I am an idiot

[Tom Lewis]

So..I don't post much but I enjoy lurking on the forum. I recently purchased a pristine financial calculator on eBay that I can use which will allow me to use my 41CX exclusively at home as I am afraid to lose it on the road for whatever reason. Well I purchased an HP-17B...which doesn't use RPN :).

It is in absolutely perfect condition and even came with the original box, manual, sleeve..everything. I will keep it and give it to my son or maybe a coworker I care about..I don't know yet.

I just thought I would share my mistake as I have made worse and this just makes me laugh.

[Steve Simpkin]

Well everybody makes mistakes. I mean look at HP. They made several calculators that were algebraic only! Epic mistake :)

[hpnut]

Quote:

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Well everybody makes mistakes. I mean look at HP. They made several calculators that were algebraic only! Epic mistake :)

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I will vouch for that! I have been a hard core RPN HP fan since university days in 1978 (HP 41C)

hpnut in Malaysia

[Massimo Gnerucci (Italy)]

Quote:

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I have been a hard core RPN HP fan since university days in 1978 (HP 41C)

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Me too. But since '79, when the 41C was introduced... ;-)

Before that it was RPN already, but in the shape of a Novus Mathematician.

[Steve Simpkin]

I had a Novus Mathematician too around late 1976. I found the lack of scientific notation and a three level stack quite limiting at the time but it was my first introduction to RPN and it will always have a place in my heart for that. The following year I was able to buy an HP-25 and my addition to RPN was complete.

[Massimo Gnerucci (Italy)]

Late '76, yes: same time frame. I used it through my first university year. Then came the 41...

[Walter B]

1977, 25C. RPN all the way through from then.

d:-)

Edited: 10 July 2013, 1:16 a.m. after one or more responses were posted

[Steve Simpkin]

Technically, the HP-25C was introduced in 1976 :p


I would have loved to have bought the C version when I purchased my HP-25 in June 1977 but it was almost US$80 more at the time and I could not afford it. As it was I paid US$116 plus tax for the HP-25 (I still have the receipt). It was a fantastic value and it lasted me through high school, college and my first job.

Edited: 9 July 2013, 5:18 p.m.

[Walter B]

I stand corrected - 1977, of course.

d:-/

[aurelio]

me too, but since 1977 thanks to my father.

Edited: 9 July 2013, 5:35 p.m.

[aj04062]

OH!

I just bought a Mathematician. Waiting for it in the mail. Box and everything. I hope it works!

[aj04062]

OH!

I just bought a Mathematician. Waiting for it in the mail. Box and everything. I hope it works!

[Massimo Gnerucci (Italy)]

Quote:

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I just bought a Mathematician. Waiting for it in the mail. Box and everything. I hope it works!

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Mine still did last time I checked! Cheap "box" and manual, though. The case is quite good, instead.

Enjoy it!

[Namir]

You can enjoy emulators for the HP-41CX as well as many other RPN/RPL calculators for the iPhone and Android phones.

Namir

[Jim Yohe]

Don't beat yourself up over the 17B not having RPN. It's got an excellent feature set for a financial calculator and is extremely easy to use. Having the RPN is overblown, IMHO, and I say that after using HPs (with RPN) for over 30 years.

[Mike (Stgt)]

You are not an idiot. Well, it depends how much you payed. ;)
And what kind of HP-17B you bought, I use a HP17b2+ at work.

Ciao.....Mike

[René Franquinet]

I think it is not bad to switch every now and then from RPN to CAS or ALG or whatever. Makes your mind more flexible.

[Kimberly Thompson]

Tom

Consider posting a trade for a 17bii & enjoy RPN on a very worthy Business Calculator.

SlideRule

Edited: 9 July 2013, 12:29 p.m.

[Diego Diaz]

According to your definition, the idiots queue must be veeeeeeeery long... me included, of course... ;-)

Cheers from Caribbean.

[Neil Hamilton (Ottawa)]

Same here. I have illogically purchased two 19B machines mistaking the II in the "BUSINESS CONSULTANT II" title for the desired 19BII. (Sheesh!)

Here is one: http://www.hpmuseum.org/cgi-sys/cgiwrap/hpmuseum/archv020.cgi?read=210284. I still have this one at work and do use it occasionally.

The other arrived with the serial number quite purposely obliterated! Clearly a machine that had been liberated from its original owner before being temporarily sold to me on eBay. (I returned it for a full refund! thus liberating myself of both its algebraic-ness and the fact that it was undoubtedly a hot machine.)

You think I would have learned the first time...

I eventually acquired a 19BII in quite good condition for a reasonable price.

Anyway, the 17BII is a lovely machine and I am sure you will enjoy it. Currently I have 5 of them (most bought with non-functional keyboard columns -- and all quite easily repaired). I gave one to my financially-oriented sister and turned her from her Casio (or Sharp -- can't recall which) to the much more fluid and sensible HP methodology. Alas, she uses it in algebraic mode but at least she uses it! So much nicer than the thing she had before. Ugh!

Best regards...

[John B. Smitherman]

Hi Tom. It's refreshing that someone accepts responsibility for their mistake instead of blaming others. ;-)

John

[BruceH]

Quote:

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So..I don't post much but I enjoy lurking on the forum. I recently purchased a pristine financial calculator on eBay that I can use which will allow me to use my 41CX exclusively at home as I am afraid to lose it on the road for whatever reason. Well I purchased an HP-17B...which doesn't use RPN :).

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Nah! If you'd bought a 17B thinking it was a 41CX ... that would have been stupid!

Just learn to love the 17B - chain mode is nearly RPN! ;-)