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HP calculators on sale w/free shipping. - Printable Version

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HP calculators on sale w/free shipping. - Martin Pinckney - 06-29-2009

All the calculators are 15% off. There is apparently no minimum purchase to get the free shipping during this sale.

The (in)famous Smartcalc 300s for only $12.74 delivered.


Re: HP calculators on sale w/free shipping. - John Stark - 06-29-2009

New models may be warming up in the bullpen !

Sure hope so ;)

John




Re: HP calculators on sale w/free shipping. - Quan - 06-29-2009

I have observed this HP 15% off every 3 or 4 weeks. It seems.

So, there is nothing really excited about it.

On the other hand, if HP were to release an updated 15C+ or 43S or 50gii with the ENTER key in the usual spot, then excitement might hit the roof...

I say the roof, but it could be the exosphere if the update were perfectly executed.

I just couldn't help dreaming...


Re: HP calculators on sale w/free shipping. - designnut - 06-29-2009

To me the problem is to to be consistent in key locations. The enter is up and left in this model, then it is low and right. There may be an ideal location but more is to be gained by consistency so you can establish a kinesthetic sense of location. Sam


Re: HP calculators on sale w/free shipping. - bill platt - 06-29-2009

That is a way too nerdy requirement. Adapt or die :-)


Re: HP calculators on sale w/free shipping. - Michael de Estrada - 06-29-2009

I have owned HP's since the beginning with the HP-35, and while I did become accustomed to the ENTER key in the "usual" location above the numeric keypad and to the left, I much preferred finding it to the right and directly above the operators as in my NOVUS (National Semiconductor) RPN calcs (Mathematician, 4640 etc.). Early HP's had the operators on the left, so it made some sense to also have the ENTER key there, but once they were moved to the right, that did not make sense, which is why I think it was moved to the right on models like the HP-50g. Unfortunately, it was placed at the bottom, which I find awkward.




Edited: 29 June 2009, 2:53 p.m.


Re: HP calculators on sale w/free shipping. - Quan - 06-29-2009

I notice the CHS (I assume it means change sign) key in this model. I also see this in the 12C series, 15c, and maybe others.

Who was the first to use it? When did it switch to -/+ or +/-? Why?

Just curious.


Re: HP calculators on sale w/free shipping. - Michael de Estrada - 06-29-2009

Yes, CHS means "change sign" and is the same as +/-. AFAIK, HP used the CHS convention on all its RPN models from the HP-35 and including the HP-28 through the late 1980's. My 1990 HP-48SX is the first model I have that uses +/- instead of CHS. I have also seen the CHS convention used on non-HP RPN calcs such as the CORVUS 500. OTOH, non-RPN (algebraic) calcs like my LED TI Business Analyst from the late 1970s and various Sharps and Casios all use the +/- convention. So, I am speculating that HP wanted to become consistent with the convention used by the non-RPN calcs, which represented increasingly the majority of the market.


Re: HP calculators on sale w/free shipping. - Robissimo - 06-29-2009

My guess is because +/- is a more global symbol and that [C][H]ange [S]ign is more locale specific since it is derived from an english phrase.


Think the 18c was the first with +/- - Gene Wright - 06-29-2009

Not sure anything earlier than that used it. That would make it 1986.


Re: Think the 18c was the first with +/- - Maximilian Hohmann - 06-29-2009

Quote:
Not sure anything earlier than that used it. That would make it 1986.

HP01. 1977. But labelled "-/+" and not "+/-" if that counts...

Greetings, Max


Re: Think the 18c was the first with +/- - Katie Wasserman - 06-29-2009

The HP-9815A had a (+ <--> -) key in 1976.




CHS vs. +/- - Walter B - 06-29-2009

I concur. After all, mathematical symbols are recognized internationally -- that's one of their benefits. Kind of a global language with an equal chance for all people, regardless of their mother tongue.

Ceterum censeo: HP, launch a 43S.

Walter


Re: CHS vs. +/- - Michael de Estrada - 06-29-2009

I also have one of these. Can you guess which key is +/- ? Also, bonus points if you can guess which keys are ENTER, STO, RCL. Finally, can you tell what the right slider switch settings mean? Hint: It helps to know the pronunciation of the cyrillic alphabet.




Re: CHS vs. +/- - Walter B - 06-29-2009

Don't want to spoil the challenge. We did discuss this some days ago already.


Re: CHS vs. +/- - Quan - 06-29-2009

Totally guessing:

Going from bottom-to-top and left-to-right:

+/- ---> 13
ENTER ---> 55
STO ---> 53
RCL ---> 52

Right slider switch = Polar <-> Rectangular. If this is correct, I further guess:

To rectangular --> 61
To polar --> 62




Re: HP calculators on sale w/free shipping. - Quan - 06-29-2009

The international mathematical symbols make sense.


Re: CHS vs. +/- - Egan Ford - 06-29-2009

My guess:

CHS = /-/
Enter = CX
STO/RCL under L2/L3
Slider Prog/Run
Edit: fixed formatting.


Edited: 29 June 2009, 7:17 p.m.


Re: CHS vs. +/- - Thomas Okken - 06-29-2009

I don't know Russian, but from what I do know of the Cyrillic alphabet, the right slider switch is rad/grad/deg.


As for the number entry and stack manipulation, I'd guess that the /-/ key is +/-, the two-headed arrow is X<>Y, and B^ is ENTER.

What do I win? ;-)


Re: CHS vs. +/- - Michael de Estrada - 06-29-2009

Correct on all counts! You win a free trip to the Garden State. ;>)


Re: CHS vs. +/- - Michael de Estrada - 06-29-2009

Yes, No, Yes, Yes, No

ENTER is 25 (B^) and the right slider switch is to set angular units (RAD, GRAD, DEG).


Re: CHS vs. +/- - ZOleg - 06-29-2009

I live in Russia and have MK-61, because 100% true:

- ON/OFF switch

- Rad/Grad/Deg switch

- SST without execute step

- BST without execute step

- RTN from subprogram or GTO 01 if not in subprogram

- START/STOP program

- RCL [0-9,a-e]

- STO [0-9,a-e]

- GTO

- GSB in program mode, SST with execute step in Run mode

- X<->Y

- ENTER

- CHS (+/-)

- EEX

- to Run mode

- to Program mode


Edited: 29 June 2009, 8:19 p.m.


Re: CHS vs. +/- - Michael de Estrada - 06-29-2009

Yes on CHS, no on the rest. B^ (up arrow) is ENTER, CX is clear X. STO = x>n and RCL is n>x, where n is the register number. The slider switch is for angular units (RAD,GRAD,DEG). Program / RUN modes are set by keys.


SR-10 - November 1972 - Joerg Woerner - 06-29-2009




Re: SR-10 - November 1972 - Katie Wasserman - 06-29-2009

Joerg,

Not to take away from TI's very popular and innovative SR-10, but I think that the topic was the first HP calculator to use +/-. Most of the other manufacturers used this all along -- once they realized that a change sign key was important to have.

I have to look around to see if I have anything prior to the SR-10 that uses a +/- key.

-Katie


Re: HP calculators on sale w/free shipping. - Palmer O. Hanson, Jr. - 06-29-2009

Quote:
I am speculating that HP wanted to become consistent with the convention used by the non-RPN calcs, which represented increasingly the majority of the market.

HP made another more important change for consistency with the convention used by the non-HP world when they changed the sequence of the arithmetic keys (reading from the top of the calculator) from - + x / to / x - + . That change was implemented after the HP-41.


Re: HP calculators on sale w/free shipping. - Mike Morrow - 06-29-2009

I agree completely with your observations on the location of the ENTER key. When HP changed the column containing /*-+ to the right, it was illogical and inefficient to have left the ENTER key on the opposite side. I too wish the hp50g had the ENTER above the / key. As it is, the / key being pushed into the sixth key row just doesn't look right.

It doesn't bother me that the hp50g ENTER key isn't oversized. It does bother me that the four arrow keys are arranged to take up the space of six keys. I'd rather see an arrangement such as found on the HP48GX, which frees up space for two more keys. That would allow an oversized ENTER key and still have one new key for other assignments.

Walmart locally has the hp10bii on clearance. One store has it for $17 and another has it for $11.


Re: HP calculators on sale w/free shipping. - Michael de Estrada - 06-29-2009

...and they also moved the column of arithmetic operators from the left side of the numerical keypad to the right side, which is consistent with most of the other brands.


Great deciphering (Was: CHS vs. +/-) - Geir Isene - 06-30-2009

Quote:
- SST without execute step

- GSB in program mode, SST with execute step in Run mode


Impressive explanation - pictures and all.

I like the idea of single-step with/without execution.


Re: HP calculators on sale w/free shipping. - Egan Ford - 06-30-2009

Quote:
It doesn't bother me that the hp50g ENTER key isn't oversized. It does bother me that the four arrow keys are arranged to take up the space of six keys. I'd rather see an arrangement such as found on the HP48GX, which frees up space for two more keys. That would allow an oversized ENTER key and still have one new key for other assignments.

That extra key would also free up the letter 'Z' from the '/' key. I would like to see the 5th row from the bottom more like the 48 (ENTER EEX CHS DEL BS).


Re: HP calculators on sale w/free shipping. - Michael de Estrada - 06-30-2009

Well, except that would again place the ENTER key on the left, whereas the arithmetic operators are on the right. Somehow, the ENTER key needs to migrate to the right *above* the operators, as per....




Re: CHS vs. +/- - Ren - 06-30-2009

It would be good for a laugh to ask a math(s) instructor
for help entering an equation and then hand him/her
the Russian calc!

Ren

dona nobis pacem


Re: CHS vs. +/- - Dave Shaffer (Arizona) - 06-30-2009

Many of the math instructors I had in college were of Slavic heritage. They probably wouldn't bat an eye at your challenge!


Re: HP calculators on sale w/free shipping. - Eddie W. Shore - 07-01-2009

Any idea of why the first configuration?


HP keyboard layout - Michael de Estrada - 07-01-2009

What I find interesting is that HP used a conventional layout on the predecessors to the pocket calculators, such as the HP 9815A.

Edited: 1 July 2009, 9:00 a.m.