30b Dead 5 Key

[Norman Dziedzic]

My 30b Christmas Present (S/N: 4CY02405153) has a dead 5 key. All the other keys are as expected with crisp feel but the 5 is like a wet fish. If I press it hard it will register but something is definitely not right in there.

Anyone know the best channel at HP to go through for getting this fixed?

Thanks

[Don Shepherd]

I'd look in the quick reference guide and see what it says.

[Tim Wessman]

Or you could download the full manual which has been uploaded for a month or two now.

Anyway, that sounds like a collapsed metal dome. Contact support and ask them about it. If you have any trouble, send me an email.

TW

[Jim Yohe]

There's a full manual for this thing someplace?

[Mark Harman]

Yes, and learning modules too. I thought that I shared links for these a while back.

Here you go:

30b User Guide

30b Learning Modules

Regards,

Mark

Edited: 27 Jan 2011, 3:07 a.m.

[Tim Wessman]

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/manualCategory?lc=en&dlc=en&cc=us&product=4031712&lang=en&

TW

[Mike Morrow]

I wish there was a source for replacement programming keyboard overlays. Mine looks terrible, since the overlay characters are printed on the the upper surface of the overlay and wear off extremely easily and readily. The characters begin to wear off even in the process of initially applying the overlay! I know others have experienced the same problem.

Better would be overlays that had the ink protected from exposure. I'm not an industrial design expert, but I'd suggest that having the ink UNDER the overlay plastic would be helpful.

Best would be to have the overlay actually a permanent part of the HP 30b keyboard at time of manufacture. The overlay info is very valuable for programming, but the overlay as made is very unsatisfactory.

Regardless of this gripe, I have been very happy with the HP 30b. An excellent and exciting design, I think. I love the calculator body design. (I've experienced no keyboard problems on mine as yet.)

[Mark Harman]

I'm with you, Mike. The overlays are terrible in terms of ink quality. There are some printing processes that won't wear off that HP could use. It seems like these were printed on a laser printer or something. I think they need to use dye sublimation.

I have, at the time being, given up on using the overlay (after going through a replacement one) and have memorized the layout of the programming function set. I actually like the clean look without the overlay even though I agree with you that the programming nomenclature should be printed on the base of the keyboard, as the Black Scholes function is. However, HP wanted to keep things clean and non-confusing as possible for the majority of users who won't program. I was told this decision was based on input from marketing studies and financial educators.

I also agree with you regarding the overall design of the 30b. It really is a great calculator and I haven't had any problems with my keyboard, either. My opinion is that it the finest financial calculator on the market today. I think it is even better than a 12c or 17bII+ and it is certainly far beyond anything competitors offer.

Regards,

Mark

Edited: 27 Jan 2011, 3:12 p.m.

[Walter B]

Quote:

---

I actually like the clean look without the overlay even though I agree with you that the programming nomenclature should be printed on the base of the keyboard, as the Black Scholes function is. However, HP wanted to keep things clean and non-confusing as possible for the majority of users who won't program. I was told this decision was based on input from marketing studies and financial educators.

---

That's one major difference between financial and technical calculators known for years: financial people prefer such "non-confusing" designs while sci/tech people even accept and like a 32sii. Financial calcs are advertized being problem solvers while sci/tech calcs are tools. I won't speculate about root-causes here ...

Edited: 27 Jan 2011, 3:53 p.m.

[Norman Dziedzic]

So far so good. Support said they will send out a replacement.

[Norman Dziedzic]

Replacement arrived today. Kudos to HP Customer Care.