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Hi all:

    I've just updated my HP calc website to include some new goodies for you to freely download if interested, namely:

    • New PDF article online: "Long Live The HP-34C !":

        This is a 9-page article dedicated to the wonderful HP-34C, a landmark of vintage HP calculator design in many aspects, which introduced for the first time a number of state-of-the-art computing capabilities never before seen in any handheld device.

        The article includes fond personal remembrances related to this model, as well as an application program taking full advantage of some of its most advanced built-in capabilities.

    • New Section: "My Challenges":

        This section will feature my "Mini-Challenges" and "Short & Sweet Math Challenges", as originally posted to the Forum of The Museum of HP Calculators.

        For this particular update, one Mini-Challenge and three S&SMC are now available in PDF format at my site.

    I hope you enjoy them. Any and all comments are truly welcome.

Best regards from V.

Hi, Valentin --

A "congratulations" on the updated website, and a "thanks" for the new HP-34C article.

My remembrances of the HP models of that time were similar: I was enthralled by the HP-41 in 1980, but couldn't afford it. I was impressed by the HP-34C being used by another university student in 1981. Setting out to buy one in late 1983, I was steered by the young salesman to buy the HP-15C instead. It took some convincing to revise my plans and expectations.

One quibble: I realize that the article was meant to be celebratory, with minimal emphasis on problems. However, the phrase, "build quality suffered a little in the end, most specially delicate battery contacts" is misleading. As I'm sure you know, the late HP-34C's from 1982 corrected the main problem of the flawed original design, which was the non-soldered circuit boards that relied instead on strong clamping pressure and a heavy metal backing. Key feel was also improved, with less travel and required effort.

The delicate battery terminals were probably OK as long as users stuck with the standard HP NiCd two-cell rechargeable battery packs. Unfortunately, the packs probably offered short operating time on a charge, and cost US$12 to replace in the 1980's when they failed. Many users substituted the longer disposable AA cells, and broke the contacts.

It's certainly to HP's credit that they spent the money and effort in 1981-82 to remedy the HP-34C's design problems, before its 1983 discontinuation following the release of the HP-15C in late 1982. The HP-15C rendered the HP-34C obsolete -- except perhaps for field work particularly in cold conditions, for which the HP-34C's vertical layout and LED display were better suited.


-- KS


Edited: 2 Sept 2007, 4:15 p.m.

Although my first HP calc was the 25 (and 25c about a month later :-), I traded up to the 34c the next year. It was an amazing calc, and one that was well worth the upgrade. I still have it, and I'm quite surprised to find that there are features to it I STILL haven't seen or used. Either that or I've forgotten about it. ;-) In any case, it truly is one amazing calculator, and one of the best HP made around that time.

Fond memories...

thanks,
bruce

Valentin,

This is the first time I have come across your website, and I want to thank you for all the effort you have put into this. It is of the highest standard and kudos to you for producing such a great resource.

Thanks,

bink

Best regards from V.

Brilliant...!

Mike T.

Best regards from V.