HP Forum Archive 09

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Why do people paid high price for the 32SII Message #1 Posted by Chan Tran on 20 Dec 2002, 11:32 a.m. I wonder what do the people who bought the 32SII for well over $150 use it for? For calculation the 32SII is certainly a nice calculator but it's hard for me to say that the 32 is better than the 48GX. I understand that there are things that are better with the 32 but the 48 offers a lot more and we can get one at a lower price now.

Re: Why do people paid high price for the 32SII Message #2 Posted by R Lion on 20 Dec 2002, 12:06 p.m., in response to message #1 by Chan Tran I agree: the 48 is "the total-calculator". Some simple things are easier in the 32 and also is smaller. The only reason I find for explaining its high price is... (i don't know what to say :-) Raul

48 or 49 Message #3 Posted by Michel Beaulieu on 20 Dec 2002, 1:12 p.m., in response to message #2 by R Lion I don't have a 48 or a 49 but plan to buy one of them. I read here and there about the 48 and "all" says that it's a really good cacluator. I read on the HP site that the HP-49G is their "newest" graphing calculator with more functions and memory than the 48; HP says it's their "top of the line" calculator. Why none is praising the 49G isn't a good upgrade of the 48GX?

Re: 48 or 49 Message #4 Posted by R Lion on 20 Dec 2002, 2:05 p.m., in response to message #3 by Michel Beaulieu Yes it is. If you have a 48GX and install Metakernel in a 128Kb RAM card in slot 1, plug 1Mb Ram card in slot 2, and install Erable and Alg48 for symbolic maths, you get "almost" a 49: the 49 has 1.5Mb instead 1.25Mb, and the versions of the above programs are slightly better. I think is cheaper to buy a 49 and you get the best software and flash ROM instead RAM with batteries...BUT, I will not do it: I don't think the 49 is reliable. Many units have failed, rubber keys, uncomfortable (for me)menus... Just my opinion. Sure there are many 49's fans. Raul

Re: 48 or 49 Message #5 Posted by Ron Ross on 20 Dec 2002, 2:06 p.m., in response to message #3 by Michel Beaulieu I have both (actually, I have them all, no, I don't have a 48g+). I like the 48gx best (especially with a RAM card). However that said, it really depends upon what you plan to use it for. Spec wise the 49G walks all over a 48. So why the praise for the 48? Because the 48g series still looks and feels like an Hp quality calculator. With RAM cards, you can load up all the software you need to make it equal to an Hp49's CAS and other enhancements (graphics, mostly). Buy the 49G and you get lots of RAM, CAS, LCD screen protection and faster graphics. You also get a frozen Hamster butt blue (marketing calls it ice blue) and Rubber keys which are not nearly as nice as the older Hp keyboards (though they aren't that bad either) and the enter key located on the bottom right (to an old RPN user, the WRONG PLACE). For lots of number crunching, I know when I hit and feel a keyclick I have entered a number on a 48g without looking, I can't say that with my 49g. However for advanced math, I like the extra built in features of a 49g (though most could be loaded onto a 48gx, hence the RAM card). As far as cost of a 32 vs a 48, madness, pure madness. Even a low end 48g blows the doors off a 32s. However, the 48g is NOT a pocket calc, and if you need a small RPN pocket calc, well that is why $$$$$$$ the 32 probably costs$$$ so much. Just my 0.05 worth.

Re: 48 or 49 Message #6 Posted by M. Neu on 20 Dec 2002, 5:11 p.m., in response to message #3 by Michel Beaulieu Michael I love the hullabaloo over the 48 vs. the 49. I own and enjoy both. I am partial to the 49 only because of it's enormous versatility. To take advantage of this, you will have to download the manual, and spend a substantial amount of time learning to use the features you need. Likewise for the 48. Since I have earlier maunals and long experience with a 48S the 48G was a little easier to adjust to. Either calculator has functional capabilities far beyond the average users needs, and intellect. The voulme of information available for either is overwhelming and, from my use thus far, interchangible. I have learned alot about using the 49 from articles written for the 48. Remember, your just buying a calculator!

Re: Why do people paid high price for the 32SII Message #7 Posted by David Smith on 20 Dec 2002, 4:50 p.m., in response to message #1 by Chan Tran The HP48 is just too complicated for most uses. It is also very large. A lot can be said for a simple, powerful, easy to use machine that is not cluttered up by a lot of functionality that most people will never use. I still prefer the good 'ole HP41. I have never had the need or desire to draw a graph on a calculator screen.

Re: Why do people paid high price for the 32SII Message #8 Posted by Bill Wiese on 20 Dec 2002, 7:41 p.m., in response to message #1 by Chan Tran For many of us a 48 is overkill. Plus the 48 doesn't have the traditional 4-level RPN stack. If I need a 48 to solve a problem, I'll use my PC with Matlab or Excel, etc. When I want to play with numbers, have quick calculations that don't necessarily need tabular results, etc. then I like an RPN programmable calc. Regards Bill Wiese

Re: Why do people paid high price for the 32SII Message #9 Posted by karl on 7 Jan 2003, 10:59 a.m., in response to message #1 by Chan Tran I have had a 32sII for 10 years. Best calculator that I've ever used. I can shove it in a shirt pocket, go out on the factory floor, and solve problems quickly. It is great for converting binary, hex, and floating point numbers on-the-spot while trouble shooting instrumentation through a-d converters , linearization algorithms, and PID controllers. Unfortunately, it is getting a little cranky from getting dropped or knocked off of machines too many times. I was shocked to find that HP had discontinued it, and of the prices that the older ones fetch. I am almost tempted to buy another one because it is so easy to use. I have a 48GX, but it is big, it does not really apply easily to factory floor troubleshootong, and it wont do base conversions easily for troubleshooting controllers.

Re: Why do people paid high price for the 32SII Message #10 Posted by David Smith on 7 Jan 2003, 6:00 p.m., in response to message #9 by karl If you can find one for an acceptible price, buy it... they don't make 'em like they used to.

Re: Why do people paid high price for the 32SII Message #11 Posted by Tom (UK) on 8 Jan 2003, 7:35 a.m., in response to message #1 by Chan Tran Because the functionality is just right (remember Goldilocks?) The '32 has all the functions you need and most of them are on the keyboard. The batteries last for years (not months), the display is nice and big, the manual covers all the features well and the average user can get their head round the calculator. It seems that marketing people (not only at HP) think by adding more features (and providing poorer documentation) will make any calculator sell better than the old ones - how wrong they are (at least in my case and those willing to pay good money for '41, '42, '32 calculators).

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