Re: Calculators I would market
Message #26 Posted by James M. Prange on 19 Mar 2003, 7:23 p.m.,
in response to message #1 by Ron Ross
At least three (all RPN entry, of course) that I think *some company*
should market. I'm not convinced that HP will ever give its calculator
group (Does it have a name? Is it a "division"?) a fair chance, so maybe
a different company will pick up what HP seems to have mostly discarded.
On the other hand, HP has dropped calculator development and good (at
least they seemed good to me) products before, and then started up
development and introduced new products again, so perhaps it'll do it
this time, although it's lost a lot of credibility with it's recent
models.
1: A very simple "4-banger" but with RPN entry (not the 4-level stack;
two levels should suffice for this). Just the basic arithmetic +, -, X,
and / keys, and, of course, ENTER, Clear Entry, and perhap Clear or
Clear All. Maybe keys for one memory register, change sign, square root,
1/x, and SWAP. Maybe even a % key, although I personally find that about
as useful as a screen door on a submarine. Something that's cheap enough
but also robust enough to give to elementary school students as their
first calculators, before they get indoctrinated into using an algebraic
entry calculator. Or to carry in a pocket, or toss in a glove box,
toolbox, briefcase, backpack, book-bag, or whatever (oh yeah, a lady's
purse! I know a few geeky ladies, and this wouldn't be a geeky
calculator anyway) without worrying that it may be too expensive if it
gets lost or broken. For that matter, for the company to use as
promotional handouts instead of putting their logo on the same
calculator that other companies are handing out. Or to have the
company's logo molded in somewhere on calculators that other companies
are handing out (imagine a TI "promotional item" with HP's logo molded
in). If someone "catches on" to RPN entry (and it isn't the least bit
difficult, despite its reputation), would they ever go back to algebraic
entry? This could have a low profit margin; the main purpose would be to
introduce them to RPN entry calculators and doing things the right way;
profit would come mostly from future sales of more advanced RPN entry
models that many users would eventually want. For an established company
with deep pockets (like, I suppose, HP), this could even be a no-profit
model.
2: A more advanced "scientific" RPN calculator small enough to fit in a
typical shirt pocket and robust enough that it could stand some rough
handling, with a reasonable profit margin but still at a reasonable
price. I expect that some of HP's discontinued models would be just
fine, except perhaps for HP's typical premium price.
3: An "everything but the kitchen sink" RPL model redesigned from the 48
series, which could have a high price and profit margin. Of course, with
the high price, one should expect it to be very reliable and robust, and
have a long warranty. Put the operating system in flash memory like the
49G so that it can be upgraded, but thoroughly debug it before release;
don't take the attitude that it can be released with known bugs and
fixed up after the customers complain too much. Add a USB port both for
speed and because many new PCs don't have a serial port built-in. Maybe
add a port for more or less "industry standard" (relatively) low cost
flash (no battery) removable memory, like what's used in some cameras,
or perhaps use one of those miniature hard-disk drives. Maybe keep a
port for additional system (high speed) memory, if there's any realistic
possibility that the built-in system memory might not be enough for some
users. Add the useful features from the 49G, but not its flaky keyboard
or its habit of not restoring modes and flags at the end of a command or
various other bugs. If there's really a need to cover up the display
with a chunk of plastic, at least make it user-replaceable. Keep the
keyboard overlays like the 48 series for user or third-party
customization. Maybe the ability to switch to algebraic entry mode if it
can be done without introducing new bugs in RPN mode; but I have my
doubts about that one; I'd never use it and I'm afraid that the
algebraic entry option encourages those who don't know any better to
continue their bad habits.
Of course there's plenty of room for various intermediate and
special-purpose calculators. Some of HP's out-of-production models might
fit in the gaps quite nicely.
It seems to me that a lot of HP calculator's problems may be from each
HP group being unwilling to share technology with other groups. What
might HP calculators be like if they shared more technology developed
for "computers"? After all, a 41 series (perhaps with HPIL peripherals)
or an RPL model seems to me to be very much like a full-fledged
"computer", but designed for hand-held use and with a keyboard designed
for crunching numbers.
Given that calculators seem to have a very low priority at HP, I wonder
whether they could be persuaded to sell off their calculator product
line (to someone with a *lot* more money than I have). Or maybe they
could spin it off as a separate company that could go it's own way, sink
or swim, without interference from HP corporate headquarters; I'm
convinced that a good profit could be made on RPN calculators. On the
other hand, if HP gets out of the calculator business or continues as a
weak competitor, then it may be a golden opportunity for someone else to
start up an RPN calculator company, or for a company already established
in calculator products to market RPN models as a premium line of
calculators.
Regards,
James
|
Go back to the main exhibit hall