My def is - your best calc is the one you use the most
2 categories:
*sci
*fin
Mine are:
sci HP 40G
fin HP 12C
What about yours?
Your best calc
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03-22-2002, 08:33 AM
My def is - your best calc is the one you use the most
2 categories: Mine are:
sci HP 40G What about yours?
03-22-2002, 09:27 AM
Hi; somewhat hard to decide, ahn? O.K., I'll keep in mind a stand-alone, as-is calculator: sci HP15C fin HP19BII My US$0,10. Cheers.
03-22-2002, 09:35 AM
The question was defined as 'the one you use the most': HP 48SX. For the shirt pocket: the ultra slim, ultra light (weighs almost nothing!) "M-Abacus", which does 'everything' except programming, yes 'everything' (hypertrig, stats, complex, etc.) An incredible bargain at $7! Although algebraic :-(
03-22-2002, 10:41 AM
Last year I did a calc poll. I had many reactions and I posted the resulsts
03-22-2002, 11:00 AM
You said "...I wish HP people inspire on this inquiry to build up future models...". And I'd like to complete this statement: "... and rebuild older models, like the fascinating 9100A/B!" It's quite easy to build a new calculator from scratch using today's technology, but to build a scientific calc 1968 with no ICs available, a non-volatile core mem and including transcendental functions for the trigonometrics and logarithms - that's real innovation! Now you know what my favorite HP is... but I'm old-fashioned of course ;-) Frank
03-22-2002, 11:10 AM
Hi, Thibaut; I feel somewhat sorry (and embarrassed) not reading the results before. They are valuable source of information. I myself must thank you for your effort. Best regards.
03-22-2002, 11:31 AM
... but nothing prevents us from going on with this inquiry. Should I carry on with gathering info ?
03-22-2002, 01:55 PM
There are two calculators of which I use one almost as much as the other. The first is the HP-16C, which I use a lot at my job as a software engineer. Haven't found any other that is as convenient to use (I think the method used by the HP-48 series to enter numbers in bases other than 10 is a real pain!) The calculator I use for everything else is an HP-67. I just love LED RPN calculators. I don't use financial calculators except to play with.
03-22-2002, 03:44 PM
Seriously, there are ICs in the HP9100B. Even if you don't count the ROM PCB (multi-layer with inductive coupling between the tracks -- and HP considered it to be an IC at one point)
03-22-2002, 05:33 PM
HP41 for handheld use. HP97 for desktop use. I like my digits big.
03-22-2002, 05:34 PM
OK, OK, you're right. So let's be more precise: the HP9100As or Bs do not contain any *digital* ICs. All calculating and logic is done using discrete parts. Acceptable? ;-) And they are fascinating devices, aren't they?
Regards,
03-22-2002, 05:55 PM
So, Dave Hicks has to change the main Web page, because it says in italics, "no ICs".
03-22-2002, 08:24 PM
Whether _all_ the logic is discrete parts depends on how you consider the 1810-0021 RC network. It contains half the resistors and capacitors for a JK flip-flop. 2 of the RC networks, 4 transistors and a few diodes (the semiconductors all being discrete parts) make a flip-flop. 2 of the PCBs inside are just 20 JKs each....
03-22-2002, 08:29 PM
Do I really have to pick just _one_ calculator? OK, it has to be the HP41. Very expandable, nice hardware, and HPIL.
03-22-2002, 09:05 PM
the 41cx. it is the perfect desert island calculator. the professor can always whip up some of thoes coconut shell batteries. and yes, that was a bad pun.
03-22-2002, 09:55 PM
My favorites are (in decreasing order of use):
Sorry for the extras under each category. It's kinda' like asking me to pick my favorite standard and metric wrench -- I really can't limit myself to just one. If you really just want one from each, use my first answer.
I'd also like to nominate the following additional category:
03-23-2002, 01:29 AM
Ok it sounds interesting. Draw us a picture. Explain all the discrete components and the combination of components that perform the logic.
03-23-2002, 03:08 AM
Impossible to choose. HP-41CX for pure fun, hackability and gadgets. It was fun at any level, from applications right down to machine code.. I guess this would be it if I only had one choice. But the 20 series, especially the 29C was nice to use. Could be operated with one hand and had a solid "feel". The 27 was an interesting mix of scientific and finance. Neat. I still use the 29C quite a bit, although partly to keep the ni-cads in good shape. Of course the 15C and 16C for their uniqueness, battery life and shirt pocket size. The only thing I wish the 15C had would perhaps be a clock and time functions. The hp-48GX for overall functionality and power.
03-23-2002, 10:36 AM
Yep, that's a pity ;-) So come on and enlighten us with brilliant wisdom! Tell us where to find detailed information about the mode of operation of the *really* incredible 9100A/B or post it somewhere on the web - and please do not just link to hpmuseum.org; everybody here should know this one... BTW, look at this URL: http://www.chac.org/engine-ascii/engv2n3.txt. It is a quite interesting interview with Barney Oliver, who is well known for his engagement at SETI and HP. Most interesting is the following text passage:
...
KC: _Don't worry, we have full docs on the 9100. Which, of
Oliver:(laughs) Very good! There were something like 2200 bits What does "KC" mean with "full docs"? Does anyone know the guys behind chac.org? Before anyone complains: Sorry for "abusing" this theme ("A calc poll...") for discussing the HP-9100A/Bs mode of operation. I'll post the last passage (the link to the interview) in a new theme in the forum because I think it is possibly worth discussing.
Regards,
03-23-2002, 01:44 PM
I don't use (or own) any purely financial calcs. My favorite for all-around use is my 41CX. The next best is my 16C, which I use while debugging software, tracing TCP packets, etc. And after that is my Pickett N600-ES pocket slide rule, which I carry everywhere. :-)
03-23-2002, 02:29 PM
Are you seriously asking me to attempt to draw an HP9100 schematic using ascii-art in this forum?
03-23-2002, 05:56 PM
Never ever charge your nicads in the 29C. Always use the external charger or another machine. The 29C is probably the most prone to die machine HP ever built (followed by the 25C). If the battery contacts are dirty, the pack falls out, or the pack is old the internal voltage rises to chip-lethal levels.
03-23-2002, 08:37 PM
Yes, thank you for the advice. I was fortunate in that
I have 3 battery packs for it, one of which is one I made
With all the machines I have, I'm probably most partial to Cheers.
03-23-2002, 09:48 PM
SURE! If you want. Any logic block type of drawing with directions is great. Whatever you have time for and feel like doing. Everyone is watching. People like that sort of stuff. (:o )
03-24-2002, 03:58 PM
If possible, use a NiMH specific charger instead of the original HP intended for NiCd. While size and voltage are the same, the chemistry is different and it is advisable to apply the proper charge cycle (current and time) to each type. You can find interesting postings (I think they were from Gene) about this issue in the Museum Archives.
03-25-2002, 07:39 AM
HP 71B , fully "blown." No contest. JK
03-25-2002, 06:03 PM
HP 71B , fully "blown." Wow! Does it have a blueprinted processor with chromed and polished expansion ports too? ;^)
03-30-2002, 06:06 AM
You are very precise in your comments so I suppose there is a reason why you mention the 48SX and not the GX, in theory more powerful and the same form factor.
03-31-2002, 05:35 PM
Only that I bought a 48SX when it came out, but never bought the 48GX. I bought the 48SX because it did have features that I wanted that weren't on mu 28C (specifically the serial port). The GX does have a lot more
04-01-2002, 08:17 AM
May I include the VERY desirable 1.5MB user mem (1M Flash, 512K RAM) and reloadable OS to the list of goodies available in the 49G? In time: will we, poor mortals, have access to the 49 O.S. builder (if this stuff exists)?
04-11-2002, 01:18 PM
I knew I'd get a response like that! No ported and polished heads , no dual chrome exhaust, no wooden MOMO steering wheel, BUT:
In my case, "blown" means with a CMT massive 32RAM in the Card Reader port, the HP 41 Translator Pac (a must), the HP 71 Math Rom, The 3rd party-made HP 71 AMPI Statistics Rom, Add to this 2 41CX's, One Double Speed 41CV (all three used to periodcally "feed" 41 programs to the 71 via the IL loop) the digital cassette drive, the IL printer and God knows how many user written, 41, BASIC, and FORTH programs. The unit is pristine,with the leather carrying case and is "polished" with Armor All every month, during the monthly battery change. Yes, I do change the Duracells every month. Yes, I am a true 71B fanatic, have been since I bought it when I was a caclulator salesman at UC Berkeley's bookstore from '84-'86. Gentelemen, in my case, "blown" means "BLOWN" - start your engines ;) This has been my day-to-day machine since 1984.I'm having a lot of trouble moving over to the 48GX, although I have been trying! John in VA
04-11-2002, 09:55 PM
Well, I'm happy to oblige, though actually, I prefer the leather wrapped three-spoke Momo wheels, but that's just me.
04-19-2002, 09:11 AM
I agree on the 75- that was NOT a useful macchine IMHO. Hard to program, no real interfacability and no HP 41 translator capabilities. The real thing about the 71 was the 41 program running ability and hp 41 connectivity- at about 5X the speed of the 41. You had that massive library of cheap/free programs out there and almost any 71 user probably was a 41 user before and knew which programs he wanted. All he had to do was shoot them over to the 71 (EASY via IL) and run them a lot faster and with a zillion times more onboard storage. They used to call the 71 a "Turbo 41" at Educalc. Despite this the 71 sold terribly. John Kercheval
04-19-2002, 11:01 PM
Oh, don't get me wrong -- the 71 was a fine machine -- it's just that it never evoked in me the same desire that the 41 and the 1{1|5|6}C did. It could also have something to do with the fact that, at the time, I couldn't really afford one. :^) |
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