Comparison of HP41C features to HP35s



#14

The last calc I bought was an HP41C. At the time, I figured it was about the best HP made, and I now have 4 of them on my various desks and work stations. I still think it's a great calc, but being that I can sell the CX and CV models and all of my attachments for a lot of money on ebay, I'm thinking about buying a couple of relatively cheaper 35s models and spending the leftover money on beer. Before I do that, though, I wonder if you who are experienced with the 35s can answer a couple of questions. I've looked through the archives and don't think these have been asked before.

1) With the HP41C, whenever you press most non-numeric keys, their function is displayed on the screen. If you see that you have pressed the wrong key, you can continue to press it for about 1/2 second, until the word 'NULL' will be displayed and the keystroke will not take effect. This is especially useful for user-defined keys that don't have the function printed on them. Does the HP35s have this feature?

2) And speaking of user defined keys, does the 35s allow you to assign programs or functions to keys?

I'm sure the manual would tell me these things, but HP doesn't appear to have the full manual available for download at their site.

Thanks for your replies.


#15

1) NO
2) NO

I wouldnt sell your HP41s.

#16

1. No

2. No

Add to that no I/O and no expandability. However, its dirt cheap (relative to 41C), replaceable, faster, and for many good enough.

IMHO, 41CX + Advantage + HP-IL >> 35s. So, I'd keep at least one around just in case.

#17

Better yet, give me your CX, and I'll buy you a 35s and a beer! ;) ;)

#18

The HP41C has a superior ability to prompt for input, display messages, and display tagged values. I have been writing some HP-35s programs and I do miss these HP-41C features.


#19

You're comparing apples and oranges. The 50g is the ultimate successor to the 41. If you want a full featured programmable, save your beer money (or sell one of your 41's) and get a 50g. If you only want a basic calc similar to a 15C, keep your 35S. And to be fair, the 33S had function preview but it was removed from the 35S apparently due to complaints.


#20

You compare the 35S to the 15C. I think a better comparison would be to the 11C. The 15C was easily the most function-rich non-expandable calc HP made when it was introduced, the high end of that market niche; the 11C was the middle.

The 35S is likewise the middle of the scientific programmable segment. It compares favorably to the 11C, not so favorably to the 15C, which still has features it lacks.

This prompts the question, what is the high-end scientific? HP doesn't currently sell one, and there probably isn't sufficient market for it, but recent developments like the 35S give me some hope.

I'll echo the wishes of some other posters, and wish for a HP-43S, and maybe also a HP-15C Platinum... or a combination of the two...

It's only too bad that we'll never see big, fat, bold numerals like the Voyagers had. The 12C Platinum stepped away from them, and I somewhat doubt that any new calc will step back toward them...


#21

Comparing it to a 15C does give the 35S a bit too much credit, but it does have quite a few more advanced features than the 11C such as solve, integrate and complex (although limited). AFAIK, it only lacks matrices and more complete complex support compared to the 15C (granted that's a very big difference). And it has several features the 15C lacks, like more memory, bases, unit conversions, constants, menus, fractions, algebraics, etc. I too would rather see something equal to a 42 or 15, but at least it's a step in the right direction, which we haven't seen in a long time. And I'm very happy to see the 15C style keys and colors return.

#22

Quote:
It's only too bad that we'll never see big, fat, bold numerals like the Voyagers had. The 12C Platinum stepped away from them, and I somewhat doubt that any new calc will step back toward them...
We won't see them again, because we want *alphanumerical* displays. And the easiest (and cheapest) way to get these nowadays are dot matrix LCDs, which have improved a lot since the time of the 42S.
#23

It's only $60.00, so I would call it a cheap experiment. Try it for yourself. I am also an avid HP 41 user, so I can predict the outcome. You will sell the HP35s long before you sell your HP 41.

I bought 2 HP 35s. One for the collection and an extra for personal use. One is still in the collection. The other one I have already given away to a co-worker.

I also have all the 48, 49, and 50 series calcs. The "logical"? successors to the HP 41. Compared to the HP 41 they have the user friendliness of a sabre toothed tiger.

Edited: 4 Aug 2007, 7:47 p.m.


#24

As for user friendliness, I have the opposite view. Having learned the 48 before the 41, the 48 is much easier for me. As for successor, between the 50g and 35S, the 50g is the only one that has anywhere near the capabilities of the 41. Also since the original poster wants user defined keys, the 50g is the only way to go. However, I don't dispute that the programming environment of the 35S is obviously much closer to the 41. The 48/50 is a totally different paradigm. I too love the classic 41, but it is unfortunately the sable toothed tiger here - they are both extinct.

Edited: 5 Aug 2007, 12:40 p.m.


#25

Extinct Sabre Toothed Tiger ?

The HP 41 compares more favorably to the Energizer Bunny.

Mild tempered,easy to get along with, and just keeps going, and going, and going ...

Edited: 5 Aug 2007, 6:31 p.m.

#26

OK, it appears to be almost unanimous- I will remain sober and hang on to my HP41C's. I must admit that the magic number 35 had influenced me, because I was a very early buyer of the original 35 'red dot' model, complete with bad firmware.

I should have mentioned earlier that I don't require advanced programming ability any more. There are a few short routines that I use, such as the calculation of parallel resistances and other simple electronics formulas, but I no loner have a need for much of the power of the 41, so I thought I could live without it. Still, I would hate to give up those previously mentioned features that I have come to appreciate.

I suppose I'll eventually buy a 35s, but I'll hang on to the 41's for at least a few more years.

Thanks for everyone's input.

Steve


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