Shopping in the Big Apple

A recent trip to New York (over the Easter weekend) prompted me to search for the then new USR PalmPilot models and the Apple Newton 2000, both of which had been released in the previous month. The Apple Newton web page had a great looking search page to find local retailers, which I used to scan for retailers in the 100 zip code area, which is Manhattan. This gave me a long list of branches of The Wiz, and a Computer City, but didn't give me either J & R Computer World, or Newton Source, both of which I knew were in Manhattan, and sold Newton products.

The listed retailers all had either no Newton products, or a small stack of old accessories. The sales assistants I asked all said that Newton was a discontinued product range, and they wouldn't be selling it any more. Apple have since updated their retailer list to reflect the current situation, although still ignoring NewtonSource, but it was very disappointing to find it so inaccurate.

In contrast to the situation with Newtons, various Pilot models were available everywhere I looked. Even the PalmPilot Professional was for sale, although rumours at the time were implying that it wouldn't be released for almost another month.

Although this gives the impression that USR are outdoing Apple in the United States, the situation is different on this side of the Atlantic. USR are unlikely to release the PalmPilot models for several weeks, whereas Apple already had Newton 2000 models with their faithful high street retailers within days of Easter.

Words and design by:
Paul Lynch
Last updated: July 30, 1997