Received my new HP30B courtesy of CalcPro.com - thank you Paul Nelson. First impressions:
1) Keys are hinged. Key presses are not spongy (as unfortunately they are on my HP20B).
2) Display is easy to read with good contrast (unlike my earlier gold HP17BIIs).
3) HP30B retains the HP20B's scalloped design, but unlike HP20B, if you place it upside down the calculator's sides don't support & protect the keys. Rather the HP30B keys end up being what the calculator rests on. Odd of HP to retain the 'high sides' design without retaining this aspect of it.
4) While the HP30B is similar in appearance to the sliver HP 17BII+ and has a two-line display, it doesn't provide labels on the display over the topmost row of keys. I miss this ease-of-use feature found on the HP17BII-family and HP42S.
Conclusion:
I still prefer my silver HP17BII+ as the best HP financial calculator and, if you can live w/o the scientific functions, best readily available RPN calculator. However the HP30B adds scientific functions and a lower price point. So for me, it's just deciding which stays at work, and which lives in the briefcase.
Edited: 2 Aug 2010, 6:32 p.m.