Re: Apple Newton specs: RAM, infrared, speed

[Simon Spero <ses@tipper.oit.unc.edu>]

I just got back to Chapel Hill, dug up my NTK docs, and you go and do 
this :-)

Newton script is not a particularly ideal language for crypto (or 
networking). It's byte code interpreted, and more annoyingly, has 30 bit 
integers. The C++ compiler has been promised for a while, but it looks 
like it may actually appear soon (the new newtons seem to be doing really 
well on word-of-mouth- at the moment I guess apple will do anything that 
will get the cash flowing :-(

Simon // newt & BEboy



On Sun, 19 May 1996, Declan B. McCullagh wrote:

> >From a friend who's one of the best Newton developers around. An
> unsolicited plug: check out his company's web site at
> http://www.newts.com/
> 
> -Declan
> 
> ---------- Forwarded message begins here ----------
> 
> Date: Sun, 19 May 1996 11:56:52 -0700 (MST)
> To: "Declan B. McCullagh" <declan+@CMU.EDU>
> From: dan@newts.com (Dan Rowley)
> Subject: Re: Fwd: Is Chaum's System Traceable or Untraceable?
> 
> >>Does anyone on cpunks or ecash have an Apple Newton?  I know
> that they come with infrared-- what are the specs on that
> communications device?  And about the Newton itself:  can it
> compile ANSI C code?  How much RAM?  Permanent storage?  Speed
> of crypto operations?
> 
> Dec -
>         The Newton's infrared is essentially the SHARP "ASK" protocol,
> which is the same as used by the sharp wizard.  It is *not* IrDA
> compatible, and Apple claims that it's a hardware problem not a software
> problem.  The Newton cannot currently compile ANSI C unless you have very
> close ties to Apple (internal code development is in C), but they will be
> releasing C tools for the Newton within a couple of months.  The C, of
> course, is not directly compiled on the Newton, but on a host Mac.  The
> Newton ships with between 1 and 2 megs of internal RAM, but can be expanded
> with FLASH or SRAM cards, but there's only one slot, so putting in a modem
> could be tough.. ;)  The permanent storage *is* RAM.  It's all flash.  As
> for speed, it depends on whether you do it in NewtonScript or C.
> NewtonScript is compiled to P-Code that runs on a virtual machine, and is
> really not too bad.  you can also compile to straight ARM code if you want.
> The next Newton to come out will be based on the DEC StrongARM which I
> understand is blindingly fast..
> 
> Hope this helps
> 
> Dan
> 
> --------
> Dan Rowley
> Innovative Computer Solutions
> Developers of fine software for the Newton
> Now, also developers for Be!
> 
>