Two weeks ago I commented that, “Sometimes I wonder just how ‘Newton’ I could go. Clear off my desk and leave only an eMate and Color StyleWriter 2200? Would love it.” Shortly there after I discovered that RetroChallenge would be kicking off their 2010 Winter Warm-Up at the start of January. How could I resist bringing a little extra green (I’d assume there will already be many a glow from green monochrome CRTs) to the challenge?

While I’m desperately trying not to start new projects, one of the tasks I’ve been attempting during my few hours at home has been to clear off my desk. It had become a dumping ground for paid bills, receipts, gadgets and anything else without a specific home. At one point the pile actually reached the ceiling. Working in a few eMate repairs and a bit of writing during the month of January should not only be feasible, but could actually feel quite productive. Needless to say, little extra encouragement was needed for me to submit an entry.

The challenge is very open-ended, so I was content with setting a reasonable goal of repairing & updating an eMate 300 as a clean & simple environment for focused writing. It needs the hinge repaired, battery recelled, 2010 patch applied, and a few other issues addressed, so there’ll be more involved than merely clearing away desk detritus. If I manage all that with time to spare, then I’ll venture to craft a working modem script which allows me to get online with AT&T EDGE/GPRS via Bluetooth, but I’m not counting on it.

To be honest, it feels a bit deceitful to submit a Newton entry as I’m a daily user and a bit of a power user. Hell, my MessagePad 2100 travels with me everywhere and is already patched for 2010, has CompactFlash memory, BlueTooth, and WiFi. The eMate, however, has just been collecting dust in the strata on my desk, so I doubt I’ll get much push back for revitalizing it.

With less than an hour to go before the start of the challenge in my time zone, I’m very much looking forward to a clean, minimal, and usable Newton desk at the end of the month.