Calculator Comparison

Features in optional ROMs are listed as Option. Features in HP mag card or tape Application Pacs are listed as +. Other software is not included.
Display and Keyboard	HP-38C	HP-12C
Display type	LED	LCD
Display format	1 Line	1 Line
FIXed number format	Yes	Yes
SCIentific number format	Yes	Yes*
ENGineering number format	-	-
STanDard / ALL number format	-	-
Alpha messages and prompts	-	-
Softkeys labeled by mag. card or overlay	-	-
Softkeys labeled by display menus	-	-
Softkeys with neither labeling system	-	-
Status annunciators	-	Yes
Redefinable keyboard	-	-
Logic	HP-38C	HP-12C
Logic system	RPN	RPN
Stack levels	4	4
Last x	Yes	Yes
Undo	-	-
Precedence	-	-
Parentheses	-	-
Storage Addition (STO +)	Yes	Yes
Storage Arithmetic (STO +, −, ×, ÷)	Yes	Yes
Storage Exponentiation (STO ^)	-	-
Recall Arithmetic	-	-
Named variables	-	-
Multiple data types	-	-
Directories	-	-
Math	HP-38C	HP-12C
+, −, ×, ÷	Yes	Yes
1/x	Yes	Yes
√	Yes	Yes
x²	-	-
LOG x	-	-
10^x	-	-
LN x	Yes	Yes
e^x	Yes	Yes
y^x	Yes	Yes
π	-	-
%	Yes	Yes
% change	Yes	Yes
INTeger truncation and ABSolute value	Yes	INT only
Trigonometric functions (SIN, COS etc.)	-	-
Hyperbolic trig. (SINH, COSH etc.)	-	-
# of trig. modes (degrees, radians, grads)	-	-
Advanced Math	HP-38C	HP-12C
Solver / root finder	-	-
Numeric integration	-	-
Complex numbers	-	-
Matrix operations	-	-
Matrix writer	-	-
Equation writer	-	-
Symbolic operations	-	-
Fractions	-	-
Plotting and graphics (display)	-	-
Plotting and graphics (printer / plotter)	-	-
Statistical	HP-38C	HP-12C
Mean, standard deviation (# of variables)	2	2
Σ of n, x, x²	Yes	Yes
Σ of n, x, x², y	Yes	Yes
Σ of n, x, x², y, xy	Yes	Yes
Σ of n, x, x², y, y², xy	Yes	Yes
Σ of lists	-	-
Random number generator	-	-
Linear regression, estimate	Yes	Yes
Curve fitting	-	-
Correlation coefficient	Yes	Yes
Normal distribution	-	-
Factorial	Yes	Yes
Gamma	-	-
Combinations and permutations	-	-
Scientific and Time	HP-38C	HP-12C
Polar / rectangular conversions	-	-
Base conversions (2, 8, 10, 16)	-	-
Arithmetic in bases 2, 8 and 16	-	-
Bit operations (AND, OR, XOR, ...)	-	-
Selectable word size (1-64 bits)	-	-
Selectable complement mode (1's, 2's, unsigned)	-	-
Decimal hrs / hrs.min.sec. conversions	-	-
Hrs.min.sec arithmetic	-	-
Time of day clock	-	-
Timer	-	-
Dynamic calculations (timer × rate)	-	-
Alarms	-	-
Unit Conversions	HP-38C	HP-12C
Centimeters / inches	-	-
Millimeters / inches	-	-
Meters / feet	-	-
Kilograms / pounds (mass)	-	-
Newtons / pounds (force)	-	-
British thermal units / joules	-	-
Liters / gallons	-	-
° Celsius / ° Fahrenheit	-	-
Other	-	-
User-defined units	-	-
Time Value of Money	HP-38C	HP-12C
Number of payments (n)	Yes	Yes
Interest rate (i)	Yes	Yes
Present Value (PV)	Yes	Yes
Payment (PMT)	Yes	Yes
Future Value (FV)	Yes	Yes
Cash Flow Analysis	HP-38C	HP-12C
Net present value (NPV)	Yes	Yes
Internal rate of return (IRR)	Yes	Yes
Amortization	HP-38C	HP-12C
Accumulated Interest (ACC INT)	Yes	Yes
Balance (BAL)	Yes	Yes
Depreciation	HP-38C	HP-12C
Straight line (SL)	-	Yes
Sum of the years digits (SOYD)	-	Yes
Declining balance (DB)	-	Yes
Bonds and calendar functions	HP-38C	HP-12C
Bond price	-	Yes
Bond yield	-	Yes
Date arithmetic / calendar functions	Yes	Yes
Memory and Programming	HP-38C	HP-12C
Programming language(s)	RPN	RPN
RAM / Max # of variables or addressable registers	20	20
Max # of program steps	99	99
RAM / Max vars or regs with full optional RAM	-	-
Max # of prog steps with full optional RAM	-	-
Merged program steps	Yes	Yes
Manual register / program memory allocation	-	-
Automatic register / program memory allocation	Yes	Yes
Overlapped register and program memory	-	-
Continuous memory	Yes	Yes
Flags	-	-
Conditional tests	2	2
Subroutine levels	-	-
Indexed looping (increment by +/- 1, end at 0)	-	-
Indexed looping (choice of increment and end)	-	-
Multiple index / loop registers	-	-
Line number addressing	-	Yes
Branching by relative line number	-	-
Global program label addressing	-	-
Local program label addressing	-	-
Indirect / computed addressing and control	-	-
Multiple indirection registers	-	-
Pause	Yes	Yes
Alpha messages and prompts in programs	-	-
Alpha program listings	-	-
Alpha string manipulation	-	-
Program step insert / delete	-	-
I/O and Expansion Features	HP-38C	HP-12C
ROM modules	-	-
RAM modules or expansion option	-	-
General expansion slots / connector	-	-
Magnetic card reader/writer	-	-
Tape drive	-	-
Disk drive	-	-
Upgradeable firmware	-	-
Optical wand	-	-
Serial port	-	-
Infrared input	-	-
Infrared output	-	-
Printer	-	-
Networking	-	-
Other	-	-
General	HP-38C	HP-12C
Sounds	-	-
Self test	Yes	Yes
Hard case (in addition to soft case)	-	-
Additional Features	-	-
Batteries	Rechargeable	3 SR44
Length (inches)	5.6"	5.1"
Width	2.8"	3.1"
Height	1.2"	0.6"
Weight (oz or lbs)	6-8 oz*	4 oz
Year of introduction	1979	1981
Features in optional ROMs are listed as Option. Features in HP mag card or tape Application Pacs are listed as +. Other software is not included. Unlim means limited only by available memory.

Features in optional ROMs are listed as Option.
Features in HP mag card or tape Application Pacs are listed as +.
Other software is not included.

Display and Keyboard

HP-38C

HP-12C

Display type

LED

LCD

Display format

1 Line

FIXed number format

Yes

SCIentific number format

Yes

Yes*

ENGineering number format

STanDard / ALL number format

Alpha messages and prompts

Softkeys labeled by mag. card or overlay

Softkeys labeled by display menus

Softkeys with neither labeling system

Status annunciators

Yes

Redefinable keyboard

Logic

HP-38C

HP-12C

Logic system

RPN

Stack levels

Last x

Yes

Undo

Precedence

Parentheses

Storage Addition (STO +)

Yes

Storage Arithmetic (STO +, −, ×, ÷)

Yes

Storage Exponentiation (STO ^)

Recall Arithmetic

Named variables

Multiple data types

Directories

Math

HP-38C

HP-12C

+, −, ×, ÷

Yes

1/x

Yes

√

Yes

x²

LOG x

10^x

LN x

Yes

e^x

Yes

y^x

Yes

% change

Yes

INTeger truncation and ABSolute value

Yes

INT only

Trigonometric functions (SIN, COS etc.)

Hyperbolic trig. (SINH, COSH etc.)

# of trig. modes (degrees, radians, grads)

Advanced Math

HP-38C

HP-12C

Solver / root finder

Numeric integration

Complex numbers

Matrix operations

Matrix writer

Equation writer

Symbolic operations

Fractions

Plotting and graphics (display)

Plotting and graphics (printer / plotter)

Statistical

HP-38C

HP-12C

Mean, standard deviation (# of variables)

Σ of n, x, x²

Yes

Σ of n, x, x², y

Yes

Σ of n, x, x², y, xy

Yes

Σ of n, x, x², y, y², xy

Yes

Σ of lists

Random number generator

Linear regression, estimate

Yes

Curve fitting

Correlation coefficient

Yes

Normal distribution

Factorial

Yes

Gamma

Combinations and permutations

Scientific and Time

HP-38C

HP-12C

Polar / rectangular conversions

Base conversions (2, 8, 10, 16)

Arithmetic in bases 2, 8 and 16

Bit operations (AND, OR, XOR, ...)

Selectable word size (1-64 bits)

Selectable complement mode (1's, 2's, unsigned)

Decimal hrs / hrs.min.sec. conversions

Hrs.min.sec arithmetic

Time of day clock

Timer

Dynamic calculations (timer × rate)

Alarms

Unit Conversions

HP-38C

HP-12C

Centimeters / inches

Millimeters / inches

Meters / feet

Kilograms / pounds (mass)

Newtons / pounds (force)

British thermal units / joules

Liters / gallons

° Celsius / ° Fahrenheit

Other

User-defined units

Time Value of Money

HP-38C

HP-12C

Number of payments (n)

Yes

Interest rate (i)

Yes

Present Value (PV)

Yes

Payment (PMT)

Yes

Future Value (FV)

Yes

Cash Flow Analysis

HP-38C

HP-12C

Net present value (NPV)

Yes

Internal rate of return (IRR)

Yes

Amortization

HP-38C

HP-12C

Accumulated Interest (ACC INT)

Yes

Balance (BAL)

Yes

Depreciation

HP-38C

HP-12C

Straight line (SL)

Yes

Sum of the years digits (SOYD)

Yes

Declining balance (DB)

Yes

Bonds and calendar functions

HP-38C

HP-12C

Bond price

Yes

Bond yield

Yes

Date arithmetic / calendar functions

Yes

Memory and Programming

HP-38C

HP-12C

Programming language(s)

RPN

RAM / Max # of variables or addressable registers

Max # of program steps

RAM / Max vars or regs with full optional RAM

Max # of prog steps with full optional RAM

Merged program steps

Yes

Manual register / program memory allocation

Automatic register / program memory allocation

Yes

Overlapped register and program memory

Continuous memory

Yes

Flags

Conditional tests

Subroutine levels

Indexed looping (increment by +/- 1, end at 0)

Indexed looping (choice of increment and end)

Multiple index / loop registers

Line number addressing

Yes

Branching by relative line number

Global program label addressing

Local program label addressing

Indirect / computed addressing and control

Multiple indirection registers

Pause

Yes

Alpha messages and prompts in programs

Alpha program listings

Alpha string manipulation

Program step insert / delete

I/O and Expansion Features

HP-38C

HP-12C

ROM modules

RAM modules or expansion option

General expansion slots / connector

Magnetic card reader/writer

Tape drive

Disk drive

Upgradeable firmware

Optical wand

Serial port

Infrared input

Infrared output

Printer

Networking

Other

General

HP-38C

HP-12C

Sounds

Self test

Yes

Hard case (in addition to soft case)

Additional Features

Batteries

Rechargeable

3 SR44

Length (inches)

5.6"

5.1"

Width

2.8"

3.1"

Height

1.2"

0.6"

Weight (oz or lbs)

6-8 oz*

4 oz

Year of introduction

1979

1981

Features in optional ROMs are listed as Option.
Features in HP mag card or tape Application Pacs are listed as +.
Other software is not included.

Unlim means limited only by available memory.

HP-38C notes:

Late versions were about 1.5 oz lighter than earlier versions.
Self test by pressing STO and then ENTER. At the end of the test, the entire display lights to indicate success.

HP-12C notes:

FIXed mode set by "f #". SCIentific mode set by "f ." with no choice of the number of digits.
Self test: with the calculator off, hold the × key down and press and release ON, then release ×. The calculator will display running for around half a minute and then activate the entire display to indicate success. The test may be done continuously by (with the calculator off) holding + down while pressing the ON key. To stop the continuous test at the end of the current iteration, press and hold − and then press ON.
There is also a keyboard test. With the calculator off, press and hold ÷ and press ON. Now press each key from the top left moving left to right and then down (the enter key gets pressed in both the third and fourth rows.) If all keys are pressed in the correct order and are working, the model number (without the C) is displayed. Otherwise, Error 9 is displayed. (The display will show a changing pattern of segments as keys are pressed.)

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