I just got a Megahertz XJ1144 modem card for my MessagePad 2000 and now my Newton freezes every time I reset it. Can I not use this modem with the MessagePad 2000?

Apple has discovered a timing compatibility problem with Megahertz XJ1144 or XJ2144 modem cards and the MessagePad 2000. The symptom is that, after you reset or restore information on your Newton, the Newton freezes at startup.

The chipset in the Megahertz XJ1144 and XJ2144 modems requires more than 10 seconds to boot. Because of the MessagePad 2000 architecture, Apple would have to extend everyone's boot time to 10+ seconds to accommodate these modems which Apple decided not to do.

If your Newton device freezes after you reset, remove the modem card and reset your Newton device. Then reinsert the modem after your Newton device has restarted.

This article was published in the 29 May 1997 "Information Alley".