HP Forum Archive 13

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Just received my 49G+ ...already having 2nd thoughts Message #1 Posted by Layne Carruth on 13 Oct 2003, 6:08 p.m. I'm a very long time HP calculator fan -- bought my first one in 1973, and have had a couple dozen since then. I just received my new HP49G+ ordered through CalcPro in Oregon (they did a great job of shipping next day, BTW) and I'm already having second thoughts. While the keys are better than the 49G and we do have the choice of RPN, the overall feel of the unit is CHEAP. The display is larger, but the dot pitch is so coarse that it doesn't really help much. I think I will order a couple of gross of the little covers for the backup battery, as they should be quite valuable in a few years for replacements. Perhaps I should reconsider that PDA with a 15C emulator program...

Cheap... Message #2 Posted by Gene on 13 Oct 2003, 9:41 p.m., in response to message #1 by Layne Carruth While the keys are better than the 49G and we do have the choice of RPN, the overall feel of the unit is CHEAP. GENE: Hi. Cheap is hard to describe. Part of the reason may be because the unit is lighter and not as heavy as the 49G or 48GX style machines. Plus, another 10 years has gone by since the 48GX and that means inflation has eaten away at what $175 will buy...$175 then is not $175 now. And, given the attempts to reduce cost, that would also influence it. The display is larger, but the dot pitch is so coarse that it doesn't really help much. GENE: Here I would disagree. I remember the 48SX display. Talk about COARSE! :-) The contrast of the new 49G+ looks great in comparison to any of the older 48GX series machines. Maybe a personal preference, but looks good to me. I think I will order a couple of gross of the little covers for the backup battery, as they should be quite valuable in a few years for replacements. GENE: This could be a valid concern...but then, backup batteries don't go bad that frequently...if you're replacing one every 2-3 years, just be careful for that 5 minutes! Perhaps I should reconsider that PDA with a 15C emulator program... GENE: Perhaps. I've played with that on my AXIM, but I like a real calculator better.

Dot pitch vs. Contrast? Message #3 Posted by Matt Kernal (US) on 14 Oct 2003, 12:05 p.m., in response to message #2 by Gene Layne>The display is larger, but the dot pitch is so coarse that it doesn't really help much. GENE: Here I would disagree. I remember the 48SX display. Talk about COARSE! :-) The contrast of the new 49G+ looks great in comparison to any of the older 48GX series machines. Maybe a personal preference, but looks good to me. Gene, I enjoy and value your posts, but what does improved contrast have to do with course dot pitch? IIRC, the pixel count of the 48 Series machines (and 49G) have always been 131 wide by 64 high. The 49G+ has increased the height count to 80 (ie. 131x80). It's been great(!) that backward compatibility has been maintained over the last thirteen years concerning display dimensions, but I believe he is referring to his desire for higher resolution (higher pixel count) within the new larger display area (ie. like cell phones, PDA's, and even, God forbid, TI89's have (160x100)). Matt

Re: Dot pitch vs. Contrast? Message #4 Posted by Gene on 14 Oct 2003, 10:49 p.m., in response to message #3 by Matt Kernal (US) Hi. I had meant to start a different thought. My comparison to "dot pitch" was with the 48SX. The 49G+ doesn't seem that "dotty" to me. The contrast was just a second idea. Each will have to make their own decision, of course! Next time, I won't run my thoughts together quite so much. :-)

Thoughts.. Message #5 Posted by Matt Kernal (US) on 15 Oct 2003, 11:58 a.m., in response to message #4 by Gene >Hi. I had meant to start a different thought. I do it everyday.. glad I'm not the only one :-) BTW, I'm jealous you guys have yours (49G+). "I want my, I want my, I want my MTV" - Dire Straits Matt

Re: Just received my 49G+ ...already having 2nd thoughts Message #6 Posted by Ed Look on 13 Oct 2003, 10:40 p.m., in response to message #1 by Layne Carruth You know, I bought for my son a HP-39G. Now, people have complained about the quality of its keyboard (akin to those for the HP-49G). But it's "feel" is that old heavy, solid, "red LED HP-34C" feel, in contrast to my HP-48's. By comparison, the much adored (and rightly so) HP-48's are light and "cheap" feeling, but which calculator would you rather have (if you're already out of grade school)? I'll admit that psychologically, a heavy-and-hard-as-a brick calculator gives many users (most definitely including myself) a major league warm fuzzy, it's not a necessity and the lower weight makes it a better calculator to carry around. No, if HP can make a high quality calculator that is light that's really better than it being heavy, though that loose-halves-of-the-case feeling does turn me off; now, THAT feels "cheap". Oh, interesting thing I noticed: the 39G has 256 kb while the 48G has only 32 kb RAM. Even the 48G+ and GX max out at 128 kb! ... Kids and games, oh well.

39G/49G heft. vs. 49G+ lightweight. Message #7 Posted by Matt Kernal on 15 Oct 2003, 6:23 p.m., in response to message #6 by Ed Look Yeah, I also like the extra "heft" of the 39G and 49G. They do feel solid. Ya know, the front and back half cases on the 39 and 49 don't creak at all, whereas most of my 48-series do creak, some more than others. The 49G+ is much lighter than the 39/49. It's what you'll notice first. At least for me it was. That in itself may lend to the Layne's feeling of cheapness. Matt

Re: 39G/49G heft. vs. 49G+ lightweight. Message #8 Posted by Ed Look on 15 Oct 2003, 10:11 p.m., in response to message #7 by Matt Kernal Yeah, it's fine if you generally leave it in one position, and seldom carry it around. The extra weight, when you throw it into a briefcase, or worse, a coat pocket, over time, becomes a pain. I think that's one of things about the Pioneer series that appeal- they're small, light, and powerful. That's why also I like the 48's: they're light and powerful, if not small.

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