HP Forum Archive 08

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New Calculator Available (shipping on the 8th) Message #1 Posted by Dave Hicks on 1 Apr 2002, 8:31 a.m. Please see the product page for more information. The expected ship date is the 8th. For those of you who were beta testers, you may now speak freely even though the NDA runs through the 10th.

Re: New Calculator Available (shipping on the 8th) Message #2 Posted by Tony on 1 Apr 2002, 8:58 a.m., in response to message #1 by Dave Hicks Finally, HP understands the need to support legacy products. The new RPN3 mode will allow us to make a smooth transition from our 9100’s. It will be worth the wait.

Re: New Calculator Available (shipping on the 8th) Message #3 Posted by Andrés C. Rodríguez (Argentina) on 1 Apr 2002, 9:51 a.m., in response to message #1 by Dave Hicks Today is a holiday here (HP offices are closed), but reportedly the new model will be available in my country December 28th(*), or when the economy improves, whichever happens first. If our history keeps repeating (iterating with the same parameters, may I say), it will have a price tag of 1E+18 $ (pesos), equivalent to U$S 149.95 + tax. At least is a real and not a complex number! (Do you know our currency has an "imaginary" part?) (*) Local equivalent to April 1st.

Re: New Calculator Available (shipping on the 8th) Message #4 Posted by Karl Hafen on 1 Apr 2002, 10:07 a.m., in response to message #1 by Dave Hicks I think I'll wait for the 43s. But I'm going to order a few of the Lithium-ion battery packs. (they fit right in the OTHER classic models. :)

Re: New Calculator Available (shipping on the 8th) Message #5 Posted by Bert Keuken on 1 Apr 2002, 10:30 a.m., in response to message #1 by Dave Hicks Ha ha Dave, nice to see you've got a fine sense of humor!

Re: New Calculator Available (shipping on the 8th) Message #6 Posted by Frank on 1 Apr 2002, 11:48 a.m., in response to message #5 by Bert Keuken Only on 4/1?

I've ordered mine Message #7 Posted by Jim L on 1 Apr 2002, 1:57 p.m., in response to message #1 by Dave Hicks Sounds great! I ordered the CX. I can't wait for that Astronomy module. It sounds VERY useful.

What's the price? Message #8 Posted by Chan Tran on 1 Apr 2002, 2:14 p.m., in response to message #7 by Jim L Hi Dave, What the price on the 67C or CX? Must be very expensive. I estimate it must be at least 10 times the price of a good 67 on ebay

Re: What's the price? Message #9 Posted by Jim L on 1 Apr 2002, 3:14 p.m., in response to message #8 by Chan Tran I didn't see the price until I clicked on add to cart. The CX is $399. I didn't check the C.

Re: New Calculator Available (?) Message #10 Posted by Paul Brogger on 1 Apr 2002, 2:24 p.m., in response to message #1 by Dave Hicks I guess I fell for it. I tried to get to the order pages, but they each give a script error. I called the "Home / Home Office" order number, and they don't know anything about it. A web site Search doesn't return any hits. The URL looks fishy (to my untrained eyes), even though it begins with "www.hp.com". A very ELABORATE prank, if it is one. If it's for real, I suppose the rough edges will be smoothed out in the next few days. I'm either a sucker or a frustrated would-be buyer!

Please DON'T call HP about this! Message #11 Posted by Dave Hicks on 1 Apr 2002, 4:52 p.m., in response to message #1 by Dave Hicks The page is an April Fools joke. I cleared it with some calculator people in HP but we never checked with the business store because we didn't think anyone would get so far as to call or place an order online without laughing. Maybe I should have priced it higher? I guess I should have made up a picture of someone wearing that extended belt loop case that holds the calculator and 600 26" long cards. Surely that would have done it ;-) I was also debating whether to change the batteries to Dilithium-ion and add a depth rating of 300 meters. My apologies to anyone who was confused. I'm still not sure if Paul was truly confused just getting me back with an April Fools joke of his own - but if not - I'm sorry Paul.

Re: Please DON'T call HP about this! Message #12 Posted by Monte Dalrymple on 1 Apr 2002, 5:28 p.m., in response to message #11 by Dave Hicks Good one! I had added it to my cart and had my credit card out until I looked closely at the new labels along the bottom row... HALT CTCH FIRE I am old enough to remember that from the original 6800. Then I saw the UNIX commands on one of the middle rows... Boy, did I feel stupid (and disappointed).

Re: Please DON'T call HP about this! Message #13 Posted by Paul Brogger on 1 Apr 2002, 5:53 p.m., in response to message #11 by Dave Hicks For what it's worth, I went in with "Maybe it's just an April Fool's joke, but . . . " (April Fool that I am, I DID call.) A very convincing simulation, I must say! You get the award. (And I get a red face . . . ) It all sounded too weird to be true, but part of me just wanted to believe that something new would be made available . . . "RPN3" mode -- the "HP-68WX" -- five function keys and a keyboard full of colorful legends -- pretty good one! (If you'd simulated taking orders, you might have gotten a few credit card numbers . . . ) Sorry I went to the company -- hope it doesn't cause you any grief!

Re: Please DON'T call HP about this! Message #14 Posted by Nenad Vulic (Croatia) on 2 Apr 2002, 1:36 a.m., in response to message #11 by Dave Hicks I could not have seen the page you are all talking about, due to time zone difference I suppose. Dave, if possible would you repeat the mentioned picture of HP67CX somewhere for us in Europe who have missed the opportunity. I am not sure that I would not be another one who would have ordered it, just if I saw it...

It's still there Message #15 Posted by Dave Hicks on 2 Apr 2002, 1:49 a.m., in response to message #14 by Nenad Vulic (Croatia) It just has a big red April Fools added now. Product page

Price was Right Message #16 Posted by Mike McDonald (KS, USA) on 2 Apr 2002, 9:08 a.m., in response to message #11 by Dave Hicks GREAT Joke! Thought about clicking on the order buttons, but knew it was going to be too expensive. Best 4/1 joke of the day here! Truth is - the "price" is not too far from what I paid for a new HP-45 in 1975 (about $245 as I recall) when I was working as farm labor for $1.75/hr during summers while attending Oregon State University. Maybe there is a willingness to pay for performance that is being overlooked.

Credits Message #17 Posted by Dave Hicks on 1 Apr 2002, 7:17 p.m., in response to message #1 by Dave Hicks Ernie Malaga supplied the 68WX materials which he originally called the 67CX and the suggestion to do this. I thought that the 67CX needed more of a "physical" presence for an announcement so the "new" 67CX was created and old "old" 67CX became the 68 Wide Body ;-) Thanks Ernie!

Re: Credits Message #18 Posted by Ernie Malaga on 1 Apr 2002, 8:02 p.m., in response to message #17 by Dave Hicks You're quite welcome, Dave. Man, that was fun. Can I invent an HP-69ZX for April Fool's Day, 2003? 8^) That aside, my apologies to those who fell for it! -Ernie

Re: New Calculator Available (shipping on the 8th) Message #19 Posted by Ellis Easley on 1 Apr 2002, 8:08 p.m., in response to message #1 by Dave Hicks I particularly liked the addition of a "NOP" key. I can remember calculators with suggested "NOP" functions to use due to a lack of program editing support, but putting a real one the keyboard is better. I could live without all the "%" functions.

Re: New Calculator Available (shipping on the 8th) Message #20 Posted by aruid on 1 Apr 2002, 9:27 p.m., in response to message #1 by Dave Hicks "Note Pad: On back" that made me laugh out loud! ARUID

DANG! How I want one of these!! Message #21 Posted by glynn on 1 Apr 2002, 9:45 p.m., in response to message #1 by Dave Hicks With failing, aging eyes, the multi-line LED display was a dream come true! And yes, I did put it in my shopping cart, but as a "test"... ;-) You may not know how close you came to what I've been designing in my mind. The batteries, certainly. A polymer LED display would be wonderful. Sturdy, with sure-feeling, tall-felling keys. RPN... even three-line. HP? If you just disregard the mag-card stuff and put a smart-media card slot in the front, Dave and Ernie have done magnificently. Even the HCF *(halt and catch fire)* instruction has its use... but I suggest incorporating that particular key on the 6s-II.... LOL, Thanks Dave for making my day!!

Re: New Calculator Available (shipping on the 8th) Message #22 Posted by db(martinez,california) on 1 Apr 2002, 9:52 p.m., in response to message #1 by Dave Hicks "Thermal noise random number generator" ?!?!?! will it have "stun" and "kill" settings? will it locate a lost tardis? DAVE DREAMS BIG!

Really Great Joke! Message #23 Posted by J.C. Randerson on 2 Apr 2002, 12:13 a.m., in response to message #1 by Dave Hicks I really got a kick out of this one! I suspected it for an April Fools Joke, but then clicked on the "Add To Cart" icon, I thought, holy smokes, can this be for real? I thought, what the hell, I'll go ahead and buy one. On the "Update Cart" icon the whole thing fell thru, and I realized I fell for it, hook, line, and sinker. Great work, Dave! J.C. Randerson

Re: New Calculator Available (shipping on the 8th) Message #24 Posted by John K. (US) on 2 Apr 2002, 12:38 a.m., in response to message #1 by Dave Hicks Wow! I can't wait to get my hands on that SETEC Astronomy module. I figure, as long as it has a street price lower than my credit card limit, then money is no object! I wonder why they didn't announce this sooner? Too many secrets, I guess... [(^: !einrE dna evaD ot soduK]

What about the desktop 97C/CX ? Message #25 Posted by Mark Ringrose on 2 Apr 2002, 12:45 a.m., in response to message #24 by John K. (US) What a fabulous calculator, and no need for a backlight. But what about the corresponding desktop 97C/CX ? Also with a carry case and belt loop. Great job. I think we should all send in orders to HP (cc Carly) using the forms provided on the order page. This would show that there really is a demand, and maybe, just maybe.... Cheers!

Re: New Calculator Available (shipping on the 8th) Message #26 Posted by Fred on 2 Apr 2002, 3:50 a.m., in response to message #1 by Dave Hicks We are waiting for a simulator on PC !!!!

Re: New Calculator Available (shipping on the 8th) Message #27 Posted by Top Fool on 2 Apr 2002, 4:29 a.m., in response to message #1 by Dave Hicks It's a real great joke (and top design!), thanks Dave & Ernie... But I'm quite depressive now... Sigh... Happy April Fool's Day (belated) to everyone!

Comments from a beta-tester Message #28 Posted by Gene on 2 Apr 2002, 8:27 p.m., in response to message #1 by Dave Hicks Had the pleasure of being a beta-tester for this unit. Comments below. 1) Was glad to see the influence of Bill Wickes, whom HP brought back in to manage the product. It was evident that he had listened to HP's customers with the dismissal of the dismal rubber keys on one of HP's latest, sad outings in calculators. 2) The processing speed of this unit is just amazing. The old HP41 could do LBL 01 + GTO 01 with about 1000 loops per minute. The HP-67C (the unit I tested) clocks in at about 40,000. 3) As a concession to the sad state of the educational market, a secondary algebraic AOS mode is built in. The user must consciously activate it by pressing the keys CTCH first. Then the FIRE function. As I understand it, this is some sort of internal joke within Bill's team. 4) Since Bill designed it, he included a couple of bugs that were easy to find. By storing the system flag for a low battery indicator in register 01, pressing and holding the SIN key, the + key, and the ENTER key while reading in a magnetic card, the system will overwrite the default OS with whatever is on the card. Bill was kind enough to slip me a special card (that I will make available soon) that activates the unique 802-11cx wireless internet hookup that HP marketing made them remove from the documentation at the last minute. I was able to run a linux derived browser and access the HP museum site using the 67c (the HP museum site is the default home page). That's all for now. Glad someone at HP has their head screwed on properly. At least this wasn't some shade of frozen animal whatever. Gene

Re: New Calculator Available (shipping on the 8th) Message #29 Posted by Bill Stanley on 2 Apr 2002, 11:02 p.m., in response to message #1 by Dave Hicks Hoo-whee! nice touch w/ the lightyear to parsec conversion. i guess a mph to furlongs/fortnight would have been too much of a giveaway. and i was struggling to decide between a 48gx and a 49 . . . bs (my initials, not necessarily a comment)

Re: New Calculator Available (shipping on the 8th) Message #30 Posted by Masao Kinoshita on 3 Apr 2002, 12:10 p.m., in response to message #29 by Bill Stanley Does this mean that HP's working with UNIX/Linux and organic LED's? This "HP 67C/X" was OK'd by them, right? Hmmmmmm... :-)

Re: New Calculator Available (shipping on the 8th) Message #31 Posted by b.tokarczyk on 3 Apr 2002, 7:54 p.m., in response to message #1 by Dave Hicks Dave, Great Ad! Nice to see the retro-look in a 49 successor (sans rubber keys)! Bryan

Permanent addition to the MoHPC Message #32 Posted by Glen Kilpatrick on 6 Apr 2002, 5:07 p.m., in response to message #31 by b.tokarczyk I certainly hope this prize addition to the MoHPC is retained indefinitely. I almost experienced a total system crash when I laughed so hard my chair's stability was threatened :). And one of my web-based teammates said "did I read perl !!!!".... Yes indeedy, we'd have been queuing up for the day this one came out.

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