Types of Storage Card: Static vs. Flash
Newton MessagePads use two types of PCMCIA cards (PC Cards) for storage: static-RAM (SRAM) and Flash RAM.
SRAM is volatile, so it requires that the card be powered at all times or the data disappears. Most SRAM cards ship with batteries that must be changed periodically, usually between two and four years. Additionally, SRAM cards generally have small capacities ranging between 256K and 1 MB of storage. SRAM cards generally write data to memory more quickly than Flash RAM but both types provide similar data access speeds.
Apple released and discontinued one SRAM card:
- Newton 1MB Storage Card. The card is black plastic with a red label. (Part number H0028LL/A)
Flash RAM is non-volatile, so batteries are not needed to preserve data. Flash RAM cards come with a variety of internal designs. Apple supports the use of Newton labeled cards. Cards from other vendors may work, but Apple does not provide support.
Apple released and discontinued two Flash RAM cards:
- Newton 2 MB Flash Storage card. The card has a red label. (Part number is H0008LL/A.)
- Newton 4 MB Flash Storage card. The card has a red label. (Part number is H0092LL/A.)
Apple currently sells only one Flash RAM card:
- Newton 4 MB Flash Storage Card. The card is metal with a white label. (Part number is H0230LL/A.)
Note: Only Newton OS 2.x supports this card.
Card Compatibility
Compatibility of specific cards will vary by model. As a rule of thumb, older MessagePads may not have driver support for newer MessagePads. Additionally, the eMate does not fully support some older cards.
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| Apple PC Card Compatibility |
| Newton 1MB
Storage Card (SRAM)
H0028LL/A
(discontinued) | Newton 2MB Flash
Storage Card
H0008LL/A
(discontinued) | Newton 4MB Flash
Storage Card
H0092LL/A
(discontinued) | Newton 4MB Flash
Storage Card
H0230LL/A |
| MessagePad | Compatible | Compatible | Compatible | Not Compatible |
| MessagePad 100 | Compatible | Compatible | Compatible | Not Compatible |
| MessagePad 110 | Compatible | Compatible | Compatible | Not Compatible |
| MessagePad 120 (1.0) | Compatible | Compatible | Compatible | Not Compatible |
| MessagePad 120 (2.0) | Compatible | Compatible | Compatible | Compatible |
| MessagePad 130 | Compatible | Compatible | Compatible | Compatible |
| MessagePad 2000 | Compatible | Compatible | Compatible | Compatible |
| eMate 300 | Compatible | Compatible; read-only | Compatible; read-only | Compatible |
.
Notes- The eMate can read 5V and 12V cards, but cannot write to 12V cards. The Newton 2MB Flash Storage Card and the red-labeled Newton 4MB Flash Storage Card are 12V cards.
- Only Newton OS 2.x supports the Newton 4 MB Flash Storage Card (part number is H0230LL/A).
Support For Other Card Architectures
Customers have asked if the ATA architecture (often used for cards with hard drives) is supported. There is no support for the ATA architecture at this time.