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HP Forum Archive 13

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Basic
Message #1 Posted by Pierre Brial on 20 Nov 2003, 9:58 p.m.

Hello,

I like to program in Basic, but as far as I know, there is no longer any calculator in production which use this language.

Is there a Basic emulator for Hp48/49 ?

All the Best

Pierre

      
Re: Basic
Message #2 Posted by Tom Sherman on 20 Nov 2003, 10:34 p.m.,
in response to message #1 by Pierre Brial

Pierre,

Dare I say it? The TI-83, TI-86, and TI-89 all use dialects of BASIC -- not quite as nice (in my opinion) as what you are probably used to, however. Also the HP-39G has a form of BASIC. Variable names on the TI-83 and HP-39G are limited to a single letter, which can be restricting.

Tom

      
Re: Basic
Message #3 Posted by Roberto Flores on 20 Nov 2003, 11:23 p.m.,
in response to message #1 by Pierre Brial

Hi Pierre...

Buy an old HP200LX, a CF card and adapter, load your favorite version of Basic for DOS (gwbasic, QBasic, Quick Basic) and you are all set up! You can even disable the built-in applications on the 200LX and have over 600K available for your DOS applications.

I found this much more convenient than running a DOS emulator on a PocketPC.

Regards;

Roberto

      
Re: Basic (HP-71B emulator for HP-48/49)
Message #4 Posted by HrastProgrammer on 21 Nov 2003, 1:15 a.m.,
in response to message #1 by Pierre Brial

Look at the http://hrastprogrammer.tripod.com/HP71X ...

Best regards.

            
Re: Basic (HP-71B emulator for HP-48/49)
Message #5 Posted by Veli-Pekka Nousiainen on 21 Nov 2003, 4:32 a.m.,
in response to message #4 by HrastProgrammer

Does it work in the 49g+ ? Can you send me (again - after the HD crash) all possible demo version of HP calcs (no TI) # VPN #

                  
Re: Basic (HP-71B emulator for HP-48/49)
Message #6 Posted by HrastProgrammer on 21 Nov 2003, 6:26 a.m.,
in response to message #5 by Veli-Pekka Nousiainen

OK ...

      
Re: Basic
Message #7 Posted by Valentin Albillo on 21 Nov 2003, 4:29 a.m.,
in response to message #1 by Pierre Brial

Hi, Pierre:

Here in my country (Spain) there are still a number of BASIC language handhelds (calculators) available for sale at department stores, mainly CASIOs.

But if I were you, I'd try and get an HP-71B in eBay or using the Classified section in this very site. You can get decent ones for low prices, from $50 to $100 in most cases. That is cheaper than main street prices for CASIOs, and it goes without saying that HP-71B's BASIC is several orders or magnitude better than most any other handheld BASICs available now or ever.

For instance, you'll get full I/O and device control abilities, recursive subprograms with parameter passing and local variables (and environment), multi-line user-defined functions (also recursive and multi-parameter), passing parameters by value or reference, full file system in RAM with multiple, independent programs, and inmense expandability: external ROMs such as the Math ROM, the FORTH/Assembler ROM (write your own machine-language subprograms and extend the built-in BASIC language with new keywords created by yourself), the HP-41C/FORTH ROM, the Text Editor ROM, the HP-IL ROM, ... and RAM modules which can be used to extend internal RAM to in excess of 400 Kb, plus last but not least, a manual CALCulator mode which will show intermediate results, automatically open and close parentheses, and can backtrack any calculation (for instance, after 3+4*5 has partially evaluated first to 3+20, then to 23, you can still go back ("undo") to 3+20, then to 3+4*5). Most features from the above list can't be found in any other BASIC handheld, none really compares.

While at it, you should also consider getting its Math ROM, if possible. It extends the BASIC language with lots of new BASIC keywords implementing a great many math commands and extra functionality (complex numbers, matrix operations, root finding, integration, polynomial roots, Fourier transforms, gamma function, hyperbolics, base conversions, utility keywords, etc)

Best regards from V.

Edited: 21 Nov 2003, 4:34 a.m.

            
Re: Basic HP-71B
Message #8 Posted by Gordon on 21 Nov 2003, 5:07 a.m.,
in response to message #7 by Valentin Albillo

The HP-71B is a lovely machine and I have several, but beware that you are dependent on HP-IL for any I/O or peripherals, this can be a big problem unless you spend a lot on a a PC card (old PC required).
But if you don't mind sorting out the HP-IL then get one!

            
Re: Basic HP-71 EMU with link!
Message #9 Posted by Gordon on 21 Nov 2003, 2:18 p.m.,
in response to message #7 by Valentin Albillo

Ooops...sorry I forgot to put the link into my last message, here is the superb EMU71...

http://membres.lycos.fr/jeffcalc/emu71.html

            
Re: Basic
Message #10 Posted by Emmanuel, France on 22 Nov 2003, 10:48 a.m.,
in response to message #7 by Valentin Albillo

Right. I'm not a specialist, just an user.
I think Casio or Sharp approach is not so expensive.

A positive point:
For instance, my Sharp PC-1360s use a CE-126P or my Texas Instruments TI-74s a CI-7
connected to my sound card.
From PC you can play the file (.wav) you want and load it on your pocket.
You can record and transform the program into a file (.wav) too.
I tested a grabbed audio cdr with several tracks on PC and also on a portable cd player
linked to a pocket via its audio interface.
You can easily find help on Sharp, Casio or TI forums.
Some of those pockets has internal (dis)assembler and compiler.

A negative point:
Casio FX-850P, 880P or 890P (I use this previous one in 3 versions: FX-890P, Z1 and Z1-GR)
need to  access to PC through FA-6 interface (serial and parallel) or Pocket Link 800 serial);
and Sharp PC-E500 via Transfile Link (serial).
Rare and not cheap interfaces.

However HP-71B alone is just a pocket with 17K RAM (Casio FX-880P has 32K, FX-890P 256K, ...).
But with an HP-IL module and an HP82973A HP-IL/PC interface, it becomes stupendous and powerful.
I like both Casio/Sharp/Texas and HP pocket computers.
I don't say that I'm right, just I give my poor point of view.
      
Re: Basic HP-71 emu
Message #11 Posted by Gordon on 21 Nov 2003, 9:28 a.m.,
in response to message #1 by Pierre Brial

Try this excellent DOS HP-71 Emulator.
You need a ROM image.

      
Thank you...
Message #12 Posted by Pierre Brial on 23 Nov 2003, 9:58 p.m.,
in response to message #1 by Pierre Brial

... for all the answers.

I already own some Sharps, but I wondered if it was possible to use basic on modern calculators.

I know it is possible to emulate Basic on Psion or Pocket PC, but I prefer *Calculators*, I mean a device that I don't have to change batteries every day...

All the best

Pierre

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