
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, March 5, 1994                   TAG: 9403050045
SECTION: BUSINESS                    PAGE: A6   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: associated press
DATELINE:    CUPERTINO, CALIF.                                LENGTH: Short

NEWTON WINS A REPRISE

Apple Computer Inc., heeding critics of its Newton MessagePad hand-held computer, is launching a new version containing improved handwriting recognition and more memory.

The original Newton, a pen-based portable computer introduced in August, has suffered from slow sales and ridicule by computer critics who say it has trouble recognizing handwriting.

Friday, the company said planned improvements - including new software and improved ability to communicate over wireless networks - also will make the device more useful.

Like its predecessor, the Newton MessagePad 110 is a so-called personal digital assistant - a small computer that stores and manages such information as addresses, appointments and memos and sends and receives them over phone lines or cellular or other wireless networks.

But critics say the technology still is flawed and the machines are overpriced and of limited use for the average person.

The Newton MessagePad, priced at $699, was Apple's first major new product line since the introduction of the Macintosh personal computer in 1984. The new Newton is priced at $599.

by CNB