:	And whatUs up with the Silly Putty?  ;-)

MS:	100 pounds of it!  You must have seen the video.  I think I still have a 
2 pound  lump somewhere.  The fun part was cutting it up!  And there was the 
sensation of  standing on two 50 pound blocks--not like quicksand.  It slowly 
oozes down--like one  of those low-gravity shafts in a science fiction novel!

PR:	WeUre conducting an informal survey about Newton programmers and their  
preferred RfuelS (i.e., sodas, chocolate, etc.)  What does Mr. Sharp use to 
keep his wits  about him?

MS:	It varies on the hack stage.  For the 3 PM lag, I un-lag with a Coke and 
a  Cappuccino muffin from PriceCostco.  Late nights depends on the 
circumstances.  If  itUs a prepared hack, you can stock up on your favorites.  
Unprepared hacks, well,  thereUs those Nacho Cheese chips and that chocolate 
bar with the rice in it--Nestles  Crunch?  For the really serious hack, 
Szechwan food and lots of green tea!

PR:	So whatUs up next for Mr. Sharp?

MS:	I havenUt decided, actually.  I like very much what IUm doing now.  It 
still  appealing.  Maybe in a year to year and a half IUll think of something 
different, but  IUm enjoying PIEDTS.

PR:	With Mike Engber in Toolkit Land, and Kent currently on vacation in 
Nepal,  how are you coping with the on-line support?

MS:	Kent is the one who usually storms the electronic boards, but right now, 
he is  away. I am trying to provide the same coverage, but I can only do so 
much.

Bob (Ebert), Jim (Schram), and Chris (Bell) are helping, though.  And thereUs 
Dr.  Newton on AOL.  Of course support to our registered developers and 
associates is first  and foremost, then the PIE Talk board on AppleLink.  Then 
there s COMP.SYS.NEWTON  on the InterNet.  After that...if IUm not asleep...

PR:	Well, we wonUt keep you up any longer!  ;-)  Thanks for taking some time 
to  talk to us, Maurice!



An Interview with ICS Erica Sadun

Tom Collins and Dan Rowley of ICS are just two more examples of how the Newton 
is  attracting really small developers into the field of programming.  Erica 
Sadun caught  up with the two of them for a few moments.

PR:	Please tell me about yourselves and Innovative Computer Solutions.

TC:	Well, Dan and I were best friends in high school, and after a year in 
college (I  was at Penn State, he was at Arizona State), we decided to start a 
company to sell IBM  clones.  At the same time, I also wrote a DOS fractal 
program and a few utilities under  the ICS name.  Now we (mostly Dan) write 
Newton apps and sell a custom  hardware/software package for controlling a 
satellite receiver (somethingUs got to  pay the bills - the Newtons and NTK 
werenUt cheap).  I also work as a  programmer/network manager for a small 
company in Phoenix that sells multimedia  computer systems and networks to K-
12 schools nationwide.

DR:	Tom and I refer to ICS as the company that refuses to die.  Despite our 
efforts to  the contrary, it steadfastly refuses to lose any money! <grin>.  
Since our fledgling  Newton efforts are far from solvent (It takes a lot of $5 
registrations to pay for an  $800 Newton), we have other projects that pay the 
bills, and RrealS jobs that put food  on the table.  I wish I could make a 
living selling Newton Apps, but right now it just  isnUt possible.  In the 
meantime, I put in an obscene amount of hours working for a  major national 
retail chain in northern California.  One day, ICS will be big enough  to 
support us both...I canUt wait.

PR:	How did you discover the Newton? What made you become Newton pioneers?

TC:	I knew it was coming out, and had planned to get myself one as a 
Christmas  present.  At the end of 1993, we made a business expense out of it 
and bought one each  along with the Toolkit.  My interest in the Toolkit was 
to learn how the Newton  worked and to write apps to fill my needs.  In 
exploring the Newton, weUve found  some shortcomings that were easily fixed, 
so we fixed them.

DR:	Bottom line - Newton is cool.  I have a penchant for cool toys, and as 
soon as I  saw one, I had to have a Newton.  I quickly found design RfeaturesS 
that ticked me  off, and resolved to fix them.  IUve learned a lot and had 
loads of fun in the process.

PR:	Why did you choose to do utilities?

TC:	TheyUre easy! ;-)  Utilities are a good way to learn a new 
language/operating  system.

DR:	Speak for yourself, Kemo Sabe..  Tom only thinks utilities are easy!  He 
didnUt  have to stay up the late nights finishing SleepAid!  I write utilities 
because they fit  into my usage of the Newton.  I only write stuff that I use 
myself - programs designed  by committee never seem to be much good to 
anybody.

Since I do have a RrealS job outside of Newton development, I have to stick to 
projects  I can complete in a relatively short period of time -- utilities fit 
that bill nicely.

PR:	What other software products are you working on?

TC:	We just released HeapIt, and donUt have anything in the works (unless 
Dan  hasnUt told me about them).  If I ever get the chance, IUd like to write 
an app that  works with the prefs.

DR:	Actually, IUve got several ideas IUm playing with.  IUm getting sick of 
not  having access to my NotePad buttons all the time, so IUm working on a 
floating button  bar.  IUm working on version 1.0 (final) of SleepAid, which 
will have a couple of  added features suggested by registered users.  Finally, 
IUm trying to come up with an  add-on to the calendar that makes it easier to 
plan projects.  IUm always open to ideas,  though...

PR:	Do you recommend the Newton to your friends?  Why or why not?  Do you 
have  any Newton and friends stories?

TC:	I evangelize the Newton all the time!  IUm always more than willing to 
demo it  for the curious.  So far none of the sales pitches have resulted in a 
buyer.

DR:	As I walk through the store with my Newton in-hand, I invariably attract 
a  crowd.  I evangelize every chance I get, but I doubt many actually run out 
and buy  one.  I think the new Lindy (MP110) with its lower price point will 
help. 

PR:	What do you think about the introduction of the MP110?

TC:	I want one!  We need one for testing...

DR:	IUll be first in line for the upgrade.  IUm not disappointed I jumped on 
the  bandwagon early, but I think some people are...IUm glad Apple has a 
relatively cheap  upgrade.  The 110 probably makes some of my stuff obsolete, 
but that's fine -- IUll just  find new stuff to fix.

PR:	How do you approach NTK programming?  Your utilities clearly use 
RfeaturesS  that are at the very least pretty undocumented.  How do you go 
spelunking through  these features?  Do you worry about incompatibility with 
future versions?

TC:	We explore.  The inspector can tell you a lot, and I understand that 
ViewFrame  is even better for exploring.  If anything, future versions may 
make our apps  obsolete instead of incompatible.

DR:	Exactly.  I spend a lot of time playing with the Inspector, and have 
totally  hosed my Newt more times than I care to count.  I donUt recommend it 
for the faint- hearted.  The way I see it, if the solution were in the book, 
somebody would have  written it by now...I want my solutions to be 
unique...er, Innovative <grin>.  Most of  my programming sessions begin with a 
problem, or a dumb interface Rfeature.S  IUll  play around for hours 
(sometimes overnight) until I find a way to fix it.  The trick  then is to 
write a program that anybody can use to fix it.  I try to stay away from  
really skanky hacks, and wonUt do anything that canUt be easily reversed.  The 
more  elegant the interface, the better.  Tom came up with the idea to put the 
HeapIt button  in the card/backup slip...It was a stroke of genius -- just the 
touch I needed to round  the app out.  HeapIt is my favorite app to date, 
mainly because people tell me they like  it...I love to hear from happy users.

PR:	What does your ideal handheld PDA look like and how does it work?

TC:	A few weeks ago, I was at the grocery store, and as I paid for my 
groceries with  my ATM card, I envisioned the day where I would aim my Newt at 
the register, and in  a transaction, it would authorize the funds transfer 
from my checking account, enter  the transaction in Quicken, and add the items 
I purchased to a Rshopping listS for  future trips.

DR:	The Newton goes a long way towards the ideal, but it wonUt be perfect 
until itUs  just as easy and quick to use as a piece of paper. Just the other 
day I was annoyed that  I had to scroll through a huge list of notes to get to 
the bottom so I could enter a new  one -- I feel a new project coming on...

PR:	Thank you for talking to _protoReality!

TC:	Thanks for having us.  If anyone has more questions, they can e-mail me 
at  ics@indirect.com.  RFingerS that account for info on our Newton apps.  
IUll also e-mail  binhexUd copies of each app to anyone who asks for them.

DR:	ItUs been fun.  Anyone who has an idea for a utility but not the time, 
ability, or  inclination to write it can send us email -- maybe we can make it 
happen!



Views and Reviews Erica Sadun

The Worst Day
	In case youUve been watching Usenet lately, you might have noticed that 
I just  celebrated my thirtieth birthday (Congratulations, Erica, from the 
NANUG staff - Ed.).   Perhaps celebrate is too strong a word considering.  
DonUt get the wrong idea, I  actually am rather proud and pleased to 
officially enter the RadultS realm; the  problem with RcelebrateS is that my 
birthday may have just been the worst-managed,  worst-planned, worst-enacted 
day of my life. Needless to say, the deadline for the  monthUs column of NANUG 
fell on my birthday.  But thatUs just part of the picture.  As  months go, IUd 
like to name this one Rthe month of hellS. But then again, T.S. Eliot  called 
April Rthe cruelest monthS but he also rambled on about Rpatients anesthetized  
upon tablesS and weird stuff about the Tarot. So heUs probably not the best 
expert on  these matters.
	By the 21st of April, I had already spent well over a week traveling 
since the  last months column and was ready to get started on another weekUs 
worth of flying  and conferencing up at CHI in Boston. I needed to get my 
viewgraphs ready for a  talk--but first I had to finish the UIST paper.  IUd 
been working on that paper well  into the wee hours starting the 21st.  
Already, I resented having Rmy dayS taken up  by paper details.  Late 
afternoon on the 20th, I had stopped by my advisorUs office  with a RfinishedS 
paper and he had gently pointed out three sections that needed to  be 
rewritten and two sections to be added.  Oh yes.  He also wanted screen dumps. 
	In case you havenUt been following my research, Djasa is being developed 
in  Smalltalk on a Windows machine.  (Yes, I know its not a Sun--the 
traditional machine  of graduate computer science--but DigitalkUs Smalltalk/V 
is worth being on the less  convenient platform).  I wrote the paper up in 
Claris Works on the Mac.  It took  several hours trying to figure out how to 
get the bitmap (BMP) format from the PC to  the Mac which involved all sorts 
of fun with graphics converters and apple file  exchange.  But to cut to the 
chase, I got the screen dumps into the paper, copied the  paper onto a disk 
and headed  off to school to print the paper and copy the  demonstration 
videotapes. Arriving at school, I rushed upstairs and pushed my way  through 
the Demo-Day mobs. (GVUUs demo-days are actually lots of fun if you are not  
trying to mail out a paper by 5:00 PM. Stop on by. Do the virtual reality 
demo.  See lots  of neat stuff).  I elbowed onto a Macintosh and almost 
immediately discovered that I  had failed to save the paper to Word format.  
Arggggh!  
	I spent the next two hours trying to find a Claris to Word converter, 
trying to  extract my screen dumps via ResEdit (getting the words out was the 
easy part) and  trying to kick people off the video machine in the usability 
lab to finish the videos-- it has two decks and is great for copying.  
(However it also makes the ideal intimate  gathering point  to show potential 
corporate sponsors small videos).
	Needless to say, ClarisWorks is the unfriendliest format in existence. 
Finally,  around 3:15 I found someone who would stay at the Lab as I ran home 
to resave the  document and email it to them for printing.  Stopping only to 
pick up some  viewgraph transparencies, I ran out of there and headed home--
right into afternoon  traffic.  I didnUt arrive home until close to 4:00.  I 
ran to the Mac, converted the paper  and dialed into the system to send it by 
email. 
	The phones were busy.  Ever since these 9600 baud modems have come down 
in  price, just about anyone can get one.  There are only two 9600 lines that 
run into  school and both were jammed.  It took over twenty-five minutes to 
get a line in and  two tries to get the paper downloaded.  Five oUclock rolled 
around and, fortunately,  the paper was sent out.
	Alberto arrived home around then and asked if was up to a birthday 
dinner.   Absolutely.  I dropped everything and went to the car. I needed a 
break before  starting on those viewgraphs.  After all, all I had to do was 
transfer the pictures from  the paper over to the NeXT and then print Tem all 
out on the laser printer.  Simple.
	We went off to our local Thai restaurant. Yummy but Alberto was in a 
rush. He  had to meet the Agnes Scott girls for lab and we ended up packing 
our main course as  we headed straight to the observatory. Alberto asked if I 
wanted to join them all in  the Fernbank Planetarium field trip but I declined 
saying I had to work on the  viewgraphs.  Since he didnUt have time to give me 
a lift home, he threw me the keys  to the rental car. (Our new Saturn died and 
this is the loaner.  My Colt is on its last  limbs and it looks like we may 
have to buy a second car within a few months). I drove  on home and found that 
the key chain he tossed me did not have a house key on it.
	No problem.  I went next door to the old lady who lives near us and 
knocked on  the door to see if I could borrow back the house key we left with 
her.  Although the  lights were on and I heard a TV set, no one answered the 
door.  Okay.  I went back to  the car and drove over to Fernbank.  RMay I see 
Dr. Sadun?S I asked.  ROh no,S I was  told. RThe planetarium doors are locked 
during a show and you can not enter.S   RWhen will the show be over?S RJust 
come back in 45 minutes.S So I did.  RIs it over  now?S RYes but they are 
keeping the Agnes Scott students a bit longer.S RMay I join  them?S ROh no.S 
RWhy not?S RBecause the doors of the planetarium automatically  lock from this 
side during shows.S RBut the show is over, isnUt it?S RYes, but they are  
still using the planetarium equipment.S  Fine.  I wander around the place, 
looking at  taxidermied animals for another hour.  Close up on 9:00 the doors 
to the planetarium  open and people come  swarming out.  Politely, I hold the 
outer door open and wait  before entering the small vestibule.  I go to the 
next set of doors.  They are locked too.   I am locked in a small vestibule 
which is lit by a dim red bulb giving it an almost  eerie effect.  I knock on 
the doors.  Again.  And again.  About ten minutes later,  someone finally 
opens the inner door and I meet up with Alberto and his students.
	We headed home again and I got to work on the viewgraphs.  I shall not 
force  you to sit through the details of trying to get the NeXT to understand 
the Macintosh  TIFF format. (It doesnUt) or even the supposed NeXT WriteNow 
format which  ClarisWorks saves. (It donUt do that either).  It was a night of 
hell.  By 3:00 am on the  22nd, however, I had finished the viewgraphs.  I put 
all the materials for the  conference together.  The video was missing. 
	Has this ever happened to any of you?  Your spouse is sleeping. You are  
missing a video tape. You need to look everywhere but you donUt want to wake  
him/her up? This is actually a fascinating exercise in sleep dynamics and the 
limits  of tolerance to strange VCR noises and knapsack burrowing sounds. The 
video was  not to be found.  So at  3:00 am, I pulled a pair of pants over my 
jammies and headed  out to school.  No video.
	Nearly crying, I set the alarm for 8:00 am and took a nap.  Another trip 
into  school found the video in the office of the lady of the viewgraph 
transparencies  after an hour of searching.  Another half-hour drive got me 
home.
	Needless to say, I was flying out to my Boston conference at noon and 
still  hadnUt started my NANUG article.  So if you find this months column to 
be a bit  rushed, to be a bit forced, I hope you will be understanding.  Its 
not a reflection on  the products or the wonderful people who have sent me 
demos.  Its just fate and being  thirty and being overly tired with an 
impossible deadline. -- Erica 10:45 am, 4/22.


The Reviews

PDA Panache

This month arrived with a bunch of surprises. PDA Panache sent me a gold 
newton  stylus ($49.95) in the mail.  In case you havenUt seen them, these 
styluses are  phenomenal.  They are heavy, with a really solid feel, a nice 
write-able tip and are  just gorgeous.  The stylus follows the MP-classic 
design and fits perfectly into the  slot.  I was amazed by how quickly I fell 
in love with this baby and how often I show  it off to the Newton wannabes.  
During some recent beta-testing of a game I am  writing, people spent nearly 
as much time asking about the cool stylus as about the  Newt itself.  If you 
are financially challenged, Panache also makes a polished  aluminum stylus 
($9.95) which is not as heavy but is still beautifully presented and  far 
outclasses any Apple stylus (plastic or aluminum) that I have ever seen.  Both 
are  highly recommended.  Neither had any burrs on the tips, both were rugged 
and have  stood up to chewing, tapping and Newt-ing of the highest order.  A 
strong five out of  five lizards for these classy pens.

Stealth Pen

Another cool stylus product for all you MP110 owners is the Stealth pen from  
WriteWare.  Since this arrived as a birthday present, I am not sure how much 
it costs  but trust me, this baby is adorable. Turn the tip one way, you get a 
standard pen. Turn  it the other, you have a perfect stylus tip. Its 
enthralling.  The pen is rugged and  beautifully styled. Mine came in a gold 
wash but I understand that several other  colors are available.  This product 
too gets an absolute five out of five newties and is  highly recommended.  
Give Dave a call at WriteWare and donUt forget to say that Erica  sent you.

KISS Solar Panel Power Supply

Be sure to drop my name as well, ye NANUG-ers when you order your solar panels  
from KISS because youUll get the user group discount that way.  Keep it Simple  
Software makes the most wonderful solar panels for both the Newt and for the  
PowerBook.  I got to test-ride a Newt version this month.  KISS actually has 
two  products--a simple solar panel and, what I tried, a solar panel embedded 
in a carrying  case which gives you lots of room for lugging around your 
Newton and a few  accessories and papers. The KISS panels require ultra-violet 
radiation and if you  have un-coated windows you can move around the house for 
socket-free Newting for  hours.  Or, you can take it outside, build up your 
vitamin-D stores, catch a tan and  Newt in the wild.  It was wonderful to be 
able to become RunpluggedS without  worrying about the batteries dying.  My 
Apple rechargeable currently has a 20- minute life span (IUm not kidding) and 
it was a delight to use the newt with the Apple  battery for hours on end.  
Another five out of five geckos product.  Strongly  recommended.  DonUt forget 
dropping my name.  It will save you a bunch oU bucks.

ViewFrame

I got the full version of ViewFrame this month and let me tell you it fully 
lives up to  its promise from the Demo I looked at last month.  I was able to 
inspect my compiled  code at a source level as well as a lot of system code -- 
although many of  the truly  interesting things on the Newt are compiled as C 
functions. ViewFrame lets you  explore data, inspect code and interact with 
your Newt on a beautifully primitive  level. So let me reiterate the previous 
five of five newton rating and recommend this  package to all the programmers 
out there.

ColumboUs Mystery Capers

I got a chance to play at Mystery Capers too, this month, because the demo 
version  came packed with my Newton Connection Kit 2.  Boy was I ever 
disappointed.   Although the stories and pictures are cute (for example, the 
Moose Head in the first  demo puzzle), I found the puzzles rather lame and 
simplistic.  The sound effects were  incredibly annoying and, worse, just as I 
was about to solve the puzzles, the darn  machine rebooted. (This was a 
repeatable problem... If you did each clue more than  once, the memory would 
get smaller and smaller until the restart/cancel slip would  appear...and 
appear...and appear...)
	Once I returned to the puzzle, it wouldnUt let me keep solving it 
either.  I had to  start from scratch because the program insists that you 
must uncover all relevant  and irrelevant clues before making your guesses.  
Mystery Capers doesnUt save the  state in which you left the game either.  A 
major failing in a PDA game! Listen up,  Newton Developers! Make sure you save 
the state of the program when you enter and  exit it.   In real life notepads, 
crossword puzzles, etc. simply donUt lose all their  information because you 
placed them down on the desk for a while.  Save Your State!  Make life for us 
users easier!  Anyway, I am forced to give Mystery Capers a measly  two and a 
half newts.  The extra half-newt is because of the good intent behind the  
product. Mystery Capers showed promised but more or less failed to deliver.

QuickFigure

The final product for this rather abbreviated column comes from Pelican 
Software.   QuickFigure simply puts MobileCalc to shame -- and its a lot 
cheaper too.  QuickFigure  still an evolving product but an hour or so of 
testing convinced me that this  spreadsheet has all the basic functionality 
you need to do most hand-held tasks.   Whereas MobileCalc took hours to set up 
a simple spreadsheet, I was able to create a  budget in QuickFigure in a 
matter of minutes.  Sure, QuickFigure has flaws.  I wish  the dialog box was 
persistent--the appearances and disappearances kind of annoy  me.  Some of the 
math is a bit wacky--donUt try to embed really complex formulae,   just use an 
extra cell or two as needed. But this spreadsheet *works*, really *works*.  
You can navigate through the cells, add information and change it. You can 
copy and  paste cells & formulae.  ItUs all there and its  way way way cheap.  
QuickFigure gets a  four iguana rating and is well on its way to getting five.  
Recommended.
	Unfortunately, I was unable to review MacapaUs Napkin Calc because it 
simply  will not run on my machine. Even after a cold boot, I didnUt have 
enough memory to  run it. Oh how I wish I had a 110.  Maybe someone out there 
in Net-Land has a  review-110 for me? If only... Off to Boston, Erica!

Where to get them:

PDA Panache
PO Box 49 Lake Grove, NY 11755
Gold-plated solid brass stylus $49.95
Polished Aluminum Stylus $9.95
1-800-270-7196
1-516-467-4042

WRITEWARE:
The Stealth Pen
408-295-4217
408-295-1951 (fax)
david@netcom.com

KISS
Keep It Simple Software
32 S. Ewing, St. #211
Helena, MT 59601
1-800-Far Out 2
kiss4@aol.com

SunPack for Newton $199.00 retail, $139.00 if you mention my name & NANUG 
SunPack Jr. for Newton $159 retail, $111 with name dropping
SunPack PowerBook $229.00 retail, $160 as above, ditto.

ViewFrame $70 ($60 for PIE Developer Subscribers.  Site Licenses available) 
Creative Digital Systems
293 Corbett Ave
San Francisco, CA 94114
415.621.4252
415.621.4922 (fax)
cds@netcom.com
72722.3225@compuserve.com
cds sem@aol.com
cds.sem@applelink.apple.com

ColumboUs Mystery Capers
StarCore
Available from mail-order or in most Newton stores, from $39.

QuickFigure
Pelican Software

Napkin Calc
Les Logiciels Macapa
440 Upper Edison #7
St-Lambert, Quebec
Canada, J4R 2V5
$25.00


GoFigure
Mark Underwood

Calculators are a necessity of life.  You balance your checkbook, average your 
childUs  grades, make sure the grocery is giving you a fair shake, and so on.  
Given their  portable naute, you knew it wouldnUt be long before calculators 
were added to PDAs-- in fact, they were built-in!

But different occasions call for different features.  While the RdefaultS 
calculator in  the Extras drawer will handle RbasicS math, it wonUt help you 
score high on your  Physics exam.

Enter GoFigure, a Newton package that contains 16 different purpose 
calculators:

Adding Machine - adds percent, percent change, percent total, and rounding

Architectural - performs measurement arithmetic (inches, feet, yards, 
fractions)

Babies - one which can compute a personUs conception from their birthdate!

Big Buttons - simple calculator which is large enough to use your finger with

Conversions - formula-style conversions

Currency Exchange - formulas and remembers up to 21 rates of your choice

Dates - arithmetic with dates, and it can add events to your Dates soup

Grade Point Average - computes GPA by entering letter grades

Graphic Arts - specific formulas and functions for the graphical artist

Hex/Octal/Binary/Dozenal - math in base 16, 8, 2, and 12!

Math/Science - the Rhefty plasticS full-function calculator

Memory Register - three registers

Sales Tax/Tips - formula-style calculation of sales tax and restaurant tips

Statistics - calculates mean, average, and standard deviation

Time/Film Editing - similar to Dates, but uses time, and has a built-in 
elapsed timer

Some of the calculators are useful, but some are just for fun (such as 
RBabiesS).   Others are too RverticalS for general use.  My main problem was I 
would have liked to  pick and choose which calculators were installed, and 
reduce the amount of package  memory taken up.  Out of the 16, I would have 
only kept four (Dates,  Hex/Octal/Binary/Dozenal,Math/Science, and Time).  
Still, the flexibility of these  calculators ensures everyone will find one or 
more of them handy.

GoFigure Dubl-Click Software, Inc. 22521 Styles Street Woodland Hills, CA 
91367-1730

AOL:	DclickTech
AppleLink:	Dubl.Click
CompuServe:	72260,3720
InterNet:	DclickTech@aol.com


TimeReporter
Mark Underwood

Do you have to keep track of your time?  Who doesnUt?  But if youUre a Newt 
owner,  and have to capture the details of your work for accounting or billing 
purposes,  iambic Software has written TimeReporter, RThe intelligent time 
tracking softwareS,  to help you out.  This application was developed for 
consultants, attorneys,  accountants, designers or anyone else who would like 
to keep track of their time.

When you start TimeReporter, you are shown a Rtime/expense reportS over a 
period  you specify.  You see one day at a time, and you can scroll to 
different days.  By  tapping the overview dot you get an overview of all days 
in the period.  Tapping on a  line on the report takes you to the time entry 
screen.  From the entry screen you  enter or change your time entry details.  
There are fields available for Client, Project,  Activity  each with the 
option of adding alphanumeric codes if desired.  The fields  Client, Project 
and Activity can easily be changed through preferences to better suit  the 
userUs business model--for example, an architect may prefer to rename the 
client  field, RprojectS and then set up RphasesS as subparts of the project 
in the RprojectS  field.

Clients can be linked in from the Card File, added on the fly, or pre-loaded 
using NCK.   Elapsed time for the task can be manually entered either using 
handwriting or  picking from a list, imported from the dates soup, or 
automatically timed.  Expenses  can be assigned to the event, as well.  From 
preferences, you can choose to determine  chargeablity on a client by client 
basis or based on the activity or type of work  performed.  The RgotoS button  
allows you to quickly and directly navigate to the  various areas and reports 
in the program.

The client detail report allows you to see all entries accumulated on a given 
client  over the selected period by project or for all projects.  By toggling 
to expenses, a  detail of expenses accumulated for the client is shown.  The 
client breakdown report  shows total hours worked for each client and 
percentage overall for the period  selected.  By tapping on a client from the 
client breakdown report you can see a list  of the entries which make up the 
total.  The activity breakdown works the same as  the client breakdown but for 
activities.  For each report, you can select to show,  chargeable time, non-
chargeable time or total time.  The breakdown reports allow  you to see how 
you are spending time so you can optimize the use of it.  This feature is  
unique to TimeReporter.  All reports can be printed, faxed, emailed, or 
transferred to  the desktop.

In preferences, the user can change the default terminology as mentioned and  
redefine expense categories.  For reporting purposes, time can be rounded up 
for  example to the nearest tenth of an hour or rounded up to a certain 
minimum for  example half hour.  The actual time information is retained but 
the reports reflect  the rounding preferences if desired.

As in all good Newton software, data entry into the program can be accelerated 
by  using the Intelligent Assistant.  From anywhere, write Rtrack Apple 100S 
and tap  Assist.  YouUll get a new entry screen with the Client as RAppleS, 
the activity  designated by code 100 and the begin time with be the current 
time or the blocked  time if from the dates calendar.  You can also use key 
word RgoS which handwriting  recognition seems to like better.  If you used 
Intelligent assistant from the dates  entry, TimeReporter will complete the 
full name, client code if applicable, and add  R{TR}S to let you know this 
event has been tracked by TimeReporter.

You can import events from the Dates soup using the RLinkS command, as well, 
which  allows a sort of Rafter the factS reconciliation.  This is the feature 
I like the most,  because I use my Newt to keep track of meetings, etc., and 
so now I can generate an  accurate time report of those events using 
TimeReporter.

This program comes bundled with a free Newt-to-Desktop transfer program for 
Mac  and Windows that lets you import/export account information, or you can 
use the  Newton Connection Kit (v 1.0 or later for the Mac, v 2.0 or later) to 
perform the same  function.  The transfer software takes about 10 seconds to 
dump TimeReporter  information to the Desktop, in contrast to NCK which takes 
about 10 minutes to  synchronize, and then requires an extra step to export 
the data.  TimeReporter  Receivers are extendible through DLLs on Windows and 
will soon be available with  modules which integrate with popular desktop 
billing programs.  The files created by  TimeReporter Receiver software can be 
opened directly in Excel or any other popular  spreadsheet or database 
program.

A 40 page manual, extensive on-line help (using Newton BookMaker), and free  
technical support are provided. TimeReporter comes on Mac and Windows readable  
diskettes.

I thoroughly recommend this program as a useful productivity tool!

TimeReporter v. 1.0.2
$129 SRP
iambic Software
P.O. Box 2338
Santa Clara, CA 95055-2338
(408) 746-3709

eWorld: Iambic
InterNet: iambic@eworld.com

Special NANUG offer!

Members can purchase TimeReporter directly from iambic during the month of May  
for $90!  iambic Software offers a 30 day money back guarantee if you are not  
completely satisfied.  Limit one copy at this special price per member, and 
you must  be a confirmed NANUG member.  Visa and MasterCard accepted.  Call 
iambic to order,  or send check or money order.

Please e-mail Mark Underwood at marku@aix3.ema.com if you have applied for  
membership and have not yet received confirmation.


Notion* -- The Newton List Manager
Scott Portis

Version 1.0.1d from Eidetic, Inc. (503 383-0679).  Distributed through 
StarCore  carrying dealers or directly from Eidetic for $59.95.

Notion is a very well thought out, intuitive, flexible list making 
application.  I was  able to use it immediately upon opening it without having 
to RTFM.  Score one for  Notion.  It is also one of those applications whose 
icon appears at the bottom of the  NotePad, which is good, but there is no way 
to disable that feature, which is bad.

When selecting the Notion icon from the status bar, a list of the active lists 
pops up.   The user selects the list of his/her choice, and, about 13 seconds 
later, the selected list  opens.  The list view is the main application view.  
The items in a list are arranged  such that each item may cover one to four 
lines of text in the list.  The field headers  for the items in the list are 
laid out at the top of the view to show what fields are  present and how they 
are arranged.  To change to a different list, the user simply has  to select 
the folder pulldown at the top of the application and select the name of the  
list. If the user does not want certain lists to show up, (s)he can make those 
lists  inactive.

Notion has multiple list RtemplatesS pre-defined.  These templates can be 
loaded from  the install floppy to the Newton or used directly from the Notion 
PCMCIA.  According  to the documentation for the demo version, there are 
almost 100 templates that can be  used.  Since the field names for each can be 
customized by simply tapping on the  title, a user should be able to find a 
template to fit any need.  This is an excellent  feature that allows data 
entry for just about any need.  I do not know any details about  the templates 
other than the 10 included with the demo version:  Plain List, Baby- sitters, 
Calls to Make, CD Collection, Credit Card Charges, Flight itinerary, 
Groceries,  StarCore Catalog, Things to Get, To Do list.  Flight Itinerary, 
for example, includes  fields for Date, Airline, Flight, Departure Time, 
Departure City, Arrival Time, and  Arrival City.  This template could be 
customized to record any information for which  the user needed 7 fields, one 
of which was a date field.  Notion will manage multiple  lists of multiple 
types.  The user can quickly copy the contents and/or format of a  current 
list to a new list and include it in the list of Active Lists.

NotionUs Documentation was well written and is distributed on-line (ALink) in 
MS  Word format.  There is a graphic of every screen in the application, and 
the author  includes comments on each screen to make reading the manual almost 
unnecessary.   I did, however, find several additional features by reading the 
docs.  The manual that  is sent with the demo version is written specifically 
for that version.

Entering items in Notion can be done in two ways:  double tapping an item line 
in the  list view, or selecting the New Item button on the form.  Once either 
of these actions  is done, a floating expando box (similar to the Names input 
fields in the Newton)  opens containing each of the fields for the specific 
type of list that the user is  currently editing.  This makes input a breeze 
since only one field is open at a time.   The user can also add notes to the 
item being entered by clicking on the Rsticky padS  icon on the corner of the 
expando box -- Notion is full of thoughtful features like  this.

Once items are entered in the list, they can be sorted by the fields that make 
up the  item.  Sorting is as simple and intuitive as selecting the field name 
in the header with  a tap.  After the tap, a status box appears to say that 
the list is sorting, and then  disappears when done.  Sorting is fairly quick, 
especially for the complexity of the  items (it blows NewtUs internal To Do 
list RsortingS out of the water).  I sorted the list  of StarCore software 
items included with the demo as a sample list, and it took about 15  seconds 
to sort 14 items -- not too bad on a MP.  I could not stress test this 
feature,  because the demo version only allows the addition of three items in 
a list at one time.

Other nice features of Notion:  a user can select multiple items by 
highlighting each  or a series of items.  A button with a check mark on it 
allows the user to delete, or  hide checked items, or to re-display hidden 
items.  Another button, RSelectS, allows  the user to select or deselect all 
items, or select checked or unchecked items.  The  Notion icon button allows 
the user to duplicate, delete or rename the list, open other  types of 
templates and hide the Notion app.  Hiding is a cool feature because it allows  
you to do other things without having to reopen the list, which takes a few 
seconds  (running multiple apps at once -- what a great idea!).

The user can print, fax and mail lists and beam lists to other Notion users.  
There is a  nice little utility in the Envelope button that lets the user 
convert a list to a normal  note so that the user may beam lists to non-Notion 
users as well.  This conversion  feature makes it possible to use the Newton 
Connection Kit 2.0 to transfer those lists to  the Mac (or PC) so that the 
data may be used in a database or spreadsheet package.

There was a lot of positive things in the Notion product.  It was laid out 
very well.   There was only one view, the list view, and everything was driven 
from there.  It is  very configurable, and comes with many templates, enough 
to suit almost any need  (at least for simple data entry).  Entering 
information is easy: double tap the item,  single tap the field, and enter.  
Templates with phone numbers or names will call the  person or number by 
selecting the phone icon in the data entry Rexpando boxS.   Sorting is a 
single click on any of the field headers of the list.  The 4 menu buttons  are 
helpful, but not chock full of useless stuff.  

The only problem I had was that I kept running out of memory, but I was 
running on  an original MP with version 1.11 software, 76K free internal, and 
a 2MB card (345K  free).  (I guess that we have all proven this isn't enough 
horses for the applications  that we want to write for the Newt.)  I suggest 
getting your original MP upgraded, or  getting a 110 to run Notion.  I would 
also like to suggest adding a percent complete  gauge for an item, a feature 
found in NotePak (also reviewed in this issue).  It is so  difficult to break 
items down into tasks that can be completed in one or two day's time  that I 
often have items on my to do list for weeks.  Being able to track my progress 
on  this item would be great.

Notion is a solid product from an experienced company.  EideticUs other 
corporate  personality blank, Berlyn & Co., Inc., has produced products for 
Newton published by  StarCore including: Dell Crosswords, ColumboUs Mystery 
Capers, and Motile.  I am  giving Notion a solid 4 out of 5.  The price is a 
bit on the high side, and the memory  problems are bothersome on a MP, but the 
program goes way beyond the Newton RTo  DoS list, especially for people like 
me who rely on lists and find the To Do list too slow  and featureless.  BTW, 
if you purchase direct from Eidetic, you are entitled to a free  upgrade 
release in the future.


NotePak
Scott Portis

NotePak v1.11 from Atomic Software (AppleLink: Allan.Marcus, CompuServe:  
76666,2113, eWorld/Newton Mail: Allan.M, InterNet: allan@apple.com) (Allan is 
also a  fellow NANUG member - Ed.) is another of the family of list managers 
that are  starting to appear for the Newton.  Opening NotePak is simple, since 
its icon appears  at the bottom of both the NotePad and the Names built-in 
apps of the Newton (this  feature cannot be turned off by the user -- a 
negative in my eyes).  Once it opens (in  about 5 seconds) the user is 
presented with the registration screen (if you have not  yet purchased and 
registered the app).  After that, the list view or edit view opens,   
depending on where the user last left the application.  The list view shows 
all the  information available for each item.  Actually the user can change 
all fields in an  item except for the item description, without leaving the 
list view.  Each item has a  category, priority, date due, folder, percent 
complete and description field as well as a  completed checkbox.  This is much 
the same in the edit view, except in the edit view  all fields are spaced out 
for easier data entry and the percent complete info is a gauge  that is user 
draggable.  The description field in the edit view is 9 lines of full screen  
width text which is very ample space to scratch some text.

At the bottom of each of the two main views are four buttons in addition to 
the  normal NotePad buttons.  There is a RNewS, R?S, RFilterS, and RSortS 
button.  New is  obvious, it takes the user to the edit mode to enter a new 
item.  The ? button pops up  the about window.  Filter pops up a window that 
allows the user to define and save  multiple filters to use on the list.  This 
is the most powerful feature of the application.   It allows the user to view 
exactly that data (s)he want to see.  The Sort button allows  the data to be 
sorted by category, priority or due date.  The File button will place a  
single item in the folder of the userUs choice, and the Envelope button has 
all the  normal communication items as well as the ability to delete a 
selected item, delete the  whole list, duplicate an item, move an item from/to 
the card, and allows the user to set  some preferences for the application.

The Good
NotePak had many features that I really liked.  The combination of three 
features --  filtering, sorting, and filing -- was really powerful and yet 
simple.  Because NotePak  is limited to only one true list, these features 
allow the user to create unlimited  numbers of RvirtualS lists.  Editing an 
item is a breeze.  Tap an item and it is selected.   Hit the overview button 
and the view changes to the edit view.  All fields in the edit  mode are 
pickable type input except of course for the item description.  This helps to  
keep frustration low and input takes minimal effort.  Data may also be edited 
directly  on the list view for all fields except the description field.  I 
love the completion  percentage field.  This really helps me to track progress 
on items that I am working  on.  How many times I have had an item sit on the 
To Do list saying RFinish your latest  coding projectS for weeks on end.  But 
now, using the duration tracker, I can track  efforts through to completion 
and actually see progress.  I also liked the ability to  link the check mark 
field with the percent completion field.  This option forces the  percent 
complete to 100% if the check box is selected.  It also can force the percent  
complete back to 99% if the user sets the percent complete to 100%, but does 
not  check the check box.  NotePak is fully Newton Connection Kit 2.0 (MS 
Windows and  Mac) compliant.  This means that the user can import and export 
data from other Mac  or PC based list managers to NotePak.  Finally, I can 
keep just one to do list!  NotePak  also uses the Intelligent Assistant and 
Find features built into the Newton.  Put the  words RnoteS or RtaskS in front 
of some text, select the text and hit Assist, and NotePak  will automatically 
place a new item in the list, complete with a finish date if a date is  found 
in the text.  This is a nice feature that saves some steps.  The user can use 
the  Assist without having to write a key word by selecting the RNoteS option 
in the Assist:  Please menu (that is, if she or he does not die of old age 
before the Assist feature  finishes trying to interpret the event).

The Bad
There are several features and changes that I would like to see in NotePak.   
Currently, the user can select only one item at a time.  The ability to select 
multiple  items would allow the user to change multiple categories or 
priorities and would be  able to file multiple items.  At present, each item 
must be changed one at a time,  which can be slow when you suddenly realize 
that you have a new category that 30 of  your list items should be changed to.  
I would also like to be able to customize the  priorities.  Priorities are now 
set from 1 to 9, 1 being the highest.  The ability to  create your own 
priority definitions will greatly increase the flexibility of the  listings.  
Another feature that I would like added is the ability to track duration of a  
project from a given starting date.  Duration tracking would provide more 
activity  management capabilities.  One of my strongest beefs is the layout of 
the application  in two main views, list view and edit view, as opposed to one 
view, the list view only.   Every time that I tried to leave the edit view, I 
would hit the close button, thinking  that I was closing the edit window, when 
actually I was closing the application.  What  I was supposed to do was hit 
the overview button between the two arrow buttons on  the Newton button bar in 
order to change between the two views.  Really intuitive --  Nyet!

The Ugly
There are a few RfeaturesS or bugs in NotePak.  On a couple of occasions, the  
application would lock up during filtering.  I had set up a RNormalS filter 
and a  RGiftsS filter to display items that had a category of RGiftsS and a 
priority of 6 or less.   About 1 out of 3 times after filtering the items, 
NotePak would simply freeze,  requiring a reboot.  The other noticeable bug 
occurred when changing the folder  tab.  What should happen is all items that 
are stored in the folder that you change to  are displayed while all other 
items are hidden. Right now if you do this, nothing  happens.  To make the  
other items disappear, the user has to select the sort button  and select one 
of the three sort options.  After that, the items will be displayed  
correctly.  Going from a specific folder back to the RAllS folder causes all 
items to  disappear completely.  Selecting the sort button again clears the 
problem.  These  were the only problems that I encountered, except for running 
out of memory and  being told to reboot constantly.

NotePak is a good list manager.  I like it because it will let me use data 
from other list  manager software.  There is room for improvement in both 
features, flexibility and  in user interface design, but this is a strong 
foundation for a product that has a lot of  potential.  3 out of 5.


SleepAid v1.01
Innovative Computer Solutions (ICS) - drowley@kaiwan.com, ics@indirect.com, 
CI$  75460, 2121, 73563, 2343

SleepAid is a $5US Shareware product that installs a more advanced sleep 
utility in  the Prefs in place of the current sleep prefs.  The user can set 
the unit to go to sleep  (via a set of gauges) after different amounts of 
time, depending on if the Newton is  running off of battery power, or the A/C 
adapter.  This way, you can leave your unit  on while it is plugged in at your 
desk, and not worry about forgetting to turn sleep  back on when you are on 
the go.  

Beside the one main function, Sleep Aid has four other function buttons on it.  
These  are: RReboot!S which is a handy way to Rboot the NewtS -- strange place 
for it, but  handy none-the-less; RSleep!S which put the Newt right to sleep 
and gives the user  the opportunity to kill any processes that won't allow it 
to go to sleep, ROpen PrefsS,  which takes the user directly to the added 
sleep Prefs, and Kill Prefs, which prepares  the utility for de-installation.  
I am using Sleep Aid right now as I write this, since I  left my charger at 
work and I wrote my notes about Sleep Aid and PrefsPatch (alas  without 
handwriting recognition turned on) in the doctorUs office while I was  waiting 
(any other computer programmers have bad backs? IUm only 27!).  Anyway,  the 
batteries on the MP last about 30 minutes on a good day so I am putting the 
thing  to sleep every minute, just to get the notes off of it I need.  

Another great feature of Sleep Aid is that it provides a sleep now corner.  If 
the user  clicks on the lower left corner of the screen (below the RNS in 
Names), the Sleep Aid  slip opens.  Hold the stylus down for a full second, 
and the Newt goes to sleep.  Cool,  simple, easy.  Sleep Aid is a natural.  4 
out of 5. -- Scott Portis, ALink: scott.portis


HeapIt! v1.0
Innovative Computer Solutions (ICS) - drowley@kaiwan.com, ics@indirect.com, 
CI$  75460, 2121, 73563, 2343

HeapIt! is another neat tool from ICS.  It is shareware, like its sibling 
Sleep Aid (also  reviewed this month).  $8US gets you guilt-free, free heap 
space.  The main purpose  of HeapIt! is to reclaim heap space on the Newton by 
deleting all of the space taken  up by InstallScripts left out there after 
installing software (and after each reboot).  

The interface is very simple, a screen with instructions and two buttons, one 
labeled  RKill All InstallScriptsS and the other labeled RPrepare to 
DeInstallS.  There is a  display of the current free heap space, and after 
hitting the RKillS button, there is a  display of the apps that the utility is 
checking to remove its InstallScript.  The  process of reclaiming is very 
quick, and the heap space can sometimes grow by a  surprising amount.  HeapIt 
can also be run from the Card/Backup slip: it installs a  button on the slip 
that will opens and runs HeapIt!.  Since this window opens  automatically 
after a boot, it is easy to reclaim the Heap space.

After I reboot on my original MP with a 2MB Flash Card, HeapIt reclaims 
anywhere  from 5000 to 11000 bytes.  Things tend to run better after HeapIt! 
executes, but I  cannot say that I donUt get those out of memory errors 
anymore.  I still get them, but  perhaps not as often. 3.5 out of 5. -- Scott 
Portis, ALink: scott.portis


PrefsPatch v1.0
Innovative Computer Solutions (ICS) - drowley@kaiwan.com, ics@indirect.com, 
CI$  75460, 2121, 73563, 2343

PrefsPatch is a freeware utility from ICS that makes life a bit easier for 
users of the  Prefs and Formulas on the Newt.  Without PrefsPatch, the user 
has to go to the Extras  drawer, select either the Formulas or Prefs icon, 
select which items to use, and then  close two slips and the Extras drawer in 
order to return to the spot (s)he previously.   PrefsPatch makes the process 
easier by placing an icon on the menu bar of the  notepad that takes the user 
directly to either the Prefs or Formulas list of items  (depending on which 
side of the icon the user selects),  and then closes the entire  thing with 
only one click.

PrefsPatch works as advertised and is a great little time saver if you use 
Prefs or  Formulas very often.  The only drawback is the inability (once again 
-- every  product I have reviewed this month suffered from this problem) to 
remove this icon  from the menu bar (OK, ICS give us a menu bar manager!).  
The utility has a de-install  button to clean up after itself before you 
remove it.  3 out of 5 -- Scott Portis, ALink: scott.portis



Code Samples

Letters for Newt (Part 2)
Kristina Weyer with {_protoGhostWriterDad: Steve}

Last month, I showed you how I wrote the programs for letters that the Newt 
could  draw.  I improved these in several steps, finally using variables for 
the width and  height.  But IUll stop rambling on about last month.  If you 
really want to know about  it, go read it! (We agree.  Part 1 of this article 
was in MarchUs newsletter - Ed.)

This month, I said IUd show you how we redid the letters one more time to get 
rid of all  of the gos, turns, and goPts and just use number coordinates to 
represent the letters.   In order to try this, you should really get the 
latest version of Newt which is 2.1,  since my Dad fixed a bug with goPt and 
you can use a pen color besides black (they  arenUt really different colors -- 
just shades of gray).  HeUll help with some of this, and  write most of the 
parts about using fonts and creating text objects and applications --  IUve 
got to practice for my saxophone concert and work on a science project, plus I  
donUt really understand some of the new stuff yet.

I had already added variables to my programs [methods], so that Newt could 
draw my  letters at different sizes.  hsize is the horizontal distance; vsize 
is the vertical  distance; sep is the separation between letters.  I always 
had Newt starting to draw at the lower left corner of a box.

Letters like A, especially those with non-90 degree angles, were cluttered up 
with lots of goPts (instead of simple gos and turns). One version of A looked 
like: 

A_letter func(hsize,vsize,sep) begin :gopt(hsize/2, vsize); :gopt(hsize/2, 
-vsize); :gopt(-hsize/4, vsize/2); :gopt(-hsize/2, 0); :movept(-hsize/4, 
-vsize/2); :movept(sep, 0); end

My Dad suggested that if we always did a movept at the beginning of a letter, 
then did  a bunch of goPts, and finally did another movept to get ready for 
the next letter, we  could write [represent] a letter like A as a list of 
numbers [an array of pairs of  coordinates] that are fractions of hsize&vsize:

[0,0, 0.5,1, 0.5,-1, -0.25,0.5, -0.5,0, -0.25,-0.5]

Compare this version of A to A_letter above to understand how it works:

0,0 - means A really starts in the lower left corner (T wouldnUt) 0.5,1 - 
means :goPt(0.5*hsize, 1*vsize) -- the left side of the A 0.5,-1 - draws the 
right side of the A -0.25,0.5 - retraces to where the crossbar starts on the 
right -0.5,0 - draws the crossbar to the left -0.25,-0.5 - moves back down to 
the lower left corner

So, now we had to store these letter lists somewhere, then write some methods 
to use  the numbers to do the drawing.  This next part is kind of complicated 
so IUll let my Dad  explain it.

We initialized an array, where each element was another array of coordinates 
for  each letter.  We used the character code of a letter as an index.

$A is the NewtonScript notation for a literal character. ord($A) converts it 
to an  integer code -- 65 for A.

makeLetters func() begin    self.letters := Array(256,nil); // create a slot 
with an empty array    letters[ord($A)] := [0,0, 0.5,1, 0.5,-1, -0.25,0.5, 
-0.5,0, -0.25,-0.5];    letters[ord($B)] := [0,0, 0,1, 1,-0.25, -1,-0.25, 1, 
-0.25, -1,-0.25, 0,0]; // rest of letters are at the end of the article end

To draw an individual character, I wrote a method called drawChar that takes 
one  of these letter entries, and scales the numbers times hsize and vsize to 
determine  the relative coordinates for movePt (first and last) and goPt 
(others).  achar is the  coordinate array for an individual letter.

drawChar func(achar,hsize,vsize,sep) if achar and length(achar)>=2 then begin    
local i, len := length(achar);    // move from origin to start of letter    
:movePt(achar[0]*hsize,achar[1]*vsize);    for i:=2 to len-3 by 2 // use 
coords, two at a time    do :goPt(achar[i]*hsize,achar[i+1]*vsize);    // move 
back to origin, +hsize+sep    :movePt(achar[len-2]*hsize+hsize+sep,achar[len-
1]*vsize);    end else :movePt(hsize+sep,0) // if unrecognized or empty char, 
just make a space

To draw each character in a string, I wrote a general drawString method, that  
allowed us to vary not only the size of the characters, but also the 
separation, the  angle between them, and even the method (drawmsg) that is 
used to draw an  individual character.  drawString iterates through a string, 
looks up the letter  description (array) for each character, and passes it 
along with hsize, vsize and sep  to the method specified by drawmsg.

drawString func(str,hsize,vsize,sep,ang,drawmsg) begin    local i;    for i:=0 
to StrLen(str)-1    do begin       
Perform(self,drawmsg,[letters[ord(upcase(str[i]))],hsize,vsize,sep]);       
:turn(ang);       end; end

A couple of details:  we convert all characters to uppercase, but you could 
create  different entries in the letters array for both $A and $a.  Perform is 
a handy  function for invoking methods when you don't know the name in advance 
(we  wanted to be able to specify 'drawChar or 'outlineChar); PerformUs third 
argument  is an array of arguments for the method.

Back to you, Kristina.

Ok, hereUs how you can use drawString.

:drawString("ABCD",20,40,10,0,'drawChar)

First, though, you might want to start by holding your pen down on Newt, then  
dragging it to the left so thereUs enough room for the letters.

If you use the angle variable, you can create some neat effects.  For example, 
what  does this do?

:drawString("Kristina",15,40,0,45, 	'drawChar)

TimeUs up!  RKristinaS arranged around an octagon.

HereUs another drawing method my Dad wrote to make hollow characters 
(outlined).   It basically draws each character twice:  the first time with a 
thick black pen, and the  second time with a thin white pen. ItUs not always 
perfect, especially on angles --  Rrounding errorsS he says.

outlineChar func(achar,hsize,vsize,sep) begin   :pen(3); :pattern(5); // black   
:drawChar(achar,hsize,vsize,0);   :movePt(-hsize+1,-1);   :pen(1); 
:pattern(1); // white   :drawChar(achar,hsize,vsize,0);   :movePt(sep-1,1);   
:pattern(5); end

This writes my sisterUs name and uses Dist and Deg variables (you find these 
next to  the buttons in Newt Controls) to let you write in the sep and ang 
numbers.

:drawString("Ellie",20,40,dist,deg, 	'outlineChar)

Although you can save letters as drawings to the NotePad, outlined letters 
just appear  solid black (Newt saves the size of the pen, but my Dad says he 
couldnUt find a place in  Notes to save the pen pattern).

If you want to draw text using NewtonUs built-in fonts, you can try that from 
Newt  too.  Ok, my Dad will have to explain the rest.

Our simple system used straight lines to generate letters; a more 
sophisticated  scheme like Adobe PostScript might use a more complex curve for 
mathematically  representing the shape of a letter.  We could create our own 
bitmaps for each  letter, but why reinvent the wheel?  LetUs use some of 
NewtonUs built-in fonts.

One way to display text is to create a primitive graphic object and then show 
it --  Newt does this for lines.  Another way is to create a higher-level text 
object  whose drawing will be handled by the view system -- most applications 
use these  for labels, buttons and text fields in applications.

To create a primitive text object, you can use the function 
MakeText(string,left,  top, right,bottom).  The coordinates are in screen 
coordinates, not relative to any  view. To get this to appear on the screen, 
you would use the view method  :DrawShape(shape, styleFrame).  Make sure that 
the Newt Drawing view is visible  before you Eval this, otherwise, youUll get 
a Rnil viewS error. For example:   
:DrawShape(MakeText("Kristina",20,200,220,220), nil)

When styleFrame is NIL, default settings are used.  You can get fancier by 
passing a  styleFrame to specify the font and/or justification.  The font 
specification consists  of a family symbol ('espy, 'geneva, or 'newyork are 
built-in), a face code  (0=normal, 1=bold, 2=italic, 4=underline,...) and a 
size (9,10,12, 14,18).  Justification can be the symbol 'left, 'right, or 
'center ('left is the default).  So, a  sample styleFrame might look like:   
{font: {family: 'espy, face: 0, size: 12},  justification: 'left}

Since the complete expression is getting long and there are some things we 
might  like to change, we should create it as a method:

drawText func(str,family,size) begin    local myText := 
MakeText(str,20,170,220,200);    local myStyle := {font: {family: family, 
face: 0, size: size}};    :DrawShape(myText,myStyle); end

Try:

:drawText("Hello",'geneva,18)

You could add other parameters like face and location, but this direction 
isnUt too  promising.  You may have noticed that when you re-enter the Newt 
Drawing  view, or do an Erase, any text you drew before is gone.  This is 
because it was just  dots on the screen.  If you want to ensure that it 
refreshes properly, you would  keep a list of the objects that you want to 
redraw and do :drawShape on these  whenever the system calls your viewUs 
viewDrawScript method.  Another  disadvantage is that you cannot rotate and 
arbitrarily scale text like KristinaUs  letters, though you could capture it 
as a bitmap and then move the bits around  yourself.  Messy.

The way most Newton applications deal with text is as objects.  First, letUs 
create a  new application where we can add objects.  To create a simple one:

  :addApp('myApp,"Kristina")

To create a simple RprotoStaticTextS object within this new application, we 
could  define a method to add this:

addHello func() :addObj('hi, { _proto: 'protoStaticText, text:   "Hello 
World", viewBounds: RelBounds(20,100,100,20), })

Eval myApp:addHello() to add the text object.

If you close the application, and then re-open it (via the overview dot), the 
text  object is still there.

You can send messages to the text object.  For example,

  myApp.hi:hide()   myApp.hi:show()   SetValue(myApp.hi, 'text, "Hello 
Universe")

This last expression not only changes the text slot, but also makes sure that 
itUs  redisplayed again properly.

LetUs define a general Newt method to add text objects -- this version assumes 
a  standard width and height, and a default font, but you could add these as  
parameters also.

addText func(sym,str,left,top) :addObj(sym, { _proto: 'protoStaticText, text:   
str, viewBounds: RelBounds(left,top,200,20), viewFont: {family: 'espy, face: 
1, size: 9}, //this is the default })

Now, we could add a few text objects:

  myApp:addText('from, "From"&&userConfiguration.name, 20, 125)   
myApp:addText('newt, "Newt is neat (Register now!)", 20, 150)    If you have 
also installed RUNewt 2.1 (or 2.0) on your Newton, you can tap the  Save 
button to save this excellent application so that you can run it again later,  
separately from Newt.

Well, I think IUve overloaded you with too much information already this 
month.   Maybe next month weUll start to work on that HitchhikerUs Guide to 
the Galaxy  application we talked about.

Oh, before we go, thanks to those of you who have registered their copies of  
Newt so far.  Since several of you have said that you liked KristinaUs article 
last  month, I said that IUd give her 10% from anyone who registered and said 
theyUd  read it (or this article).  I think Kristina will probably make more 
money by baby- sitting (in fact, maybe I would, too), but I figured it might 
be worth a try.  What do  you think Kristina?

IUm definitely not ready to give up baby-sitting yet.  Although if I got 
enough money  from this, I might consider learning more about programming and 
writing more  articles. The HitchhikerUs Guide to the Galaxy application 
sounds really neat.  To those  of you who havenUt read it, I very very very 
very very very very very very very  very very strongly suggest it and the 
other 4 books in the trilogy (yes, I said 4, that  wasnUt a typo)

P.S. In case you donUt know where to find Newt & RUNewt, the files are named  
something like newt-turt-21.sit (runewt-21.sit) or .hqx and are usually on:

InterNet:
   newton.uiowa.edu: 	pub/newton/software/app/
   sumex-aim.stanford.edu(&mirror sites): 	info-mac/newton/app/
   newsgroups: 	comp.binaries.newton 
America Online(AOL):  	PDA:New Files (or PDA:Software Libraries:Newton)
CompuServe: 	GO NEWTON (DL 8)
AppleLink: 	Newton:Newton User Discussions: Freeware, Shareware and Demos

Registered users receive a 40 page manual, and a set of example files that 
demonstrate  writing methods and creating applications.

HereUs the complete list of letters.  If you donUt feel like them writing them 
in on  your Newton, you can transfer them to the NotePad via NCK. Also, Dad 
will be posting  Slurpee (a free soup transfer utility) in a few weeks.

 makeLetters func() begin self.letters := Array(256,nil); letters[ord($A)] := 
[0,0, 0.5,1, 0.5,-1, -0.25,0.5, -0.5,0, -0.25,-0.5]; letters[ord($B)] := [0,0, 
0,1, 1,-0.25, -1,-0.25, 1, -0.25, -1,-0.25, 0,0]; letters[ord($A)] := [0,0, 
0.5,1, 0.5,-1, -0.25,0.5, -0.5,0, -0.25,-0.5]; letters[ord($B)] := [0,0, 0,1, 
1,-0.25, -1,-0.25, 1, -0.25, -1,-0.25, 0,0]; letters[ord($C)] := [1,0, 
-0.75,0, -0.25,0.25, 0,0.5, 0.25,0.25, 0.75,0,-1,-1]; letters[ord($D)] := 
[0,0, 0,1, 0.75,0, 0.25,-0.25, 0,-0.5, -0.25,-0.25,-0.75,0, 0,0]; 
letters[ord($E)] := [0,0, 0,1, 1,0, -1,0, 0,-0.5, 0.5,0, -0.5,0, 0,-0.5, 1,0,-
1,0]; letters[ord($F)] := [0,0, 0,1, 1,0, -1,0, 0,-0.5, 0.5,0, -0.5,0, 0,-
0.5]; letters[ord($G)] := [0,0, 0,1, 1,0, -1,0, 0,-1, 1,0, 0,0.5, -0.5,0,-
0.5,-0.5]; letters[ord($H)] := [0,0, 0,1, 0,-0.5, 1,0, 0,0.5, 0,-1, -1,0]; 
letters[ord($I)] := [0,0, 1,0, -0.5,0, 0,1, -0.5,0, 1,0, -1,-1]; 
letters[ord($J)] := [0,0, 0,0.25, 0,-0.25, 0.5,0, 0,1, -0.5,0, 1,0, -1,-1]; 
letters[ord($K)] := [0,0, 0,1, 0,-0.5, 1, 0.5, -1,-0.5, 1,-0.5, -1,0]; 
letters[ord($L)] := [1,0, -1,0, 0,1, 0,-1]; letters[ord($M)] := [0,0, 0,1, 
0.5,-0.5, 0.5,0.5, 0,-1, -1,0]; letters[ord($N)] := [0,0, 0,1, 1,-1, 0,1, -1,-
1]; letters[ord($O)] := [0,0.25, 0,0.5, 0.25,0.25, 0.5,0, 0.25,-0.25, 0,-0.5,   
-0.25,-0.25, -0.5,0, -0.25,0.25, 0,-0.25]; letters[ord($P)] := [0,0, 0,1, 1,0, 
0,-0.5, -1,0, 0,-0.5]; letters[ord($Q)] := [0,0, 0,1, 1,0, 0,-1, -0.25,0.25, 
0.25,-0.25, -1,0, 0,0]; letters[ord($R)] := [0,0, 0,1, 1,0, 0,-0.5, -1,0, 1,-
0.5, -1,0]; letters[ord($S)] := [0,0, 1,0, 0,0.5, -1,0, 0,0.5, 1,0, -1,-1]; 
letters[ord($T)] := [0.5,0, 0,1, 0.5,0, -1,0, 0,-1]; letters[ord($U)] := [0,1, 
0,-1, 1,0, 0,1, -1,-1]; letters[ord($V)] := [0,1, 0.5,-1, 0.5,1, -1,-1]; 
letters[ord($W)] := [0,1, 0,-1, 0.5,0.5, 0.5,-0.5, 0,1, -1,-1]; 
letters[ord($X)] := [0,0, 1,1, -0.5,-0.5, -0.5,0.5, 1,-1, -1,0]; 
letters[ord($Y)] := [0.5,0, 0,0.5, -0.5,0.5, 0.5,-0.5, 0.5,0.5, -1,-1]; 
letters[ord($Z)] := [0,1, 1,0, -1,-1, 1,0, -1,0]; end


NewtonScript Quickie Jennifer Minge

Q.  Ever wondered how to create a text button with a popup list that has the 
button  hilited while the list is shown?  Something similar to when you click 
on the Show  button in Names?

A.  The solution is to track where the user clicks using a viewClickScript 
which  hilites the button and then calls the buttonClickScript which handles 
the popup.   Here is the code snippet:

viewClickScript: func(unit) begin    if :trackHilite( unit ) then    
:buttonClickScript();    else    :hilite(nil); end

 buttonClickScript: func() begin    local pop;      pop := [ "one", "two", 
"three" ];    DoPopup( pop, 32, 0, self ); end



The Real World

CANDi A Communications Aid for the Neurologically Disabled

Simon Coles University of Surrey, UK

Purpose CANDi is Newton software package aimed at people who have lost their 
power of  effective speech, generally as a result of a Neurological condition. 
Generally these  complaints tend to affect most muscles in the body, which 
means not only do  sufferers have difficulty speaking, but also in performing 
any kind of physical  movement.

For people with such RcatastrophicS conditions, common communication aids such 
as  pen & paper, typewriters, or RGrid ScannersS are not very effective as 
they require  good muscular co-ordination. CANDi provides communication with 
the minimum amount of physical movement,  without relying on physical co-
ordination or cognitive abilities, by presenting only  the most likely words 
on the screen.

In order to make this prediction mechanism reliable, several optimisations 
have  been made. The intention is not to compose perfect English, rather to 
allow effective  day to day communication. The restrictions the disease places 
on sufferersU lifestyle  helps in this - most communication involves the day 
to day aspects of care such as  moving the sufferer, eating, television, or a 
few selected hobbies.

The initial versions of CANDi are aimed at severe ParkinsonUs Disease (PD) 
sufferers,  although over time it will support the special aspects of other 
conditions. The  relevant symptoms of severe ParkinsonUs are:

%	Difficulty in speaking coherently. 
%	Reduced speech volume. 
%	Difficulty moving any part of the body. Small, accurate movements are 
the  hardest, and often impossible. 
%	Symptoms vary throughout the day, from ROnS (over active muscles, a lot 
of  involuntary movement), to ROffS (little movement at all). 
%	Little facial expression (a RmaskS face). 
%	Cognitive impairment, in a few cases.

A further difficulty is that sufferers have different symptoms, drug regimes, 
and  coping strategies. This makes it very difficult for RoccasionalS carers 
to care  effectively for a sufferer, so there is a heavy dependence on the 
RmainS carers who  will have the most day to day experience of the individual 
sufferer.

Description There are three modes to the device; as symptoms vary throughout 
the day, the most  appropriate mode is used for the particular session. These 
modes are closely modeled  on the techniques used by carers in these 
situations.

Typing Mode When the sufferer has most physical co-ordination, this mode 
allows communication  over an unlimited subject range, for around 2 or 3 
screen presses per word.

A keyboard is displayed, with a list of word choices above it. As the user 
types,  building a prefix up letter by letter, the most probable words with 
that prefix are  presented in the word list. When the word appears in the 
list, the user presses it, and  then proceeds to the next word. Typically a 
two letter prefix is sufficient, although  frequently used words need only one 
letter.

Phrase Mode This allows simple phrases, with one press per word, and is 
intended for simple  messages like RPlease turn the TV onS etc. It is based 
around a phrase tree, which  effectively contains rules like Rafter the word 
TFoodU you are likely to choose TBiscuitU  (probability 0.2) or TChocolateU 
(probability 0.2)S.

There is no restriction on the depth of the phrase tree, and different 
branches may  be different lengths.

Question and Answer Mode When a sufferer is in difficulty (say they have bad 
cramp), it is difficult for them to  communicate, except for RYesS or RNoS. 
Moreover, urgent action is required to  rectify the problem.

In these circumstances, a carer with experience of the individual sufferer 
will ask a  series of questions to ascertain the problem. Occasional carers 
will not have this  background knowledge, and therefore everyone involved 
finds this situation very  frustrating.

Question and Answer mode is a small expert system for helping in this 
situation.  CANDi prompts the carer to ask a series of Yes/No questions, and 
presents a possible  solution, with references to Newton Books where 
appropriate.

Performance In all modes, learning new phrases/words is fairly transparent. 
Ideally, the user is  unaware of the prediction mechanisms . Prediction is 
based on two aspects; how often a word is used, and the time of day a  word is 
typically used. There are two sources of information:

%	Local information is maintained and updated according the individualUs 
use.  
%	Global information, which represents a synthesis of all CANDi machinesU  
experience,  is maintained by the central machine through RFederated 
LearningS,  and downloaded to each individual CANDi on a regular basis.

The local and global information to find a particular probability.  This gives 
better  performance, especially in the early stages of use before CANDi  has 
had a chance to  learn the person.

Early testing shows the prediction is surprisingly accurate, and natural in 
use. It is  difficult to get a proper assessment without a larger Newton, 
which will allow more  choices to be displayed. The full dictionary for the 
typing mode is almost 10,000 words, which means 10,000  soup entries! I have 
tested it with just over 6,000 entries (filled up my 2Mb RAM card),  and speed 
is RacceptableS.

Platform Choice At its most basic, CANDi  needs a powerful, portable computer, 
with a touch screen.  This is a PDA!

Some of you may be interested in why CANDi  uses Newton, rather than any other  
(cheaper) PDA, particularly as the handwriting recognition is ignored 
completely.  Basically it comes down to:

%	The price of a Newton & RAM card is competitive with other 
communications  devices (which are often custom built). 
%	CANDi users benefit from competitive leading edge hardware, a wide sales 
&  support network, and many third party applications.  
%	The development tools make it possible to develop and support CANDi  for 
little or  no cost. This is very important given CANDi  is not a mass market 
product.

In addition, most RDisabled AidsS are clunky looking things, which make the 
Disabled  feel RDisabledS. Newtons are cool, trendy, almost RYuppieS devices. 
No one is ever  going to feel self conscious flashing their Newton around in 
public, are they? Oh yeah - itUs a fun platform to work on.... :-)

Further Applications A small, portable computer such as the Newton, together 
with a package such as  CANDi, can be beneficial to sufferers and their carers 
in other ways:

%	Newton books can provide accessible literature for people who find 
handling  physical books difficult. Perhaps a foot switch can provide RNext 
PageS button. 
%	Additional Newton books can store useful information about the disease 
and its  treatment. 
%	The IR port can control other household appliances, for example the 
T.V., heating,  lights, etc. 
%	With a modem, a central machine can be contacted on a regular basis. Not 
only  can this back up data, but data from all CANDis can be merged to provide 
very  rapid learning (RFederated LearningS). 
%	Software updates etc. can be handled automatically when they synchronise 
with  the central machine. 
%	Performance data can be gathered to assess the performance of the 
prediction  algorithms in real world use. 
%	Researchers can make up electronic questionnaires that can be sent to 
each  CANDi, where the user can complete it at their convenience. This is a 
very low  cost method of getting large quantities of reliable information from 
people who  until now have been very difficult to reach. 
%	The accuracy of button hits, and the variation throughout the day, may 
be useful  to Neurologists in assessing the effectiveness of drug regimes. 
%	All the other Newton applications you know and love can still be used, 
like Email  and Terminal emulation. The RPredicting TypewriterS is written 
just like any  other keyboard on the Newton, so you can use it with all your 
favourite  applications.

I guess I have a lot of work to do!

Availability CANDi  is being written as my final year project, which means the 
three modes have  to be finished by June. A demo version will be posted to the 
net then.

CANDi  is unusable on a MessagePad, as the screen is too small. On a PowerBook 
sized  Newton, with a backlit screen, it should be really impressive. CANDi  
will therefore  not be released until these bigger Newtons arrive. .story 
startspage For further information, please contact:

%	S.Coles@ee.surrey.ac.uk 	(before 1 August 1994) 
%	CSC016@email.mot.com 	(after 1st August 1994)



Tips, Hints, and Secrets NANUG Members

From Bill Kearney: IUve been using a 2mb SRAM card since last October in my 
MP.  IUve done quite a lot of  development, installation of new packages and 
entry of data.  I recently decided to  Tclean houseU on this card.

I backed up using (NCKUs) Sync to a New Connection Kit 2.0 file.  I copied the 
files to  another volume.

I then removed all apps from the card and the internal store.  I then removed 
all the  extraneous soups, everything but the built-in app soups.  I also 
removed all meta  datas other than the factory supplied ones.

This card reported 681k used after all apps and non-essential soups had been  
removed.

I then synched it again, to a new file.

I then ejected the card and rebooted the Newton.  When it rebooted, I went to 
the  Prefs screen.  Here, I reinserted the card.  The Newton prompted me with 
TA card has  been insertedU and there was an erase card button.  I tapped 
erase and wiped the card.   This new card reported 1950k free.

I then restored from the soups-only Card file.  The Newton now reports 183k on 
the  card and 1816k free.  I imagined that IUd recover a bit of space, but 
almost a half a  megabyte?  WhatUs the deal here?

I checked and all the data (Names, Dates, Notes) is actually there.  It seems 
there was  something TelseU on the card besides soup info.  What was it and 
how does one look at  that stuff?

I suspect it was trashed apps.  I have, over time, had several install 
failures.  -10xxx  errors and the like.  I just re-downloaded the app usually.  
Could it be that there were  remnants of them left behind?

I donUt really have to have an answer, but it is worth finding out what goes 
wrong  and how to prevent it.

I suggest you backup all the stuff on your cards (twice even!) and try this.  
Let me  know if you regain some memory on the card. (Ed. Note:  This trick 
works on all cards.  You can do a synch with any version of NCK  to your Mac 
or PC, erase the card, and do a resynch to RrestoreS the backup.  Current  
TpoliticalU thought runs along the lines of this:  the TmissingU memory is 
actually de- referenced items that canUt be removed by the high-level card 
user interface--most  of it coming from apps which donUt nil out their global 
variables on exit, or perform  a clean removal of any root view overrides, 
soups, etc.  A hard disk analogy would be  that this is a sort of 
TfragmentationU process.  A good idea for a possible Newt utility!)



The Sharper Knife Elaine Barrett

Another guest editorial this month, this time from the Windy City--where Newts 
are  finding there way into the hearts of the residents of the City of Big 
Shoulders--or at  least into Kerry McCarthyUs.  This isnUt without its share 
of problems though...

Sharewhere?

Mark Underwood asked me to elaborate on an e-mail message I sent--the 
disparity in  shareware pricing--as follows:

I am not an expert on computers, indeed when attending trade shows out of my  
personal passion for technology (and Science Fiction), my introduction is that 
IUm  just an end user.  This plays better at MacWorld than at Winter Comdex.

The term Tpower userU I find amusing--people generally become experts by 
spending  more time with one program/OS than others.  A more accurate 
definition of your  computer ability may be how exciting the technology is to 
you, and how you apply  your tools to problem solving.

How technology can empower people is what I love.  I remember first using  
MultiFinder (AppleUs original multi-tasking system software for the Macintosh 
- Ed.),  and first reading about Newton in MacWeek.  I got my RoriginalS MP on 
9/1/93, a date  etched in my mind by the speeding ticket I received on the way 
to the dealer.

My family is very active in the education field--my mom is Dr. Bernice 
McCarthy of  Excel, Inc.Us 4mation fame, and my wife is a special education 
teacher--so I guess  teaching is in my blood.

My thought is that authors who charge 5-8 times as much for their Newton app 
may  be short sighted, actually ending up making less money for their 
products.

Do utilities ranging in cost from $25-$40 provide 5-8 times the utility of 
Souper or Hot  Buttons, which cost 5-8 times less?

Are Rsha wareS programs--demo/partial ware programs--the only way for authors 
to  be reimbursed for their fine efforts?

I have worked for a sales/marketing company in Chicago for the last 12 years.  
Much  of my time on sales calls with National Chain Stores is spent 
determining what the  retailer may want to sell our products for, both every 
day and on sale.

The term Tpenny profitU is common in my industry:  the difference between the  
storeUs cost and sell cost, times the number of units sold.  For example the 
margin  (sell-cost) on a $9.99 widget with a cost of $3.78 is $6.21.  What the 
reality is in our  business, is that there are certain key price points where 
unit sales increase  exponentially.

In the above case, a retail of $4.99 probably will sell 5-10 times as many 
units as a  retail of $9.99.  The store actually makes more penny profit at 
$4.99, than at $9.99: 

Cost			$3.78			$3.78
Retail		$9.99			$4.99
Margin		$6.21			$1.21
Units Sold		1,000			7,500
Gross Sales		$9,990		$37,425
Penny Profit	$6,210		$9,075

If you made it this far, you realize that this has some relevance for the 
authors of  shareware programs.  One may realize more earnings by pricing your 
product with  the difference between penny profit and gross margin dollars in 
mind.

Kerry T. McCarthy
CompuServe:	72520,1334
eWorld:	KTMcCarthy
Newt Mail:	KTMcCarthy



Want-Ads, Classified, and Cork Board

-%-

We are planning a RNewton Development Conference and ExpoS to be held from 
June  1 - 3, 1994 in Sydney, Australia. Apple Computer Australia is a major 
sponsor. (Note the date change from last monthUs posting - Ed.)

We are now looking for high quality speakers (both developers and clients),  
delegates, session leaders, hands-on session helpers, and any vendors who 
would like  to support the product expo.

The conference is intended to stir up interest in Newton development in 
Australia,  and is aimed at three main audiences:

1. Business, Government & Education organisations who could use PDAUs 2. 
Existing or wanna-be Newton developers, software & hardware vendors 3. Any 
existing Newton Message Pad or other PDA owner

The 3-day, live-in conference will have separate streams for Developers (or 
potential  developers) & those who are new to Newton.  We expect to attract 
around 100 well- qualified delegates - about half will be developers or 
potential developers.

Conference Sessions will take the form of Keynote addresses by leading 
industry  figures (hopefully from organisations with Newton projects underway, 
& from  established developers) followed by extensive hands-on workshops, 
training,  developer breakouts and demonstration sessions.

Every delegate will be issued a Newton MP110 for the duration of the 
conference, and  they will be encouraged to load & try out software and 
hardware for themselves.

A large number of Macintoshes (probably LC575Us) loaded with Connection Kits 
and  NTK will be available, and every delegate will be encouraged to develop 
one  BookMaker application and one simple NTK application during the extensive  
workshops.  It is planned that delegates will be able to purchase their Newton 
MP110  and other associated hardware and software at very special pricing at 
the close of the  conference.

Naturally, a map of the hotel and surrounds, the conference agenda, and a list 
of  delegates will be pre-loaded on their Newtons - maybe even the Keynote 
papers if we  get them in time!

The associated mini-expo (not open to the public) will feature Newton & Mac  
products, software and accessories for demonstration & sale.  US software  
manufacturers not currently represented in Australia are being invited to  
participate.

The delegate Registration fee is exceptionally good value at AUS$495, 
including twin- share accommodation, airport transfers & all food.  Vendors 
will be charged an  additional fee to cover costs of staging the expo 
(probably an additional AUS$500 but  depending on space required).

If you are interested in participating at any level (especially as a speaker, 
vendor or  helper), or have ideas to contribute, please contact me ASAP!

Robin Simpson Conference Convenor AUStecc - Australian Technology Consultants 
Consortium Pty. Ltd. 30 Darley Street North Sydney NSW  2060  Australia  
AppleLink: SIMMO CompuServe: 100237,3253 Fax: 61+ 2 954 0037 Phone: 61+ 2 955 
9183

If you phone please note that the time difference is +17 hours - e.g.:

9:00 am Monday San Francisco =  	3:00 PM Tuesday in Sydney  9:00 am Monday 
Atlanta, GA =  	6:00 PM Tuesday in Sydney

-%-

Washington Apple Pi NewtonSIG Andrew Halls, Chairman

	The folks at the Washington Apple Pi, a large Apple users group here in 
the  Washington DC area, is sponsoring the formation of a Newton Special 
Interest Group,  (NewtonSIG)   An eager group of early adopters (many with old 
stories from the early  days of the Apple II and Macintosh) gathered together 
for our first meeting in early  March.  Bill Kearney was the featured speaker 
at this meeting.  Bill is an independent  Macintosh consultant who purchased 
the Newton Message Pad and development tools  at MacWorld in Boston last 
August.  He has been actively pursuing the wisdom of the  Newton ROM ever 
since.  Bill enthralled us with his interesting insights into making  the 
transition from a Macintosh to a Newton developer.  (Bill is also a NANUG  
member, and contributes regularly to the newsletter - Ed.)
	During our April meeting we had the opportunity to exchange Newton  
software and other technical information.  Bill Kearney compiled the groupUs 
first  Newton Sample Disk and distributed it at the meeting.  A SyQuest drive 
was available  for the exchange of massive quantities of shareware , Newton 
books and other  information.  A Newton Connection Kit was available for 
downloading packages for  those without other means.  Once the disk swapping 
and beaming settled down the  meeting reconvened at the Rio Grande Cafe for a 
more festive technical exchange. 
	The NewtonSIG has teamed up with MANDA, the Mid-Atlantic Newton  
Developers Alliance to pool the resources of the small, but growing group of 
Newton  enthusiast in the area.  We currently are planning joint monthly 
meetings to  exchange information and software and generally offer mutual 
support to our fellow  technological pioneers.  The first benefit we can offer 
our members is a discount  subscription price to PIE Developers, a technical 
journal for Newton developers.   Creative Digital the publisherUs of PIE 
Developers is also offering to our members a  discount on ViewFrame a Newton 
debugging and exploration tool.  Being the early  adopters that we are, all of 
our members also have EMAIL addressees.  We are  currently working on setting 
up an InterNet ListServe mailing list to maintain  contact between meetings.
	The NewtonSIG meets on the first Monday of each month at 7:30 at the WAP  
office.  For more information please contact Andrew Halls, at (301) 990-3725 
or at  ahalls@digex.net.

-%-

Over the last 5 months IUve put together, for my own use, various information 
about  the Newton MessagePad . Some people might have seen my RFAQ in the 
makingS  which was a crude prototype of an FAQ list. Version 2.0 is now ready.  
ItUs properly  formatted, contains more information and should be more widely 
distributed.

It has been submitted to newton.uiowa.edu under the name:

_nwt_facts_and_faqs_20.hqx

It takes 54K (Stuffed+BinHexed).

IUll e-mail it to people who canUt use ftp, but before asking, make sure that 
your mail  software can handle the 75K of the full uncompressed version.

Paul PottsU FAQ lists are quite different from mine at the moment, but I 
expect that  weUll merge progressively.

A NewtonBook version is planed, but it will take time.  DonUt expect it before 
version  2.1 of this list.

Hope youUll find this FAQ list useful.

JC

=========================== 
Jean-Christophe BOUSSON 
j.bousson@ic.ac.uk 
===========================

-%-

Wanted: Sharp Expert Pad  I like the design of the EP versus the slip covered 
Apple version.  I would prefer a  1.05 or earlier sys. I'm willing to pay up 
to $350.00 for one.  I'll also pay shipping if  you like.

Contact info:  email: law@arl.mil or law@brl.mil Regular mail: 

Larry Emanuel 315 Oak St. Aberdeen,MD 21001 Phone: 410 278 6272 Work 410 278 
6936 Fax

-%-

I run a BBS devoted to Personal Digital Assistants and Mobile Computing.  If 
you get a  chance give us a call at 812-949-8386 [2400 bps 8/N/1] and take a 
look.  ItUs a free BBS,  and new users are asked to fill out a questionnaire, 
and then are usually validated  within 24 hours.  We have files available for 
the Newton, the Zoomer, and other  related technologies such as PCMCIA and 
wireless communications.

Let me know how you like it! Mark Farmer E-Mail:  76300.703@CompuServe.com

-%-

Would you like to post an ad or other Newton-related classified item in 
_protoReality?   If so, please send your ad copy, via e-mail, to:

marku@aix3.ema.com

with a subject of RNANUG AdsS.  Items will be carried in the current monthUs 
issue is  received before the 15th of the month, otherwise it will be in the 
following monthUs  issue.  NANUG reserves the right to refuse publication if 
the content is deemed  unsuitable for our audience.

Currently, there is no fee to list an item.  Please limit the size of your 
text to no more  than two Newton Book Reader sized RpagesS (about a single 
typed page).  If you want  to include graphics, they should be no larger than 
3Sx 4S (8 x 10 cm).



NANUG Member Bios

Alexander Mehlmann

Alex(ander) is associate professor of operations research at Vienna University 
of  Technology, Austria.  His area of expertise is game theory, but actually 
he loves only  computer games (like: Prince of Persia, arrggghh!).  He has 
written three papers on  vampires, and may be considered as the worlds leading 
mathematical vampirologist  (there are no others around, thatUs why!).  Newton 
owner (German system 1.11) since  January.  Interested in programming, 
decision support on the PDA, and the Newton  Book Maker (the only chance to 
get his mathematical poems published) (No, itUs not-- did you see his poem 
earlier? - Ed.).

Allan Marcus

IUm an x-Apple employee now working at the Los Alamos National Laboratory in 
Los  Alamos, New Mexico.  Most of my programming time is spent developing 4D 
database  for the Lab.  My Newton programming is done at home in my spare 
time.  I have a  2.25 year old son (Ryan) who keeps me pretty busy when heUs 
awake.  When IUm not  programming, IUm playing with Ryan, shopping with my 
wife, or gardening (does  mowing the lawn count as gardening?).  This summer 
IUll be working on NotePak Pro  and putting in a new patio.

Ashley Barnard Armstrong

I got married in October, so my last name is still in transition (but not 
hyphenated!).   I bought my first Mac when the SEUs came out.  I was then in 
college and spent way  too much time playing with it.  After graduating, and 
job floating (managed a  veterinary hospital, then taught at a Montessori 
school), I noticed that I would work  all day, and then play all night on my 
Mac, downloading and playing with shareware.   I started hanging out at AMUG 
(Arizona Macintosh Users Group) a year ago.  Then  one day the president asked 
if I knew anyone who knew about shareware.  Then,  suddenly, I was working on 
BBS in a BOX (our shareware CD-ROM), and spending my  whole life downloading 
and playing.  Then the Newton appeared, and soon after,  Newton shareware.  I 
bought one after we had 30 files to test, with the complete  notion of 
returning it within 30 days.  Hey, I forgot to return it!  Now it is my new  
love, and spends more time with me than my husband or two Labradors.  After  
finding tons of shareware and reading the NANUG newsletters, Mark Underwood 
and  I created our own Newton site, which I now try to update daily.  The site 
is  ftp.amug.org, and also contains continuously updated master of the CD-ROM.  
Right  now, we are only accepting 2 anonymous users at a time on the site, but 
weUre  working on it.  I can be reached at ashley@amug.org.  I plan to be in 
Atlanta for the  Olympics in U96 and hope to go to a HUGE NANUG meeting!! 

Bob Caldwell

Bob has spent the last 22 years working in the Information Technology 
RbusinessS  for a variety of companies - Transport Data Communications, 
Milliken & Company,  Digital Equipment Corporation, and Philip Morris 
Companies.

After 12 years with Philip Morris USA in Richmond, Virginia and a variety of  
assignments including managing an Advanced Technology group, Bob has accepted  
an expatriate assignment to Philip Morris Europe in Lausanne, Switzerland, 
where he  is now Manager for IS & IT Planning.

BobUs first personal computer was an Atari 800 (unless of course you count the  
numerous PDP-11s he had access to while at Digital).  This of course was 
followed by  the IBM PC XT experience, and then Macintosh ever since.  It 
seems that Bob has some  of those Relectronic gadgetS genes, as he cannot 
resist electronics - whether  computer, audio, or video related.

BobUs first interest in PDA technology was actually fostered a number of years 
ago  with 2 products from Hewlett-Packard - the HP75 and the HP71 handheld 
computers.   In their time, these were remarkable products.

Bob has owned his Newton since October 1993 and can relate many stories to the  
difficulties of owning an US Newton in Switzerland.

Bob can be reached via NewtonMail at RCaldwell.  Bob has other email accounts 
but is  trying to reduce the number to a manageable number.

John Soltys

IUm a major in Mathematics/Computer Science at the University of Washington in  
Seattle, an Apple fanatic, and a professional croquet player.  If IUm not 
staring at a  computer screen or dressed in white, IUm flyfishing, or playing 
The Cure too damn  loud.

Of course, on a good day, I do everything at once.

Jonathan Brown

I started with a PC with an Osborne.  I have a doctorate in Public 
Administration  (specialty in public finance) and work with independent 
colleges in California.  I am  intrigued by all things technological but am 
not much on programming--more on  using it.  I bought one of the first Macs in 
Sacramento (we had a business associate  who had helped to bring Apple 
public).  When I am not at a keyboard, I like to be on  the water sailing.

Kai Kaltenbach

IUm a Technical Account Manager at Microsoft, where IUve been for 6 years,  
specializing in Windows, operating systems & hardware support for major 
corporate  customers.

Learning BASIC on a Teletype in 1976 at age 11 got me started on computers, 
and one  of the first available TRS-80 systems followed soon after.  My 
current home system is  a 486/66 PC which I also use for development in Visual 
Basic and C.  IUm something of  a game fanatic, and also own a 3DO, Jaguar, 
SNES & Genesis.

Bicycling, sports cars, reading, home theater & video collecting fill my free 
time -  such as it is with a job at MS.  Role models and/or favorite authors 
include Richard  Feynman, Harlan Ellison, LJK Setright, Kinky Friedman and Joe 
Bob Briggs.

My first PDA was an NCR 3125 penpad; from there I moved to a Casio Z-7000.  A 
new  MP110 is my current companion.

Melchor Amor Arcas

IUm Melchor Amor Arcas from Barcelona Spain.  IUm 28 years old.  I have two 
little  enterprises here in Barcelona.  I have two economics degrees.  I use 
my Newton in  my professional life in a lot of ways--I canUt live without it.

My Newton E-MAIL is MelchorA.  New mail is always welcome and answered.

Michael Pollet

Last month I was the only French NANUG member!  IUm a professional developer 
on  the Macintosh, and also a system/network TwizardU for UNIX.  IUm 24, and 
began with  my Apple II+ at 13!  I got a Newton (even if they donUt sell it in 
France for the  moment), and arranged to buy a NTK license from an American 
developer (thanks,  InterNet!).  IUd wanted NTK because I always want to be 
able to program the machine  I work with, so I decided to program on that 
little beasty, too.

IUm also a guitarist (I already wrote a tablature editor for the Mac) and may 
bring  some nifty Newton tools for the guitarist in the near future!

  
