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Full Version: HP 49g+ is it the Ford Edsell of HP?
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Are people who have the 49g+ happy with the quality and workmanship? I've been reading the reviews on it on Amazon.com, and there seems to be more unfavorable reviews than favorable.

I've been thinking of getting the 49g+, but I don't want to plunk down a ton of money on a lemon either. So, can anyone tell me who has the calculator: Does it suck or not?

Last September I bought one of the very early HP-49G+. Overall I'm quite happy with the calculator. It feels solid in hands and the display has a good contrast. Also it's fast and has lots of memory. On the other hand I had two keys which work unreliable. This can lead to wrong results. So I usually have to do calculations twice to be sure. This is unacceptable. I mean it shouldn't be that hard to make good keys. Many cheaper calcs or remote controls, handy and stuff work better...
Just today I got a new HP-49G+ which I bought because I meant they would have solved the early bugs. One thing was different so that the batteries were not installed like on my first HP-49G+. On the first calc the batteries were already dead on arrival...
But the keys aren't any better. Now I have to different keys which don't work properly. I will send in the first calc to HP to get a replacement. If this works out ok Il send in the second calc. But I will wait a bit until they have better machines. If they cannot replace them with good ones I still have a tool to
I think everyone sould do this in order to force them to improve the quality.
Actually I think they're not far from what I (we) wish. Anyway I sold my HP-49G and have never regretted it. But sometimes I prefer to use the HP-48GX if I need to do a lot of speedy calculations like simply adding up stuff.
Finally I'm glad that HP calcs and the RPN system live on.

My first unit (ser. # CN331nnnnn) had two sticky keys -- I kept with it for a couple of weeks, then politely [maybe that helps?] asked for a replacement. The second unit (ser. # CN333nnnnn) works great.

Before returning it, I tried the "push & wiggle" cure on the first unit, and lo & behold, it actually fixed the keys! (I've heard of others who have had good luck with this, as well as some who haven't.)

Now, I agree that if HP had come out with a more reliable keyboard, a LOT of bad vibes could have been avoided. But I'm completely satisfied with my new unit. The increased speed, USB connection, and SD card storage are all great improvements. I understand that the hard keys, plastic display window and documentation are all great improvements over those of the 49G, but I never owned one of those.

In its construction, it's no HP-41, but it has great power & features for the price. It's not perfect, but user group support (through COMP.SYS.HP48) and the expected-but-not-explicitly-promised Flash upgrades should help with that over time.

Judging from the many reactions I've heard so far, I offer this:

If you weren't happy with the 49G, but used it anyway, you'll almost certainly love the 49G+. Buy with confidence.

If you use HP-48's regularly, there's probably a better than 50/50 chance that you'll like the 49G. Buy with a clear understanding of the return policy.

If you hate RPL and don't think H-P has done anything right since the HP-41, then you'll hate the HP-49G. Go to eBay and dig up another HP-41CX.

Consider this situation:
Two people both recieve a new HP-49g+. Bob hates it. And as much as Bob hates it, Bill likes it. Who is more likely to make more noise about it: the person who liked it or the person who hated it.
99% of the time, it will be the person who hated it.

I happen to like my 49g+ a lot, but then again I have never even touched a 41. It's fast, is RPN, and works like a scientific calculator, the two most important features for me.

-Ben

I like my HP49+, I have a unit with (ser. # CN331nnnnn) but never have any key pad problem. It was behaving erratically due to original rom software but after I installed the rom-upgrade to version 1.22 all the problems seemed fixed (for my usage). It is much faster then the HP48 or 49. I put a 12MB ($10) SD memory in it and I think I have enough memory for the life the calculator. I like to buy another one but I am waiting for news from other users if new improvements are made by HP. Go get one if you are an engineer and you will like it.

I guess it depends on your age and experience with HP calculators. I grew up on the 41CX and when I was introduced to the GX, I was disappointed. Gradually, I got to love my GX and now my 41CX is just an expensive paperweight. The 49G+ is really lightening fast. Of course I would have loved if the 49G+ processor could work in the GX. Or maybe the GX keys could work in the 49G+. But we don't always get what we want. Maybe in a few years when HP releases the replacement for the 49G+, I'll appreciate my G+ a little more :)
Seriously, when I weigh all the positives and negatives the 49G+ is really a terrific machine. I'm glad I got one.

There are two things I don't like about it, the keyboard and the documentation. There is absolutely no excuse for the keyboard. If Kinpo doesn't know how to make good keyboards, HP should have gone to one of the manufacturers that had experience making earlier models of HP calculators. As far as the documentation is concerned, while it's an improvement over the HP-49G, I'm still not happy with it. There are many features with little, or no, documentation.
PDF files on a CD are not adequate documentation for a sophisticated calculator.

When I updated my dying 48 for a 49G, I was impressed by the speed. Now that own a 49g+ I find that the 49G is boringly so slow.
I don't have any bad keys so I am extremely pleased with the 49g+

Arnaud

Benjamin..... I made noise about that a year ago......

the physical hardware of the 49G+ (or 48G+.. whatever) is very impeccable..... a graphic display, lots of little buttons, a solid-feel of the keys and the unit,

*but*

I bought one of those a year ago...... the hardware and the appearance of the unit was enough to cause intrigue.....
After seeing firsthand the illogical nature of it all, (no, I do NOT want a chemical periodic table in my calculator..... yes as a matter of fact I DO already know KE=1/2MV^2 and no I do NOT need an 'online formula library' to clutter up the unit etc etc) I got rid of it 2 weeks later to somebody else who wanted to try it.


the vision for these units is nonexistent. Little makes sense on them. Like the famous line from 'Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome' ...... "

There are 8 million bad guys in black dune buggy's closing fast.......

Mel asks "what's the plan?"

The driver of the vehicle says "plan? there aint no plan!"

And there you have, in a nutshell, what's wrong with the new-era HP scientific calculators........ "plan? there aint no plan!" get a classic instead!