HP Forum Archive 13

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Announcing the new HP-10U! Message #1 Posted by Ernie Malaga on 16 May 2003, 1:09 p.m. Hello, all: We minimalists believe that less is better, and that least is best. So we are proud to present the HP-10U, a minimalist's dream come true. It's so minimal that doesn't have numeric input keys except for 0 and 1 -- which is no handicap, as the HP-10U works in binary only. It can perform the 4 basic operations (algebraic entry, neither precedence nor parentheses), change the sign of the number, enter the -- uh -- binary point, and that's about it. To clear the calculator, you press 0 and then =. That said, there's no more to say about the machine. Only what the "U" in the model number stands for -- useless. -Ernie

Re: New HP-10U! Message #2 Posted by Ron Ross on 16 May 2003, 1:19 p.m., in response to message #1 by Ernie Malaga Why not HP-10 PU Pretty Useless. I love the calc.

Re: New HP-10U! Message #3 Posted by Bill Platt on 16 May 2003, 3:47 p.m., in response to message #2 by Ron Ross How about HP-10 PUDD pretty useless digital device.

The first Binary calculator! Perhaps it's a sequel to the 16c? Message #4 Posted by Gene on 16 May 2003, 1:33 p.m., in response to message #1 by Ernie Malaga Hilarious!

Re: Announcing the new HP-10U! Message #5 Posted by Ellis Easley on 16 May 2003, 2:04 p.m., in response to message #1 by Ernie Malaga Might not the name be confused with "IOU" as in "I owe you", or does the name mean that after you buy it, HP still owes you a calculator? Would it be possible to add programmability based on the Turing machine?

Re: Announcing the new HP-10U! Message #6 Posted by Jürgen (CH) on 16 May 2003, 2:42 p.m., in response to message #1 by Ernie Malaga 01001100 01001111 01001100

Re: Announcing the new HP-10U! Message #7 Posted by Bill Platt on 16 May 2003, 3:45 p.m., in response to message #6 by Jürgen (CH) 76 79 76 ? 4c 4f 4c ? 114 117 114? ?????

Re: Announcing the new HP-10U! Message #8 Posted by Ellis Easley on 16 May 2003, 3:51 p.m., in response to message #7 by Bill Platt 4C 4F 4C = "LOL" I was off by one at first and was trying to figure out what "MPM" meant.

Re: Announcing the new HP-10U! Message #9 Posted by Paul Brogger on 16 May 2003, 3:35 p.m., in response to message #1 by Ernie Malaga Given the presence of the "CHS" key, I think the "-" function must be considered an irresponsible and wildly extravagant bit of excess. Minimize, minimize, minimize! ;^)

Re: Announcing the new HP-10U! Message #10 Posted by Gordon Dyer on 16 May 2003, 5:01 p.m., in response to message #1 by Ernie Malaga Maybe it should be called HP-10Bin It is either of 2 states: either in the hand or in the bin... I have added it to my collection of minimalist designs. Any one got others?

Re: Announcing the new HP-10U! Message #11 Posted by Patrick on 16 May 2003, 5:04 p.m., in response to message #1 by Ernie Malaga I think it is a real travesty that the only information you can get about this new model is here on-line. HP used to write such good user manuals! How is anyone supposed to figure out, say, how to do backward error analysis using the HP-10U? Obviously, just another Carly-esque sign of the times...

Re: Announcing the new HP-10U! Message #12 Posted by Christof on 17 May 2003, 11:39 p.m., in response to message #11 by Patrick what's the 0 key for? 101 is easily entered as 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1

Re: Announcing the new HP-10U! Message #13 Posted by glynn on 18 May 2003, 2:09 a.m., in response to message #12 by Christof That's right! Heck, no numeric buttons at all. Just shake the calculator, until the number you want comes up on the display! Come on, 111... baby needs a new pair of shoes!!

Re: Announcing the new HP-10U! Message #14 Posted by Ernie Malaga on 18 May 2003, 5:06 a.m., in response to message #12 by Christof >what's the 0 key for? Well, if it comes to that, the truly minimalistic HP-10U would have just one key. To operate the machine, you tap that key using Morse code! Or, no keys at all -- just a microphone, so you can tell the calculator what you want to do... 8^) -Ernie

You could design one simpler, the HP-0C Message #15 Posted by NH on 18 May 2003, 4:17 p.m., in response to message #14 by Ernie Malaga You could design one much simpler than the HP-10U. It would calculate only in base 0 . Therefore, the only number it would accept is 0. Since no matter whether you add or subtract or multiply by zero, then the result is still zero, so it doesn't need any buttons at all. Also it doesn't need any display, since you can just presume that the display, if it had one would be reading "0". I think HP executive management is working on a close cousin to a calculator of this nature.... reflecting the need for increasing profits while having less to manufacture, they may soon release a virtual base zero calculator. You buy it for $150, and when you open the cardboard box there is nothing inside. I hear that marketing and management are very favorable to the increase in projected quarterly earnings that this new model might create, with executive perks and bonuses all around . :o] If anybody should question the wisdom of such a unit, like, wonder if they got a good deal, they would have to take that up with the virtual online owner's manual. Since the website disconnects when you try to access it, then there wont be any complaints from the customers. I think it is going to be called the "HP-0C" .

Re: You could design one simpler, the HP-0C Message #16 Posted by james on 18 May 2003, 5:13 p.m., in response to message #15 by NH ROTFLMAO - I like it! C in honor of Carly presumably?

Sounds good James, HP-0C Message #17 Posted by NH on 19 May 2003, 1:45 a.m., in response to message #15 by NH Yes, I think "C" should stand for Carly on that HP-0C . It's going to really boost profits. She is going to get a $50M bonus perk as soon as the first 100,000 HP-0C units are manufactured Also, since there actually isn't anything coming off the production line, and there isnt anything inside the box, then it is presumed as soon as the ink dries that the first 100,000 were already manufactured from the first day. So Carly's $50M bonus perk is assured on this one from the moment this brilliant idea popped into her head (unlike other boardroom deals where there might be some uncertainty about getting the perk).

Carly's bonus for the HP-0C Message #18 Posted by james on 19 May 2003, 2:29 p.m., in response to message #17 by NH Yeah - the one thing that won't be virtual will be Carly's slice of the action!

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