HP Forum Archive 13

[ Return to Index | Top of Index ]

Aurora FN 1000 photo Message #1 Posted by db(martinez,california) on 19 Oct 2003, 10:16 p.m. I was at Fry's and picked up what i guess is the only non-hp RPN made since the late 70's. Mike Davis let me put a photo of it on his site and if you want; you can see it at http://www.msdsite.com/forums/upload.php?upload=zoom&pid=302 Let's all hope for an Aurora / hp 15c clone next.

Re: Aurora FN 1000 photo Message #2 Posted by Pierre Brial on 19 Oct 2003, 10:54 p.m., in response to message #1 by db(martinez,california) What is the overall quality of this calculator (keyboard, display,...) ? All the best Pierre

Re: Aurora FN 1000 photo Message #3 Posted by Nelson M. Sicuro (Brazil) on 19 Oct 2003, 11:03 p.m., in response to message #2 by Pierre Brial Here in Brazil it is sold for about US$53 (R$150), there is a link to an auction (in portuguese): http://www.mercadolivre.com.br/jm/item?site=MLB&id=13231402

Re: Aurora FN 1000 quality Message #4 Posted by Wlodek Mier-Jedrzejowicz on 19 Oct 2003, 11:16 p.m., in response to message #2 by Pierre Brial Pierre Brial on 19 Oct 2003, asked: What is the overall quality of this calculator (keyboard, display,...) ? None of it is traditional HP quality, but it is not bad. Rather soft keys, excellent big and contrasty display. The worst design feature IMHO is that when the lid is closed, it is easy to press it above the general area of the ON button, and turn the calculator on. Since the display is hidden, you will not see that you have turned it on, and so you can do this repeatedly and run down the battery. My other complaint is that the keyboard is evidently taken from a different Aurora model, so the right-shift (orange) key is labelled "Alpha", though it does not provide any alpha features :-) But, yes, a non-HP RPN model at last, and let's indeed hope for an HP-15C clone next :-) But it's only a hope. Many thanks to Dave Hicks for helping me get one to Europe! Wlodek

Re: Aurora FN 1000 quality Message #5 Posted by Pierre Brial on 20 Oct 2003, 4:10 a.m., in response to message #4 by Wlodek Mier-Jedrzejowicz Thank you Wlodek, for these informations. I just received your book, it's great ! A bit difficult to order it from France, but I finally succeed. Very good job, congratulations ! I read it like a novel, but faster. All the best Pierre

Re: Aurora Patent Infringements? Message #6 Posted by Jim Chumbley on 20 Oct 2003, 8:45 p.m., in response to message #1 by db(martinez,california) In the early 1970s, HP bought up ALL the RPN-type patents from the old office-machine companies. This is why my baby, the National Semiconductor 7100 calculator, was algebraic and not RPN when it was under development in 1976/1977. This is also the major reason why nobody else in the entire world has ever dared to infringe HP's RPN patents now that they have bought them all. I just wonder if Aurora is named for the (rumored) Aurora space-plane, which has supposedly replaced the U-2, and the SR-71, and which is believed by many to fly faster than Mach 8. Mach 8 may well be the speed required to outrun Hewlett-Packard's herd of lawyers.

Re: Aurora Patent Infringements? Message #7 Posted by William on 20 Oct 2003, 9:03 p.m., in response to message #6 by Jim Chumbley Patents expire after 20 years (I think).

Re: Aurora Patent Infringements? Message #8 Posted by David Smith on 21 Oct 2003, 4:34 p.m., in response to message #7 by William Old patents died 17 years after issue. New ones die 20 years after initial fileing.

Re: (One-time) Patent Renewals? Message #9 Posted by Paul Brogger on 21 Oct 2003, 6:00 p.m., in response to message #8 by David Smith Isn't/Wasn't it possible to renew patents once for an additional 17-/20-year period? If so, does anyone know how to find out whether a particular patent has been renewed?

Re: (One-time) Patent Renewals? Message #10 Posted by William on 21 Oct 2003, 11:27 p.m., in response to message #9 by Paul Brogger One can always do a patent search, costs money though.

Re: (One-time) Patent Renewals? Message #11 Posted by bill platt on 22 Oct 2003, 9:13 a.m., in response to message #10 by William You can search for free (I've done this extensively): www.uspto.gov/patft/index.html Regards, Bill

Re: (One-time) Patent Renewals? Message #12 Posted by David Smith on 22 Oct 2003, 3:56 p.m., in response to message #9 by Paul Brogger You cannot renew your patent. At one time people used to be able to play the "reissue" game where you added something to the patent to keep in in paperwork limbo. Since old patents did not start their 17 year clock until they were issued, this effectively extended their lives. Really sleazy people kept patents alive for over 40 years. When the revolution comes... I have a wall...

Re: Aurora Patent Infringements? Message #13 Posted by GE (France) on 21 Oct 2003, 4:12 p.m., in response to message #6 by Jim Chumbley Hello Mr Chumbley. "...my baby, the National Semiconductor 7100 calculator..." !? Dare I ask you were in some way involved in the design of this one ? I'd be *VERY* (major understatement) interested in any information regarding this machine. Was there any prototype built ? Blueprints ? Thanks.

[ Return to Index | Top of Index ]

Go back to the main exhibit hall