RPN Simulator Modules for TI-59 ?

[Pyerre]

(since I've recently got a brand new TI-59 sealed in box) ... This sounds as an interesting alternative to the RPN experiences with this wonderful algebraic machine!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3002385026&category=11713

Anyone has experienced with such device ? Many Thanks.

[Michael Meyer]

Dear Pyerre,

I have the RPN module, and it's a nice piece of history, but I've never used it. Even when I bought it, I thought it would allow RPN functioning. Not so.

The module assists in translating RPN programs (HP 67?) to TI-59 programs. That is all it does... and not easily at that. Bummer. I've thought about writing an RPN emulator for the 59. It probably wouldn't be blazing fast, and since there aren't user-definable keys other than to call them as subroutines, transcendental functions would be tricky to do.

There are some awesome RPN calculator programs for the HP-71B (an algebraic machine), including the HP-41 emulator module. But that's another story...

Michael

[Gene]

Correct. You must key in the HP-67 keycodes into the TI-59 while running the RPN simulator module program.

It thinks and thinks and thinks.

Then it prints out a TI-59 program listing that does something comparable to the original HP-67 program! You must then key this into the TI-59 to run it.

And, not all HP-67 instructions are emulated. I forget which ones, but they are not trivial. For example, HP-67 Flag 3 (numeric digit entry flag) is not emulated...so many HP-67 games that might be ported won't work.

Fun to have, perhaps. Useful? No.

However, it did/does show you how much TI wanted to get people off their HP-67s and into the TI-59. Of course, HP then introduced the HP-41C and the rest was history...TI had nothing with which to compete.

Give the TI-59 it's due, however. It had a wealth of features and 100 memories. Programming it was the pitts though!

Gene