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State of the art - Printable Version

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State of the art - Walter B - 03-19-2008

Hi all,

FWIW, please find below my newest designs for a 15S (based on 15C), a 43S (after 42S), and a 44S (like 17bii+ silver). A 45S (based on 35S) has almost the same keyboard as the 43S, just different cursors and a smaller LCD of 132x48 dots. Each model stays within the dimensions of its “parent”. Sorted by “power”, there will be 43S > 45s > 15S > 44s. The 15S, 43S, and 45S feature the same set of functions on their keyboards, while some more burying in menus was inevitable on the 44S. Furthermore, these drafts have in common:

  • a line of 6 menu keys, whose default primary functions are always accessible using f-shift (thus, TOP.FCN of 42S becomes obsolete);
  • full dot matrix displays (of different height) for maximum flexibility;
  • RPN and ALG for reasons discussed several times here in this forum.
Generally speaking, prints on the keys are for functions, while orange prints on the plate stand for menus. Exceptions are < (below the “i”) on all models but 44S, and TRIG and TVM on the 44S.

Though not really egg-shaped, you may take these as my Easter presents to the community :) Thanks to every forum member for your contributions to many refreshing discussions.

Sorry for the dimensions of the images. After all I needed some pixels for sufficient resolution. Though, they stay within Dave's file size limits ;)


Re: State of the art - Trent Moseley - 03-19-2008

I'll buy one!

tm


Re: State of the art - Paul Dale - 03-19-2008

of each??

- Pauli


Re: State of the art - Geoff Quickfall - 03-19-2008

Wow, those are slick. I will take the 15c

Hope HP calc division is watching...


Re: State of the art - Namir - 03-19-2008

Walter,

If HP is expanding their calculator division, I sure hope they come knocking on your door. You would champion the design of really cool calculators.

Namir

PS: I'll buy 2 of each

Edited: 19 Mar 2008, 10:09 p.m.


Re: State of the art - DaveJ - 03-19-2008

Quote:
Walter,

If HP is expanding their calculator division, I sure hope they come knocking on your door. You would champion the design of really cool calculators.


A photoshop model does not a calculator make!

But very very cool indeed.
Although I would get incredibly annoyed that it doesn't have primary Log and Ln button.

Can I have a simple non-programmable scientific version please? :->

Dave.


Re: State of the art - Walter B - 03-20-2008

Quote:
A photoshop model does not a calculator make!

Of course you're right, Yoda ;) However, there's a full-fledged menu system and corresponding function set behind these drafts. IIRC I didn't observe this elsewhere so far.


Re: State of the art - DaveJ - 03-20-2008

Quote:

Of course you're right, Yoda ;) However, there's a full-fledged menu system and corresponding function set behind these drafts. IIRC I didn't observe this elsewhere so far.


*in my best Yoda voice*
Hardware, calculators are.
Trivial details, be all things other.

Dave.


Re: State of the art - Namir - 03-20-2008

The journey of a thousand mile begins with the first step. Without a vision of what a calculator might look (and do) how do you build new calculators?

Namir


Re: State of the art - Egan Ford - 03-20-2008

Quote:
*in my best Yoda voice*
Hardware, calculators are.
Trivial details, be all things other.

Software, calculators are. The hardware is just a shell (buttons, CPU, RAM, and a display, nothing more).

I am not trivializing the hardware, obviously given the amount of criticism over recent models creating good hardware is a challenge. But the soul of the calculator is in the software.


Re: State of the art - designnut - 03-20-2008

Walter, thank you for the lovely present. It seems to suffer in
part from the desire to do all things for all people. I have a
50G and my reaction is that it should be a PC program rather
than a calculator It is an overkill for all it's Grand Design.
It appears more attention is needed to actual users market than
the state of the art calculator. I despair at the choice of a
beginners calculator to gift children. In an attempt to explain all the complexity of the 50G things are glossed over, like the clock doesn't start to run until the final OK which leaves the set
menu. The alarm set is described in detail, but no mention is made
of what the alarm does when it times out. Mom used to say there are
100 people with a dollar for everyone with ten$. Where is the
lower end RPN calculator? No not RPN/algebraic, just RPN Sam


Re: State of the art - DaveJ - 03-20-2008

Quote:
The journey of a thousand mile begins with the first step. Without a vision of what a calculator might look (and do) how do you build new calculators?

Namir


HP already have some vision.
Take the existing 12C, whack in some new firmware or whatever and change the keytops and badging. Bingo, a basic scientific and a step in the right direction.
Take the existing 35S, whack in some new firmware and keytops and you have a more usable basic scientific that looks like a million bucks.

Walters visions are fantastic, but they are harder to implement and can have hardware gotcha's.
HP already have existing hardware platforms in place that only require a few tweaks to get a new product to market. That could be a good first step.

Dave.


Re: State of the art - Mike Reed - 03-20-2008

Quote:
A photoshop model does not a calculator make!

Hmmmm.... WHY NOT!! Use an existing emulator engine, a photo-shopped dream machine jpg, write a kml script... This could be do-able! Then we could all have our personalized perfect calculators. Virtually. HP could sponsor a "beauty contest", and the winning entry gets prototyped! LOL OK, i'm kidding, but don't the possibilities sound interesting though!