Sad repair job on HP48

[Han]

This HP48GX was apparently "manufactured" without any card ports...

Some of the more subtle refurbs include a double-molded keyboard that was never used in the Indonesian models with the screen and the back cover of an Indonesian HP48GX.

But seriously... if you are going to sell a refurbished HP48, at least make sure to match up the parts.

[db (martinez, ca.)]

at least the parts didn't get thrown away.

the 48 series was real popular in peru's neighbor, bolivia. i taught English in la paz in 98 at the engineering college of the public university and nearly all my students had a 48 of some type. most knew their stuff too. they were downloading programs off the internet and writing their own too. i think they might have had a better grasp of the subject than the average american, getting answers off a canned suite of routines on a PC. they fix everything down there, so this g/gx may have a real complicated origin.

[Martin Pinckney]

At first, I thought the seller just meant to write: "No Ram Cards [In] Ports". But I see your point, could be a G in a GX case.

Quote:

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Some of the more subtle refurbs include a double-molded keyboard that was never used in the Indonesian models with the screen and the back cover of an Indonesian HP48GX.

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How can you tell all this from the small photos?

[Han]

If the photos are small, you generally cannot. However, the molded keys have a very crisp, sharp font. These keys were only installed on the Singapore models (for the GX). Take a look at this page:

http://www.thimet.de/CalcCollection/Calculators/HP-48GX/Contents.htm

Click on the photos for larger views. What you should notice is a clear difference in the fonts in the enlarged views. Now, when you look at the smaller photos, notice the y^x and alpha buttons have much "thicker" labels. Despite the smaller views, the Singapore keyboards still have a crisper font relative to the Indonesia keyboard.

Edited: 25 Sept 2010, 9:43 p.m.

[Martin Pinckney]

Quote:

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If the photos are small, you generally cannot.

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I was referring to the auction photos in your OP.

[Han]

Sorry for the confusion. In my OP, I was referring to other refurbished calculators I had seen in the past (not the calculator in the link). As for this particular calculator, though, its keyboard is likely from Indonesia (based on the alpha and y^x key), but the back cover appears to be from Singapore based on the engraved serial number.

[db (martinez, ca.)]

Luiz; I might be remembering this wrong, but didn't you once post a picture of a left-over parts frankencalc you made with a Novus keyboard & screen miscegenating the body of a commedore? If that was you - could you repost that picture to show these folks what a really scary repair looks like.