Apple Computer MessagePad 130 with Backlighting is the Ideal Solution for Mobile Health Care Workers
CUPERTINO, California — March 28, 1996 — Apple Computer, Inc., today announced the release of the next version of the Apple MessagePad-the MessagePad 130. Based on Newton 2.0, the latest Newton operating system, the MessagePad 130 is the first Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) to offer user-controllable backlighting for on-demand use and a new durable, non-glare screen for viewing and entering information in any lighting condition. Coupled with additional system memory for improved multitasking support and the improved communications capabilities of Newton 2.0, the MessagePad 130 is expected to reinforce the adoption of the MessagePad as the PDA of choice for mobile computing applications in health care.
In the past year, the Apple MessagePad has garnered wide acceptance from individual physicians to large health-care-information companies. "As pioneers in the PDA market, we're listening closely to the market to ensure that we deliver products that meet our customers' needs," said Sandy Benett, acting vice president of Apple's Newton Systems Group. "The MessagePad 130 enhancements are a direct result of this feedback and will help health care professionals be more productive in a variety of care settings."
According to Teri Dahlbeck, manager, systems integrators/VAR relations for Apple's Newton Systems Group: "Health care presents diverse technological challenges and backlighting is an essential capability for the long-term success of a PDA in this market. Being one of the first PDAs with backlighting gives us an edge in the industry as well as a key feature for our customers."
Health care professionals will find that the MessagePad 130's enhanced screen technology and Newton 2.0's improved communications capabilities improve their ability to access and collect clinical information at the point-of-care. These enhancements have applicability in many care settings. For example, home health care providers work in diverse lighting conditions and frequently use a modem and land line to download/upload patient schedules and records.
With over a half dozen custom home health care systems currently based on Apple MessagePad technology, the home health care industry has begun to embrace the Apple MessagePad as their platform of choice. The trend is due largely to the price/performance, pen input capability, light weight, small size, and long battery life of the MessagePad, as compared to other handheld alternatives.
Health care professionals in other care settings will also benefit from the new features in the MessagePad 130. Ambulatory and acute-care work environments can range from high-glare, bright-sunlight conditions in a hospital or examining room, to very dark conditions in radiology viewing rooms. Clinicians on call will now be able to review a patient record on their MessagePad 130, look up a referring physician's telephone number, or check for drug interactions in any lighting condition, night or day, at work, at home or on the road.
Adoption of the Apple MessagePad in health care is growing, with over fifty health care specific software applications developed for the MessagePad to date. Advances in MessagePad and Newton technology, coupled with Apple's commitment to the platform, have encouraged health care information technology companies like PHAMIS, Inc. and First DataBank, Inc. to invest in MessagePad based health care systems or start significant development programs, further strengthening Apple's lead in PDA-based systems for health care.
MessagePad 130 Features Key features in the MessagePad 130 include:
– New transflective LCD with EL backlight for on-demand use in any lighting condition
– Non-glare more durable writing surface for easier viewing and a more robust mobile forms/data capture tool
– 512K additional system memory for better performance with new IP-based communications applications and improved multi-tasking
– 8MB ROM, 2.5MB RAM (1,361K nonvolatile user RAM)
The Newton 2.0 Operating System The MessagePad 130 is powered by the Newton 2.0 operating system. Introduced in the fall of 1995, Newton 2.0 offers overall improvements in speed, performance and system management. Newton 2.0 was bestowed a 1995 "Best of COMDEX" award in the operating system category and was also named "Best OS" at the annual Mobile Insights Conference, held in Phoenix, February 1996. Newton 2.0 supports a range of communications capabilities including: fax send and receive, email send and receive (through third party software applications), built-in support for a range of land-line modems and support for third party paging and cellular communication solutions.
Pricing and Availability The Apple MessagePad 130 is expected to be available worldwide beginning in April through Apple authorized resellers, VARs and SIs at a price of U.S. $799.00.
Apple Computer, Inc., a recognized innovator in the information industry and leader in multimedia technologies, creates powerful solutions based on easy-to-use personal computers, servers, peripherals, software, online services, and personal digital assistants. Headquartered in Cupertino, California, Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) develops, manufactures, licenses and markets products, technologies and services for the business, education, consumer, entertainment, scientific & engineering and government customers in over 140 countries.
CONTACT:
Brian Grimm, Health Wave for Apple Computer,
Inc.
Tel: +1 910 686-0870
e-mail: health.wave@quantum.net