HP Forum Archive 13

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Disposable HP RPN Message #1 Posted by Tom Cox on 26 May 2003, 9:13 p.m. It would seem that the Chinese 3V 12C fits this category quite well. Mine Lasted just past the warranty and then.... flakey keyboard (press a key, it clicks, but no entry).But it is the least expensive currently marketed RPN calculator made by HP. I found the g {blue} front face keys to be essentially unreadable unless the lighting is just right. For plain mathematical expressions not involving Trig functions it worked OK (for just over a year). It was also good for basic Statistics. Would prefer to use an HP-32SII, but price on them has gone so high that an old unit in good condition (readable blue and yellow shift functions) is too valuable to use on a daily basis. Hard to believe they bring $300 or more. Can't imagine the 12C (Chinese) having the life of HP-41C, many of which are still functional after 18 years. How do we get the message to HP that people are willing to pay a premium price for a premium calculator? Or is the market for such devices so limited as to make this only a dream? Wish that HP would sell an equivalent to the HP-32SII (the old version -- not the one with the green and magenta shift keys) they would get my money.

Re: Disposable HP RPN Message #2 Posted by Patrick on 26 May 2003, 9:44 p.m., in response to message #1 by Tom Cox It only takes a relatively small number of buyers to influence the price of items on eBay. That means that one cannot base a business case for a new, quality (RPN) calculator by pointing at auction prices. So, yes, I think you are right in saying that there is likely no (mass) market for quality devices. Most people will recognize that you can buy a series of cheap items, each lasting perhaps only a few years, and not pay much different than one high quality device. With the rate of innovation in electronics, being able to get the latest and greatest every few years is generally an added benefit. I would have to say, though, that there appears to have been a certain amount of reverse innovation in the calculator field. It is hard to find a machine with the capability (RPN, complex numbers, matrices, solver, numerical integration, full keystroke programming model) convenience (size, battery life) and support (great manual, advanced guide available) of a 1982 vintage 15C. Will we see such a beast again? Given how many 15C's I've accumulated, I'd have to say my opinion is no, not in my lifetime.

Re: Disposable HP RPN Message #3 Posted by Vassilis Prevelakis on 27 May 2003, 2:48 a.m., in response to message #1 by Tom Cox Tom Cox wrote: > Disposable HP RPN > It would seem that the Chinese 3V 12C fits this category quite well. If this not a statistical fluke, then this is really bad news for current HP calcs. In the business community, everything is a status symbol. Executives that wouldn't be caught dead with a disposable pen, use HP 12Cs both for their looks and functionality. If HP starts producing cheap (quality) calculators, their users will simply abandon them for ever. **vp

Re: Disposable HP RPN Message #4 Posted by Ellis Easley on 28 May 2003, 5:14 p.m., in response to message #1 by Tom Cox "How do we get the message to HP that people are willing to pay a premium price for a premium calculator?" The price of a 12C is a premium price! They shouldn't fiddle with the quality too much if they want to keep justifying the high price. The painted key legends is one thing - as long as the colors are readable and the paint sticks reasonably well, they should get by. But if the keys don't respond when you press them, or (most aggravating without a backspace key!) if you get multiple key entries, then it ceases to be a premium calculator.

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