HP-35s in Hex mode
#1

Folks,

I guess I'm not the first person trying to use the 35s to do hexadecimal arithmetic... But the thing is next to useless! Looking at the example of a simple addition (page 11-5 in the user's guide), why does the 35s require a hex terminator, i.e. three additional keystrokes after every number?

Once HEX mode is selected, couldn't they make it work this way:
1 2 F
[enter]
E 9 A
+

This is just plain-vanilla RPN... In decimal mode, arithmetic operators (such as + - * /) terminate the number being entered before performing the operation. Why not in hex mode? Didn't anyone at HP test this before releasing the code to production?

Beats me.

Joel Setton.

#2

Joel, it is well known that number bases were not implemented well on the 35s. It is what it is and will not likely change.

#3

Try the 27s. In Hex mode, it provides soft keys for A-F. Effortless.

#4

Right. I also have an HP-20S which is close to the 27s in this respect, but they are both (ewww...) algebraic. Ah, well.

Joel Setton

#5

Get a 32sii (or 32s). The number base handling is nearly identical to the 20s, the only difference being you have to switch bases using a menu, which amounts to one extra keystroke.

That said, the 20s is a surprisingly capable machine, and you can do some rather interesting tricks with INPUT, SWAP, and LAST. For example, here's a MOD program that uses no storage registers:

LBL F
=
(
SWAP
INPUT
=
/
LAST
)
IP
*
LAST
=
(
SWAP
-
LAST
=
RTN
#6

Lack of RPN on the 27S is it's big drawback.

That aside, the ease-of-use is amazing. R-P conversions, base conversions, etc., are all very intuitive.

I think it's very under-appreciated.

#7

Quote:
Lack of RPN on the 27S is it's big drawback.

*IF* you are an RPN fanatic. Which I am not.
#8

Well, I forgot to mention the 42s also has an excellent implementation, with soft keys for A-F. But as Dave pointed out, the 32sii method is pretty slick, too.

#9

Quote:
I think it's very under-appreciated.

Based on the prices that model usually commands, I'm going to have to disagree with you. :)



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