I have been using programmibles since a TI-59 in mid seventies. (Maybe I should say that it really began with my K&E Decilog in the sixties). Early interest began with curiosity about financial calculations and jumped forward to optimumization problems involving queing theory and learning curves in the computer service industry. Subsequent pockets have been served by hp products, mostly RPN. (28, 12, 18, 15, 48s and 49g+. I have programmed such things as IRR from uneven transaction dates and/or amounts, fixed and variable rates for cash manager's short term investments, in other words stuff not available in earlier units, some still not available. I have wondered why, for example, did it take so long for the natural log of 1+x to show up for compound interest or why it still isn't evident that simpler calculations like continuous compounding of estimated cash flows yields calculations more accurate than the guestimates of the cash amounts or timing.
Anyway, to the point, I lost my 49g+ of two years - it just went blank and change of batteries did nothing to restore. I removed my memory card and tried all the self testing codes beginning with the warm start code. Looks pretty broken unless there is a reset of some kind I am missing. I gave away my 48GX and have to retreat to an SX for now. This looks like a good opportunity to get out of the 49 for something that both serves and recognizes that my laptop with software like Mathcad and Excel handles the real heavy stuff on the move. I see where there is something new going on in Cupertino/San Jose this year. Think I should wait? Different voices suggest at least a prototype by fall.
I welcome this opportunity to consider getting out of the 48/49 system for a couple of reasons. The 49g+ is too general and tries to do so much that I sometimes get lost. Those flimsy keys! It just doesn't FEEL like an HP!
As Indicated above, I don't tend to be limited by the calculators built-in operations versus its room to use basic fundamentals in routines I develop for myself. For that reason alone, I would need programming support in the unit, like flash cards and some way to change firmware. The unit I buy next should have plenty of data entry support from key input to media transfer via USB and other methods, handle all conventional matrix and vector routines and be updated to handle current level of differential equations at least to the level of Mathcad 13. It has been discouraging trying to obey the syntax rules for entering DEQs in the 49. I would hope that most basic calculus will return exact-symbolic solutions and have graphic support for those that must be numeric solutions. I have enjoyed the CAS choices in the 49.
Should I wait for the new one or start looking more seriousl at some of the 3x models?
Thanks for your input,
Ron