My Attitude of Gratitude....

[Les Wright]

I take note of this hudendai auction.

I give the seller credit for close up photography, since it makes it clear that his asking price and the condition of bezel and faceplate are quite mismatched, even if the thing comes with a manual. This calculator is not nearly in as good shape as the asking price would suggest.

In July, I paid $282US for my 15C. No manual. I thought at the time I was soaked. But the thing is perfect, apart from evidence of slight peeling of the protective coating over the display, and I probably did that myself. No scratches on bezel or faceplate. No nicks in the plastic. No dust in display. Info plate perfect. Feet near new. The seller said the thing was like new and he wasn't lying. It is the only HP calculator I own that I keep in the case all the time and rarely use, preferring my cheaper and more beaten up 11C for routine Voyageur calculation.

I did not have a year full of cheap estate sale finds and big bargains, but when I see stuff like this, I feel pretty lucky. Considering how some guys spend thousands a year on golf memberships and other big budget hobbies, calculator collecting is still a pretty cheap vice, even if I am not a great bargain hunter.

Happy NY again to all!

Les

[Bill (Smithville, NJ)]

Hi Les,

Sounds like you have this hobby (passion?, Obsession?) in pretty good prespective - costs versus enjoyment. My wife and I have a understanding - Whatever I spend on my hobbies, she can spend an equal amount on her hobbies and vice versa. It really searves to keep us both in check somewhat.

But I have to confess that I have been known to encouraging her to buy some expensive item just so I won't feel too bad on buying some expensive item I want. And I think she's done the same to me. So maybe it really doesn't keep us in check :)

Quote:

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It is the only HP calculator I own that I keep in the case all the time and rarely use, preferring my cheaper and more beaten up 11C for routine Voyageur calculation

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Just be sure to get it out every now and then to enjoy it fantastic capabilities. They were made to be used.

Quote:

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calculator collecting is still a pretty cheap vice, even if I am not a great bargain hunter

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Agreed - I have friends that are into Boats or high performance cars. To think how many calculators I could buy with the money they spend. I think we all have our moments of not being the best bargain hunters. I know I have spent too much on some pretty sorry looking items. You should see some of the items in my garage.

Actually, I feel less bad about spending too much for a really good condition item than I do when I spend a relatively small amount of money on a really stupid item. At least the good condition is usable while the other is just a reminder of how dumb I can be at times :)

Happy New Year and may 2007 bring many new toys for you.

Bill

[Confused]

Excuse me.
Is the unofficial ebay forum?
I'm sure we can all search ebay for 2nd hand HP's.
So what?!?
These forums have gone to cr*p recently.
Ebay this and ebay that.
To hell with it all.
Might as well rename the site to hpebaymuseum.
I thought TI forums were bad, but at least they aren't full of adverts.

[Olivier TREGER]

Quote:

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Excuse me.
Is the unofficial ebay forum?
I'm sure we can all search ebay for 2nd hand HP's.
So what?!?
These forums have gone to cr*p recently.
Ebay this and ebay that.
To hell with it all.
Might as well rename the site to hpebaymuseum.
I thought TI forums were bad, but at least they aren't full of adverts.

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Hopefully, you'll start 2007 with less anger now you left it in 2006...

Happy 2007 !

P.S.: Oh by the way... 2007 is already here in Paris, France...
Sorry, I had to reveal the secret :)

Edited: 31 Dec 2006, 8:14 p.m. after one or more responses were posted

[Confused]

Mon dieu.
Je suis mal de tete.
Pardon Monsieur.
Beacoup de alchohol.
Mon francais is (et?) terrible.
Pardon moi sil vous plait.

[Olivier TREGER]

Quote:

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Mon dieu.
Je suis mal de tete.
Pardon Monsieur.
Beacoup de alchohol.
Mon francais is (et?) terrible.
Pardon moi sil vous plait.

---

I just wonder I prefer your French or your English speaking... No problem,don't apologize. I was just trying to help you get through 2006 easier.

But as far as I can see, French ain't tought better than in the past in the US. Not even better than English is tought in France, I mean...

Edited: 31 Dec 2006, 9:15 p.m.

[Les Wright]

French is taught pretty well in Canada, but the ongoing debate in English-speaking educational systems is whether it is more appropriate to teach standard, European French, or a French more akin to that spoken in Quebec and other French-speaking parts of the country (like parts of New Brunswick and northern and eastern Ontario).

The Canadian French accent is so obnoxious and so guttural that it almost seems to be a different language. It isn't, of course--just sounds a lot different. A Swiss friend of mine tells me that two of the finest French-Canadian films ever made, The Decline and Fall of the American Empire and The Barbarian Invasions, are released in France with French subtitles!!!

Happy new year yet again!

Les

[Walter B]

Fully agree on your view of Quebequois and French.

Regarding subtitling, quite the same can be observed with Swiss German: broadcasts taken over from Swiss TV are often shown with German subtitles in Germany or - worse - with a German speaker "translating". Since the Swiss original can still be heard, you are able to detect differences and losses in these translations, and the specific atmosphere of the original suffers. I prefer DVDs where you may choose the language.

Happy New Year from Old Europe, where we now have two more languages in the European Union!