Newton · The Beige Era · 1997
Newton MessagePad 2000
The MessagePad 2000 was the Newton hitting its stride: fast enough to stop feeling like a demo, with a bigger screen, PC Card expansion and much better handwriting recognition.
Made the Newton feel genuinely fast with a StrongARM processor and a larger screen.
eMate 300 (1997)
Newton MessagePad 2000: key facts
When was the Newton MessagePad 2000 released?
The Newton MessagePad 2000 arrived on March 24, 1997. Apple discontinued it in February 1998.
How much did the Newton MessagePad 2000 cost?
The Newton MessagePad 2000 launched at $949 in 1997 — about $1,889 in today’s money (approximate, US CPI).
What specs stand out?
Key specs: StrongARM SA-110 at 162 MHz, 5 MB RAM, 8 MB storage, 480×320 greyscale touchscreen display.
Why does the Newton MessagePad 2000 matter?
Made the Newton feel genuinely fast with a StrongARM processor and a larger screen.
Full specifications
| CPU | StrongARM SA-110 · 162 MHz |
|---|---|
| Cores | 1 |
| Memory (RAM) | 5 MB |
| Storage | 8 MB |
| Display | 480×320 greyscale touchscreen |
| GPU | Integrated |
| Ports | PCMCIA, serial, infrared |
| Weight | 640 g |
| Dimensions | Large handheld slate |
| Operating system | Newton OS 2.1 |
| Released | March 24, 1997 |
| Discontinued | February 1998 |
| Launch price | $949 |
How the Newton MessagePad 2000 compares to today
A 16 GB Apple Silicon MacBook Pro has about 3,280× more memory than this device shipped with.
At 162 MHz, the clock is roughly 20× slower than a single performance core of a 16 GB Apple Silicon MacBook Pro — and that is before counting cores, width and IPC.
All of this storage holds about 2 modern phone photos.
Launched at $949 in 1997 — about $1,889 in today’s money (approx., US CPI).
Method note: clock comparisons use frequency only; price conversions use US CPI.
Did you know?
It arrived less than a year before Steve Jobs shut down the Newton line.
Related Newton models
Open the Newton MessagePad 2000 in the interactive archive →
Last updated: 2026-06-29