eMate memory cards

The Newton range, including the eMate 300, accept PCMCIA memory cards, although cards that will work in the Newton generally won't work in other machines, like the various Windows CE machines, for example. To add to the confusion, cards that worked in very early Newtons don't work in current Newtons. I have been told that it all depends on whether the card uses 3V or 5V internally, but haven't yet been able to verify that.

Originally Apple sold 1 Mb and 2 Mb cards (and some even smaller ones, if I remember correctly), with the larger cards only being available with flash memory. Non-Apple branded cards are perfectly acceptable; I use both an old PICO 2Mb RAM card, and a 16 Mb ActionTec flash card. With 1.x of the Newton operating system, Apple discouraged use with cards of greater capacity than 4 Mb, but apparently the performance problems of accessing more than that amount of memory have been cleared up with 2.0 and greater of the operating system.

Until very recently, on both their web site and dealer price lists, Apple suggested an older model of the 4 Mb flash card was suitable for both the Message Pad and eMate. This model came in a red and black box, and was red and black itself. However, although this model will work with all of the Message Pads, it won't work with the eMate 300. You must use the H0230Z/A, which is the only memory card now sold by Apple. The new card is mainly white, and comes in a silver and black box. I was caught out by this, as was my Newton dealer (Thames Valley Applepoint in Slough, 01753 518666), who were very helpful in getting it sorted out. It is likely that any dealers, retail or mail order, might have stocks of the old flash cards; be careful if you are planning on using them with an eMate.

Words and design by:
Paul Lynch
Last updated: December 3, 1997