▼
Posts: 302
Threads: 34
Joined: Aug 2007
Full disclosure: This is for some decision making related to OpenRPN.
The reason I have posed this question is that I'm curious if there's much real interest in a RPL based calculator. While it may not be perfect in every way, the 50g is a reasonable option for anyone needing a graphing calculator that has RPL program-ability. When I need a CAS I use a computer, and the same is true for most function plotting, running statistics on huge data sets, etc. From a personal standpoint my dream machine is what the 42s could have been if engineers weren't forced to hold back to prevent it from cannibalizing 48g sales.
One loosely proposed concept has been brought up under the title of RPN+ and serves the purpose of an extended version of what we already know. User definable or otherwise unlimited stack would be included. After the core functions are implemented, all others could be written in a scripting language (options such as python and lua have been mentioned.)
The other option is *fix, which is effectively sysRPL Forth.
If you have some other idea, please put post it. Input is needed so we can feel more confident in our choice of direction.
▼
Posts: 882
Threads: 23
Joined: Jan 2005
▼
Posts: 225
Threads: 9
Joined: Jul 2008
I vote for RPN | RPN+ too. I use a RPL machine (HP-48SX) for my work calculator, but I would rather have an expanded RPN+ for a new calculator.
Posts: 620
Threads: 14
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 306
Threads: 3
Joined: Sep 2009
I don't know about RPN / RPL, but I think I'm losing interest in getting any more calculators without a CAS. If a CAS implies RPL, then I'm in the RPL camp.
Posts: 468
Threads: 17
Joined: May 2011
RPL forever :D
And HP50G specially.
Posts: 63
Threads: 7
Joined: Mar 2010
I'm hardly a programmer any more, but I would hate to see the richness and depth of RPL lost when building an "ultimate" calculator that is to rise above the 50g. RPL is iconic in HP history. If sysRPL FORTH is truly implemented in the classical tradition of the FORTH language, where you build new objects as a combination of existing objects, it would certainly be a powerful way to build and share libraries. That would be a positive vote for *fix.
▼
Posts: 302
Threads: 34
Joined: Aug 2007
Everything we have considered thus far includes FORTH like ability to build commands from a core command set. No matter what, it will be possible to very easily make this hardware into any type of calculator you want. If people just want RPL, it seems that emulating saturn would be the easier route. Commands will not even be limited by the system we implement as other executables can be written.
Posts: 239
Threads: 9
Joined: Dec 2010
For your project, make the HW capable enough so it can be both: RPN+ and RPL+.
If you can, give it WiFi for really convenient sharing abilities and more.
CAS. A calc without multiple visible lines and visible data types such as arrays and infix expressions, isn't really a suitable base, I think.
So, I'd say, yes, you need an RPL-style machine if you want to offer a CAS.
I'm currently implementing a CAS for my project, ND1. It's effectively Mathematica, via use of the WolframAlpha API. How cool are Mathematica results in an RPL calc? Very...
As I mention in your project's forum, if you make this machine a suitable base, I'll work on making ND1 available for it. If you add WiFi, it will have a Mathematica-based CAS.
[EDIT: To clarify, I'm suggesting a system that's open enough to "boot" into multiple calculators. I added more thoughts to the thread in the openrpn forum.]
Edited: 20 Oct 2011, 4:02 p.m.
▼
Posts: 3,283
Threads: 104
Joined: Jul 2005
Quote:
If you can, give it WiFi for really convenient sharing abilities and more.
For a device like this, Bluetooth would be the better choice: easy peer-to-peer networking and low power consumption.
Posts: 124
Threads: 11
Joined: Jul 2007
RPN only. Take it one step at a time. If an RPN approach is ever accomplished then do RPL & Forth for those fanatics that need it.
Posts: 709
Threads: 104
Joined: Nov 2005
I guess I'm not seeing much of a difference in RPN vs RPL. I sort of see RPN as just the keystroke version of RPL (and hence a bit more limited). In fact, on the HP48 and similar systems, if you wanted to do keystroke programming, it could be done provided you start with << and end with >> -- everything in between may as well be keystrokes. The only other minor difference is how ENTER is implemented.
▼
Posts: 3,283
Threads: 104
Joined: Jul 2005
Quote:
The only other minor difference is how ENTER is implemented.
And STO...
▼
Posts: 306
Threads: 3
Joined: Sep 2009
And GOTO. (I do wish RPL had GOTO)
Edited: 20 Oct 2011, 6:13 p.m.
▼
Posts: 764
Threads: 118
Joined: Aug 2007
Quote:
And GOTO. (I do wish RPL had GOTO)
So do I - and LBL. My biggest pet peeve with RPL is the lack of GTO and LBL.
▼
Posts: 1,089
Threads: 32
Joined: Dec 2005
▼
Posts: 620
Threads: 14
Joined: Feb 2007
Quote:
Give me a BREAK!
And a PAUSE (but the kind that accepts keystrokes while pausing, otherwise we cannot play Lunar Rocket Lander properly)
▼
Posts: 1,089
Threads: 32
Joined: Dec 2005
Which, of course, is first priority ;-).
▼
Posts: 620
Threads: 14
Joined: Feb 2007
Quote:
Which, of course, is first priority ;-).
Yes! And second priority is a short and simple manual for me. I'm spoilt by 20+ years of Macintosh usage and really don't want to waste my time with anything that can not be mastered intuitively. Ten pages maximum for the manual (8 of which the list of functions :-) , not more than two for using and programming) and I buy it!
▼
Posts: 256
Threads: 4
Joined: Sep 2007
Hi Maximilian. To me the Mac user interface isn't intuitive but rather it's consistent. It works the same way from software app to software app year after year. For example, dragging a disc to the trash can to eject it isn't intuitive at all but it's worked that way for many years.
John
Posts: 239
Threads: 9
Joined: Dec 2010
How much shorter than this RPL on wikipedia do you want the manual to be?
Honestly, I don't understand why people say that RPL has a steep learning curve. The language is about as easy as it gets.
Mastering the 700+ commands in a 50g (or other RPL machine) is another matter, but you don't need any of them to comprehend, and use, the language.
The command set isn't there to intimidate, either. It's there for you to pick up something when you need it, and save you from wasting time on reinventing the wheel.
▼
Posts: 756
Threads: 31
Joined: Aug 2010
I don't think that it is difficult so much as different. From my perspective, coming at it as a programmer, it is a relatively easy language with a lot of power. Many people seem to miss that it *is* keystroke programmable (just place your keystrokes between <<>> and you are set). Maybe the looping constructs are more involved but with that added complexity comes power. And they really are not that hard to master. However, I would still rather have FOCAL or RPN for quick and dirty solutions and RPL for more involved, fully developed, applications.
Cheers,
-Marwan
Posts: 764
Threads: 118
Joined: Aug 2007
The Wikipedia article does a great job of summarizing the main commands on RPL.
Also check out my RPL blogs on Eddie's Math and Calculator Blog for a summary of some of the main commands.
Posts: 709
Threads: 104
Joined: Nov 2005
You can do all that with RPL. You can also have temporary variables that span across multiple subroutines (i.e. temporary global variables) by prefixing them with the left arrow (e.g. <-p)
Quote:
<<
<< subprg1 >>
<< subprg2 >>
...
<< subprgn >>
->
s1 s2 ... sn
<<
@ main routine goes here
@ call a subroutine with:
s1 EVAL
@ do a GOTO with:
s1 KILL
@ pause and wait for keypress with:
0 WAIT
>>
>>
I'm not familiar with how BREAK works in RPN... does that just exit the current loop? Or does it kill the program?
▼
Posts: 764
Threads: 118
Joined: Aug 2007
Cool - up to now I had to store the subroutines as global variables and purge them in the end. I have to try this! Thanks!
Posts: 3,283
Threads: 104
Joined: Jul 2005
No need for BREAK in RPN, a GTO just does the job nicely. Cleanup of loops is just by reusing their counter register(s).
BREAK would be a nice addition to RPL because it lacks a clean way to exit a loop early if some condition becomes true. This is common practice in languages like C or Java.
▼
Posts: 217
Threads: 4
Joined: Mar 2010
I made a clean exit from a FOR NEXT loop by bumping up the loop counter to the exit value when I determined there was no point continuing the loop.
▼
Posts: 3,283
Threads: 104
Joined: Jul 2005
Isn't the loop index precomputed and immune against later modifications in RPL? What about a loop without an index variable?
▼
Posts: 217
Threads: 4
Joined: Mar 2010
From the AUR
Quote:
FOR takes xstart and xfinish as the beginning and ending values for the loop counter, then
creates the local variable counter as a loop counter. Then, the loop clause is executed; counter
can be referenced or have its value changed within the loop clause. NEXT increments
counter by one, and then tests whether counter is less than or equal to xfinish. If so, the loop
clause is repeated (with the new value of counter).
By loops with out an index do you mean 'while' and 'do until' loops? in both of these cases these loops execute until some logical condition meets the exit criteria. While I have not explicitly tried this in RPL I would expect you should be able to have a compound test and one of the terms can be an exit flag that you could set or clear when you determine that you wish to exit the loop early.
▼
Posts: 3,283
Threads: 104
Joined: Jul 2005
I stand corrected, RPL allows the modification of the loop counter and the increment can be taken from stack each time. There is a loop construct with no visible counter in RPL (START/NEXT). But there is also a variant with a variable increment. All these loops (except START/NEXT) can be exited early by modification of the increment or the loop counter but you still need an IF block to skip any unwanted statements in the block. BREAK would make things easier.
▼
Posts: 217
Threads: 4
Joined: Mar 2010
Yes but even for break you need to make some kind of decision to get to the break in my case I did the test to see if it was worth continuing and all the code for the loop was under the THEN term and under the ELSE term I bumped up the loop count for early exit. I don't see how a BREAK command would make that any better.
▼
Posts: 1,089
Threads: 32
Joined: Dec 2005
A break is convenient to immediately leave a loop w/o enclosing the remaining code in a conditional statement, as it would be necessary when bumping the counter. Of course, one can live without BREAK, but it gives more clearly arranged code when using it. Java is quite stripped down compared to C++ in some respect but contains everything one needs. It's remarkable that break has been left in and that it's widely used.
▼
Posts: 3,283
Threads: 104
Joined: Jul 2005
In Java, break has even been extended to take a label. This way you can break out several loops at once which is otherwise a mess. The labeled break isn't a goto, you can just 'name' the loop to break.
▼
Posts: 1,216
Threads: 75
Joined: Jun 2011
Quote:
In Java, break has even been extended to take a label. This way you can break out several loops at once which is otherwise a mess.
I still remember the good old BASIC times ;-) where you could simply go FROM wherever you want TO wherever you want with a GOTO!
Ok, many called this "Spaghetti code", but nevertheless this was quite comfortable (and BTW, every assembly code works exactly the same way) ... :-)
Franz
▼
Posts: 3,283
Threads: 104
Joined: Jul 2005
Leaving a FOR/NEXT loop this way leaves an open control structure in memory. :-(
▼
Posts: 1,216
Threads: 75
Joined: Jun 2011
Quote:
Leaving a FOR/NEXT loop this way leaves an open control structure in memory. :-(
Well, first I don't think this would be a problem at all (you'll certainly not do it thousands of times ;-)), and then you could always set the loop-variable to the endvalue and GOTO the NEXT statement.
Posts: 239
Threads: 9
Joined: Dec 2010
Plus, don't you still have to put an IF around the following code, until the NEXT/STEP?
'fraid there's no substitute to BREAK.
▼
Posts: 217
Threads: 4
Joined: Mar 2010
Yes you do but it would seem to me that in order to determine if you should exit from a loop early, you would need to make some kind of a decision within the loop. I just don't think the lack of BREAK is such a big deal.
▼
Posts: 239
Threads: 9
Joined: Dec 2010
Consider
for i:=0 to 1000
if condition
break
if condition2
...
endloop
Yes, you can rewrite this to
for i:=0 to 1000
if condition
i:=1000
if i < 1000 && condition2
...
endloop
but you have to have knowledge of the end value and you need to insert one additional IF, or condition for an existing IF, per break.
It looks bad and it introduces extra computation. What's more, if the end value should change, you have to maintain your end value update and code exclude IFs, or your code will (spuriously) fail.
This wouldn't be so bad, if breaks were rare. But running over a domain, checking for something, and doing an early exit is the life-blood of basic search algorithms, and happens all the time.
The RPL designers tried to keep things simple, and in this case maybe a little too simple.
CONTINUE is missing too...
Posts: 306
Threads: 3
Joined: Sep 2009
KILL will kill everything that's running; if a parent program calls a subprogram that has KILL in it, both programs are killed.
People have pointed out that a language can be turing complete without GOTO, which is true; in principle, you could just be very careful about your structures. However, we are talking about hand-held calculators here, and I think for that application, it's important to be able to write programs on the fly. I've been in situations where a slight revision to a program would necessitate massive changes to the structure (adding many more IF THEN blocks throughout) when a simple goto or break would have done the job.
It is, by the way, possible to do loop breaking with error trapping / custom errors. I think this is the standard way it's done now. I think a built-in BREAK command would be more elegant.
▼
Posts: 239
Threads: 9
Joined: Dec 2010
Agreed. And that's why I (just recently) put it into RPL+.
Along with IFTB ("if-then-break") and CONTINUE and IFTC ("if-then-continue").
Posts: 764
Threads: 118
Joined: Aug 2007
I tried your suggestion Han but I am having trouble getting the program to execute.
An example:
The goal of this program is to give a menu of 3 options: return the principal root of a number (F1: RPN), return all the real roots of a number (F2; REAL), and return all the real and complex roots of a number (F3: ALL).
<<
<< 'X' PURGE SWAP ^ SWAP - X ZEROS >> -> SUB1
<< { { "PRN" << XROOT ->NUM >> }
{ "REAL" << -103 CF SUB1 EVAL >> }
{ "ALL" << -103 SF SUB1 EVAL >> } }
TMENU >>
I get "CF Error: Undefined Local Name" error when I try to run the REAL option.
I get "SF Error: Undefined Local Name" error when I try to run the ALL option.
▼
Posts: 3,283
Threads: 104
Joined: Jul 2005
It looks like the local variable SUB1 is not accessible to the routine tied to the options "REAL" or "ALL". You can try <-SUB1 as the local name. If that doesn't work you need to define a global variable for SUB1. It depends on the inner workings of TMENU. You should create a subdirectory for the variables and the program to avoid cluttering HOME.
▼
Posts: 764
Threads: 118
Joined: Aug 2007
I have been using global variables and purging them at the end:
i.e.
<< <<subroutine goes here>> 'SUB1' STO
(Main program)
'SUB1' PURGE >>
▼
Posts: 3,283
Threads: 104
Joined: Jul 2005
You didn't try the backwards arrow? This introduces a special type of local variable with extended visibility. (Don't ask for details!)
Posts: 198
Threads: 17
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 896
Threads: 183
Joined: Jul 2005
RPN every day of the week and twice on Sunday.
▼
Posts: 896
Threads: 183
Joined: Jul 2005
And if you want a scripting language to go with that, try Raven.
Posts: 2,448
Threads: 90
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 101
Threads: 11
Joined: Jun 2011
RPN, but with more than 4 levels.
Posts: 1,193
Threads: 43
Joined: Jul 2005
RPN, perhaps with a well designed complex stack. Four-level stack is fine for me, with classic HP behavior.
Posts: 1,253
Threads: 117
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 528
Threads: 40
Joined: Dec 2008
RPL is a very small, very efficient programming environment. The compiler and decompiler are pretty simple, so it's easy to write programs in RPL on the calculator.
On the down-side the syntax is not very intuitive.
I think many of the design goals for RPL don't really apply any more, so I'd vote for key keystroke programmability of RPN and a more modern scripting language as you mention.
▼
Posts: 114
Threads: 18
Joined: Jan 2011
Quote:
I think many of the design goals for RPL don't really apply any more
I agree. Is not it the reason why HP lost education battle to TI?
▼
Posts: 3,229
Threads: 42
Joined: Jul 2006
I very much doubt RPL is the reason HP lost the educational market.
Cost is a big one. HP was never cheap.
RPN is probably the second. When I was at school (early 1980's) the teachers had at most half a clue as to how to calculate in RPN but they really weren't sure. The fight was lost here before I finished high school -- there were only two of us with HP calculators at that stage. Everyone else used CASIO, actually I did too since my 34C was broken & I bought a 602P.
A few more at university (late 1980's) used RPN but it was still in the minority. When the 28C came out nothing really changed.
- Pauli
▼
Posts: 764
Threads: 118
Joined: Aug 2007
There isn't wide-spread instructional materials of RPN/RPL - not it was promoted as much (I think) compared to algebraic operated calculators.
▼
Posts: 83
Threads: 14
Joined: Sep 2011
I have several thousands pages of RPL documentation on my laptop, from deep down technical to user level and the internet is full of RPL instructions (and RPN).
So what is missing in your opinion ?
The real problem is that people/user do not read anymore. Which, as a quid pro quo, leads to declining manuals which are read even less which ...
I will be comming out with a help for *all* commands ASAP as shown here
HP 50G Full Command and Function Reference incorporated into the O.S.
which might be helpful as a short reference *but* for sure it can not overcome a lack of missing fundamentals which is the primary function of books.
Regards,
Andreas
http://www.software49g.gmxhome.de
By the way: For years I have been saying that the success of a machine targeting at professionals depends on the documentation/ease of use that comes with it.
But of cause that is contradictory to a company looking at short term profit only.
Edited: 23 Oct 2011, 5:02 p.m.
Posts: 528
Threads: 40
Joined: Dec 2008
I was in high school in the late 70's. Everyone had a calculator, but most people used TI's even then. A few - perhaps 5% - used HP. So what has really changed?
I think it's the fact that the TI-83 is basically built into the textbooks now. My daughter, along with everyone else in her class, was required to buy one in 6th grade. The calculators are built into the books, and the lessons, and getting the teachers to change would be a lot of work.
I think this is actually one place where HP could very effectively leverage us, the user community. We could create HP-versions of the specific calculator lessons/exercises in specific textbooks. So if a teacher uses textbook XYZ, he or she (or the student) could go to a website and download the HP version of calculator lessons. Now if the teacher says "do the exercise on page 234," the enlightened HP student could just flip to the appropriate "translation" in their handy HP packet.
Posts: 52
Threads: 2
Joined: Sep 2011
RPL - and please NO CAS :-)
I guess there are two domains:
Education: They are already gone to algebraic, no one is getting an RPN/RPL calculator - only if he/she is a rebel :-) And there are tons of calculators with CAS for them - because you are not allowed to have a computer on an exam, CAS might be good for them...
Grown-Ups: Like me, who need a calculator at work, for light calculations (some cosine here an there, perhaps some small apps for quick calculations in a meeting, etc). For everything I need more than 30sec to enter (that includes 10x10 matrices) I use a computer, as it is faster overall.
▼
Posts: 306
Threads: 3
Joined: Sep 2009
I assure you that a CAS can be useful to grownups.
▼
Posts: 52
Threads: 2
Joined: Sep 2011
Yes, I use it all the time - on my computer :-)
Of course you are right, I was just a bit exaggerating...
Posts: 239
Threads: 55
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 38
Threads: 3
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 756
Threads: 31
Joined: Aug 2010
Both :)? I'll take RPN as my preference.
Posts: 1,278
Threads: 44
Joined: Jul 2007
Is there a neither option? Algebraic is the way to go.
TW
▼
Posts: 239
Threads: 9
Joined: Dec 2010
Really?!
No advantages to the RPN method of entry?
Or you mean just for the user programming language?
Posts: 302
Threads: 34
Joined: Aug 2007
Our version of RPL, *fix, is probably the best option for neither. It functions in prefix, infix, and postfix. Here's a link to a java implementation if you want to see it in action:
*fix
Posts: 1,830
Threads: 113
Joined: Aug 2005
Quote:
Algebraic is the way to go.
Trolllllllll... :)
Posts: 225
Threads: 9
Joined: Jul 2008
Quote:
Is there a neither option? Algebraic is the way to go.
What is this "Algebraic" thing that you speak of? I am not familiar with it.
▼
Posts: 1,830
Threads: 113
Joined: Aug 2005
"You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means."
▼
Posts: 3,229
Threads: 42
Joined: Jul 2006
It comes from a combination and contraction of two words:
It refers to an ancient and little used form of written communication that lays out a thick sheet of pond scum and then glues blood sucking leeches into a variety of positions to render the letters. The writing is read by placing your finger tips onto the slimy surface and feeling the leeches bite into you.
One has to be wary however, an algebraic rendition of Tolstoy's classic War and Peace is very likely to render the reader unconscious, if not dead, due to blood loss.
Additionally, unscrupulous authors have been known to practice bdellotry before affixing the leeches into position, thus causing a greater level of blood loss amongst their readers.
Finally, the pond scum is very likely to infect the reader with a variety of nasty bacterial diseases.
- Pauli
▼
Posts: 4,587
Threads: 105
Joined: Jul 2005
Heh heh, what did you read last?
▼
Posts: 3,229
Threads: 42
Joined: Jul 2006
The last book I read was The Stainless Steel Rat Sings the Blues by Harry Harrison.
- Pauli
▼
Posts: 169
Threads: 12
Joined: Aug 2007
Hi Paul,
I thought it would be from The Devil's Dictionary by Ambrose Bierce,
and also had consulted the American Heritage Dictionary for its origin, that was also interesting :-)
[Arabic, al-, the + jabr, bone-setting, restoration (from jabara, to set (bones), force, restore.)]
Lyuka
▼
Posts: 3,229
Threads: 42
Joined: Jul 2006
I wasn't aware of The Devil's Dictionary. Interesting.
The real definition is a bit of a surprise. Quite unexpected -- not that it comes from the Arabic but what exactly it does come from.
I prefer the one I made up :-)
- Pauli
▼
Posts: 4,587
Threads: 105
Joined: Jul 2005
Words containing the syllable "al" are suspects having Arabic origin: Gibraltar, Andalusia, Almeria, ...
▼
Posts: 1,830
Threads: 113
Joined: Aug 2005
Having fun with the online etymology dictionary.
Alcohol, albatross, alcove, alchemy, alembic and algebra all either originated in Arabic or passed through it on the way to English. Alderman, aleatory, aleph, ale, alert, algae and alien are all from sources other than Arabic.
Posts: 3,229
Threads: 42
Joined: Jul 2006
I said I wasn't surprised that the word had Arabic origins.
I was surprised at the meanings of the words is came from.
- Pauli
Posts: 239
Threads: 9
Joined: Dec 2010
I always wondered.
Thanks for clarifying the issue scientifically.
Posts: 274
Threads: 23
Joined: Sep 2007
RPN if OpenRPN is to be a non graphic calc (43S)
Patrice
Posts: 540
Threads: 22
Joined: Jan 2005
For a calculator, definitely RPN. It's convenient for back-of-an-envelope calculations and use in meetings, which is what I want a calculator for. Keystroke programmability to automate some repetitive calculations is all I need, and GTO/GSB/ISZ/DSE will get the job done.
If the problem is complex enough to require RPL, with its highly regular but awkward syntax, I'd prefer to sit at a computer and work with GNU Octave or R or Matlab or Mathematica.
Best,
--- Les
[http://www.lesbell.com.au]
Posts: 1,083
Threads: 126
Joined: Sep 2006
▼
Posts: 263
Threads: 42
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 764
Threads: 118
Joined: Aug 2007
Good question! I like RPN for simplicity, RPL for the extended set of commands. Truthfully, I'm not sure if I can be on team-RPN or team-RPL yet because I like both.
Here's how I would imagine some of the RPL commands on an RPN (keystroke) machine:
FOR Loop:
start
end
FOR register#
** commands **
NEXT
WHILE Loop:
y
x
WHILE Test# (i.e. #1: x=y; #2: x>y; #3: x<y, etc)
** commands **
WEND
DO Loop:
DO
** commands **
y
x
UNTIL Test# (i.e. #1: x=y, #2: x>y, #3: x<y, etc)
If text is allowed - it would be handled like the 41C/42S (?):
CHOOSE - each option is presented for 2 seconds. ("1. Choice 1", "2. Choice 2", "3. Choice 3"...) - and cycles until something is chosen. Up to 9 options.
"text 1"
"text 2"
...
"text n"
CHOOSE
PROMPT - message displays for 2 seconds and then stops for input.
"text"
PROMPT
DISP n - message displays for n seconds.
"text" or register#
DISP n
If graphing functions is featured:
PLOT - plots an equation as an algebraic object.
'equation'
PLOT
XRNG and YRNG would work the same way as it would on the graphing calculators.
Edited: 21 Oct 2011, 12:22 a.m.
Posts: 119
Threads: 18
Joined: Feb 2007
Even yet another vote for RPN.
Although I do enjoy messing around with RPL from time to time, for what I use calculators for, RPN is the bee's knees.
Posts: 850
Threads: 10
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,089
Threads: 32
Joined: Dec 2005
42S+27S - RPN w/ full blown equation editor, i.e. a tuned Binford 9100 turbo (or, a 32SIII).
Posts: 372
Threads: 42
Joined: Mar 2011
RPL for me, any day.
I (have to) use RPN often but I just don't like the ENTER behavior and the limited stack, the 48/50 way is so much easier for me. But I like the RPN's STO.
Cristian
Posts: 3
Threads: 0
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 168
Threads: 10
Joined: Jul 2007
Because I started with my dad's HP-35 (while in junior high school!), RPN is ingrained and natural to me. Most of the programs I still use today for civil engineering, I wrote on an HP-41CX and an HP-42S back in the 1980s and 1990s. I still program, but not nearly as much.
I have an HP-48G+ and I have dabbled with PRL programming. There is no question that it is enormously more powerful than RPN, but it's just not natural to me and I find it frustrating. It's also a pain to edit on the machine itself. Thank goodness for HPUserEdit. In the final analysis, I greatly prefer RPN.
However, I've had this question for years: when the 48 series was designed, why didn't HP include an RPN mode? It would have provided an excellent upgrade path for HP-41 and HP-42S users. I know some engineers who still use an HP-41 because they don't like the HP-48/-49/-50 series. I still use an HP-42S as my primary machine, though I also keep my HP-48G+ in my briefcase ready for use when needed.
▼
Posts: 63
Threads: 9
Joined: Mar 2009
Love RPN & still have 2 HP41s (CV & CX) BUT at the end of the day I've come to realize that RPL is my preference as well. My favourite calculators now are the HP 48GX & HP 50G.
Hope this helps.
Cheers,
Michael
|
