Think Differently
It's difficult to explain to people just how much the Newton can do and what it's good for unless they hold it in their own hand and it starts doing things they need done quickly and easily. Part of the problem, at a very basic level I think, is the way people have grown accustomed to use computers. Though you may (as you can see) use a keyboard with the Newton, prefered data entry is by pen; either via handwriten input or by touch selection. The traditional PC style of computing is becoming obsolete, curiously, just as Microsoft is barely de-bugging their clone of Apple's original desktop user interface from 1984 (i.e. Windows OS).
Do More
Here's a brief description of how I've been using my MP2K to dull the edge of medical school. The To Do list makes it easy to remember all of the important "you have to do this to pass" events that harass you from week to week. The calander is nice too, but the school dictates the use of most of my waking hours so I just use the class schedule and calander they give us. NewtWorks is great for typing notes during microbiology and pathology. I do not recommend handwriting notes...too much material is covered to get it all. The notepad is great for jotting down questions and then emailing them to my professors automatically with email scheduler. Voice notes are great to send voice mail back home over the net. Some class syllabi are going electronic, and this introduces the possibility of using the Find function. Whenever I forget something, or want to study some specific idea, I just use the Find, and WHAMO! I've skipped wasting 5-10 minutes using an index or trying to find where I scribbled that choice tid-bit of USMLE exam info. In fact, every time the professor says "They love asking this on Boards," I put a "#" by it and then I can generate a list of very high-yeild data at the drop of a hat. I'm also looking at a program that will do H&P's for me and remind me to ask every little detail in a Review of Systems (Check out the VI Tour at The Virtual Intern's Home Page.
Need Less
There's no boot up time, no mouse pad, no keyboard, the batteries last about a month, and recharge in about an hour. (Ahem...Pardon me, Mr. Gates, does your laptop do that?) Apple's carrying case is very functional, and saved me from having to buy a new Newton after my backpack fell on the sidewalk the other day. The backlighting is great for lectures that are in dark rooms. Just about anything on my Newton, I can print, fax or e-mail - all without a desktop computer.
More Info
The Ultimate Newton has just about every other link a Newton user would want or need.