Newton crashed today

Yes, I have discovered this some time ago, and I also found that while the Newton OS clock can show future dates in its software calendar pop-up slip, I can't actually set the system date and time beyond January 5 2010 after 2:00 AM.

Trying this will cause my Newton to crash, or the date wraps around to December 28 1975 or thereafter.

it seems that without a patch to Newton OS, the system has hit an internal limit that prevents it from representing dates beyond January 5th.

Does this mean it's time to lock up my MessagePad in a glass cabinet?

--tonza

Thought l'd add this in, because to me it amounts to something pretty conclusive.

l have two MessagePads: an upgraded 2000 and a 120. Both have the same problems with setting dates beyond 4 January, 2010. So to me, this is a Newton OS 2(.1) system software issue—I think the MessagePads have now reached the end of their useful life as designed.

Quoting Doctor Jones... "they belong in a museum!"

--tonza

A patch exists to remedy the issue with the NewtonOS date not being able to handle dates past January 5, 2010:

http://40hz.org/Pages/Newton%20Year%202010%20Problem

There is still an issue even with the patch installed where if the Newton is rebooted it resets the date to 2008; however, you can simply reset the date and time and carry on. No need to relegate the MessagePad to the museum yet.