Newton users express dismay over PDA's death

CUPERTINO -- "We give a fig about the Newton."

That was the message Friday at Apple Computer Inc. headquarters as about 60 Newton users and developers gathered in a parking lot to express anger and dismay about the company's decision to discontinue the once-revolutionary handheld computer.

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They carried signs with catchy slogans -- "Newton is my pilot," "Save the Newt" - donned black armbands, ate Apple-flavored Fig Newtons and expressed their frustration with Apple (AAPL) in general and Interim CEO Steve Jobs in particular.

"Steve Jobs doesn't care about insanely great products anymore," said Newton user Kirby Curtis. "I'm extremely upset."

	Requiem for a PDA -- a look back at the Newton.

The crowd sang the praises of the personal digital assistant and slammed Apple for dropping it.

"The Newton captured the simplicity and innovation of the original Macintosh," said Adam Tow, president of the Newton Developer's Association.

Jobs behind the demise?
"It's just like anything from Apple," said Edward Martin, president of MAR software, who added that "lack of marketing" doomed the Newton.

Some in the crowd speculated that discontinuing the Newton was revenge. The Newton was championed by former Apple CEO John Sculley, who also orchestrated Jobs' ouster from the company.

'Steve Jobs doesn't care about insanely great products anymore.' -- Newton user Kirby Curtis

"Steve Jobs is well known for not liking the Newton. It's entirely possible ... that anything he can do to veto it, he'll do it," Tow said.

Tow was skeptical about Apple's stated intention to try to sell the Newton OS to a third party.

Developers willing to help
"Although (Chief Financial Officer) Fred Anderson said in the conference call last Friday that Apple was willing to entertain serious offers for the sale of the technology, I have to question whether those intentions are sincere."

But the developers also said they'd like to pitch in on rescuing the Newton.

The Newton Development Group "would like to extend any resources of this technology to a third party that is committed to its success,'' Tow said.

Apple initially was not going to allow Friday's demonstration on the campus, Tow said. But "several hours later" the company changed its mind and said it would section off part of a parking lot and provide beverages.

Apple encourages protest
"People are understandably upset that we have decided to stop developing future Newton OS based computers, especially the MessagePad," said Apple spokeswoman Rhona Hamilton. "We knew people were coming out to Apple today to protest our decision and we were fine with that."

"What we wanted them to know was that the decision to end it wasn't taken lightly, and that it's unlikely to be reversed," said Apple spokesman Russell Brady.

Apple has announced plans to release a mobile computer running a modified version of the MacOS in 1999.