Ok, since we're off-topic already, I'd like to add my point of view.
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The HP48-series is great as long as one doesn't mind:
1. The worst LCD display quality that anyone has ever put on a graphing calculator. Very fuzzy, very easily damaged.
If you mean the hardware durability:
No, none of my _various_ HP-48 units has a damaged display,
except for the ones where the previous owners managed to break it.
Apart from that, the LCD of every calculator can break if
one misues the unit, or drops it, regardless of the brand.
If you mean the LCD contrast: Yes, the SX has one of the poorest
LCDs, beaten only by the OmniGO 100 and the Olivetti Quaderno,
the GX LCD is much better, and the latest production runs with
high-contrast LCD are simply excellent!
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2. Overpriced, underfeatured, unreliable, proprietary memory expansion cards (vs. SD cards).
When the HP-48 came out, every memory card of every vendor for every
machine (calc or PC) was expensive compared to today's SD cards.
And since they (HP RAM cards) are not built anymore,
they tend to get somewhat more expensive.
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3. Slow speed...
Not true. Just try SpeedUI.
Apart from that, it's hard to compare an ARM core with the Saturn.
However I managed to make a SuDoKu solver for the GX which runs
nearly as fast as compiled C programs on the 50g, so what?
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4. No real CAS built-in. Must use third-party.
Exactly. Use 3rd party, when you need it. I never needed a CAS,
so it would be a waste of space if it were built-in.
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5. Non-upgradable firmware.
No need to upgrade, since the GX has a handful of well-known bugs only.
Compare that to the endless bug lists of the 49g/50g.
Apart from that, you _can_ upgrade certain parts of the OS, see SpeedUI.
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6. The poorest color schemes ever put on any calculator (other than the HP38G!) with respect to contrast and legibility.
Again no! The poorest color schema was on the 49g: Dark blue
and dark red on metallic blue. Who had _that_ sillysilly idea?
Ah, I forgot the 6s (non-solar), which was similar. Or the 33s...
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I've had an HP48SX since 1991, plus two HP48GXs since 1997. It seemed like a good idea at the time.
I have the HP-48SX with serial 3003A00xxx, bought new
when it came out. Currently I'm using a GX with B/W LCD:-)