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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.
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New models may be warming up in the bullpen !
Sure hope so ;)
John
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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...
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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
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That is a way too nerdy requirement. Adapt or die :-)
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
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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.
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Don't want to spoil the challenge. We did discuss this some days ago already.
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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
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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? ;-)
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Correct on all counts! You win a free trip to the Garden State. ;>)
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Yes, No, Yes, Yes, No
ENTER is 25 (B^) and the right slider switch is to set angular units (RAD, GRAD, DEG).
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My guess:
CHS = /-/
Enter = CX
STO/RCL under L2/L3
Slider Prog/Run
Edit: fixed formatting.
Edited: 29 June 2009, 7:17 p.m.
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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.
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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.
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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
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Many of the math instructors I had in college were of Slavic heritage. They probably wouldn't bat an eye at your challenge!
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The international mathematical symbols make sense.
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Not sure anything earlier than that used it. That would make it 1986.
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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
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The HP-9815A had a (+ <--> -) key in 1976.
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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
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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.
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...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.
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Any idea of why the first configuration?
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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.
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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.
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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).
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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....
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