This topic's purpose is to generate discussions on why
and how the Newton can be a viable device and software
solution for consumers/users.
The Newton failed for many reasons however one element
that plagued the Newton from the beginning was the
lack of a true business case. I propose for everyone
to read the life and times of the first generation
Newton i.e. Defying Gravity: The Making of Newton.
Early on during the development cycle of the Newton,
we learn that Steve Capps and other high profile
engineers desired to test their abilities through
research and development. The need for something
challenging yearned at the core of all those Apple
tech whizs. However being a whiz caused the Newton to
suffer early on. Steve recognized this however it's
apparent that there was no clear direction or strategy
the Newton should take. They just knew it was hot and
they had to jump on it. Their ingenuity created some
of the best solutions this century however the lack of
a business case equalling the technological concepts
by Steve and others fired the Newton on its death race
from day one.
This is a typical situation in software and product
companies but this situation with the Newton brings
clear, at least to myself, why it died. Michael Tchao
attempted to develop this business case but youth and
inexperience about understanding the business world's
needs (outside of education/entertainment) and
consumers in various contexts worked against him. This
issue seems to be a continuing thorn in Apple's side
today.
The creation of the Newton opened the flood gates on
possiblities Apple couldn't speak to. They were
imposing a new way of doing business i.e. health care,
insurance, police, postal service, and etc. The lost
opportunity was not only release schedules but poor
ability to show how the Newton could be the "digital
assistant" in more ways than just a electronic
secretary.
Steve Jobs has said the mobile industry is young and
undetermined. That may be true however it was Apple
that presented the business case for the personal
computer that caused main frame computers to kneel.
That's why the personal computer accomplished what it
has thus far.
Notice when the Newton came on the scene. There was no
central, driving force that caused the status duo to
evaluate everything from their operation model to
their communications strategy. It was a electronic
freak show but cool as hell.
Newton still can have the same impact today. Palm,
WinCE and etc has not accurately captured the essence
of why users should believe it's imperative that a
change is needed. They must attack themselves liked
they attacked Big Blue.
When Apple can reveal how their products (Newton) is
the next essential element to allow someone like a
police officer to save a person's life, they'll not
only have demand but a better understanding of a
consumer's core need.
Apple still has a shot at this because certain
industries such as pharmcueticals, health care, and
parcel were growing industries using Newton PDA
devices when they killed the product. That's big money
folks. With the new OS, Apple should consider these
other industries and incorporate the viable ones in
their national campaigns. I know Apple Consulting does
customized solutions however the consulting world has
been developing solutions like this for years,
decades. Why shouldn't it be Apple that packages all
those solutions, make them modular and deploy them
across multiple industries beyond their normal ones.
Microsoft has been doing this for years.
Come on Apple its there for you to lose!
rw
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This archive was generated by hypermail 2.1.2 : Sun Sep 09 2001 - 19:50:18 EDT