Jack,
I had a similar 48SX situation, but it didn't turn out quite as good as your story. About five years ago, I picked up a 48SX for $5.00 because it had three bad columns of pixels along the far left half of the display. Then I found the following document which perfectly described my SX:
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Article: 3937 of comp.sys.hp48
From: akcs.joehorn@hpcvbbs.cv.hp.com (Joseph K. Horn)
Date: Mon, 14 Sep 1992 06:40:02 GMT
For those suffering from failing HP48 LCD's, the following "official" posting about it from HP's BBS sysop is the final word. Due to its importance, it was included on Goodies Disk #7, in the POSTINGS subdirectory. Hope it helps. -jkh-
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(Feedbackto.hp)
Item: 248
Resp: 3 by sanker@hpcvbbs.cv.hp.com
Author: [Greg Sanker]
Date: Tue Apr 07 1992 14:35
I checked with the Hardware folks, and here is the scoop:
There was a specific problem that may or may not occur in a limited production of units. The problem has been isolated to the LCD and has been resolved with the vendor. The potentially defective LCD's were installed in HP 48's with serial numbers ranging 3013AXXXXX thru 3044AXXXXX. Symptoms of the problem are a pronounced black spot in the upper left hand corner of the display and/or dark/missing columns
3,5,7 and/or 9.
If a unit is failing for the above reasons, subject to
verification by the Corvallis Service Center, it will be covered as part of the standard warranty, even if the standard warranty period has expired.
Greg (SYSOP)
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I sent the calculator and this document to HP asking them to honor their policy (especially the last line). But HP didn't bite. They said the claim period was over so the best they could do was replace it with a 48GX for $100, which I did end up doing. Looking back, I kind of wish I had kept the 48SX (since the price was so right).
Matt