HP Forum Archive 14

[ Return to Index | Top of Index ]

49g+ is not as good! Message #1 Posted by john doe on 2 Jan 2004, 8:53 p.m. this new model sucks. i'm going back to the store for refund. also going back to old 48gx. that's much better. like some other people i have the same problem. keys won't register until pressed few times. the computer software is the WORST software i've ever used. hp should work on these problems.

John Doe, eh? or did a TI user find the forum? Message #2 Posted by Gene on 2 Jan 2004, 9:13 p.m., in response to message #1 by john doe The keys are not a problem on recently made calculators. I have a VERY early model, probably earlier than 99.9% of all of them that are out there. I had TWO keys that gave me problems. Granted, I agree that a keyboard shouldn't GIVE you problems, but that's not something I control. I tried the fix described on comp.sys.hp48 about grabbing the key between two fingertips, pressing down very hard and vigorously rubbing the key back and forth about a dozen times. Do a google search to find the exact description. Now, I have NO keys that ever miss a keystroke. None. Nada. Wow. I'm amazed. About the computer software (CAS, I assume), it does require that someone know what they are doing. Your criticisms sound like someone who sits in an airplane cockpit and complains about the controls being too difficult to let you fly the plane the first time you're in it. It is a good product. I'm glad to have it. Gene

Oh, my!! Message #3 Posted by Another TI User on 3 Jan 2004, 1:53 p.m., in response to message #2 by Gene The keys are not a problem on recently made calculators Very good news! Could you, please, direct us to the official HP announcement about this? I assume there is one, or you wouldn't affirm that, you are not going to invent something so. I also assume that they have documented the problem, listed affected serial numbers, and specified procedures for exchanging or returning the deffective units, haven't they? Now, I have NO keys that ever miss a keystroke. None. Nada. Wow. I'm amazed. Wow! I'm amazed, too. A keyboard which does not miss keystrokes! BTW, that method didn't work with mine. Perhaps I did not press down hard enough, or did not rub vigorously enough, but, you know, it sounds like somewhat dangerous, like something which would void the warranty, if I pressed too hard or rubbed too vigorously. On the other hand, perhaps they could have finished the calcs at the factory. Sincerely, Another TI User, or whatever you want.

Anonymous individuals are not worth taking seriously Message #4 Posted by Gene on 3 Jan 2004, 5:03 p.m., in response to message #3 by Another TI User Believe what you like. The keys are better on more recently manufactured units. User/Owner testimony on comp.sys.hp48 bears this out. If someone owns a 49g+ and does not like their keyboard, they can send it back for a replacement under warranty. If you just want to toss stones, go ahead. They hurt no one but yourself.

Re: Anonymous individuals are not worth taking seriously Message #5 Posted by Another TI User on 3 Jan 2004, 9:17 p.m., in response to message #4 by Gene You can repeat them as much as you want, but they remain unsupported. User/Owner testimony on comp.sys.hp48 bears this out Yes, I have already read testimonies on the newsgroup, some of them about good keyboards, some of them about bad keyboards, and the very same unsupported assertions over and over again. I have also read things like: It seems like reports of bad keyboards are being less frequent. Probably, recently purchased units with bad keyboards are early production units which spent some weeks in the stores. Take into account that many people with good keyboards do not post their lack of problems in the forums. Take into account, too, that many people with seemingly bad keyboards could be TI agents. Do you see the pattern? Someone makes an unsupported assertion. Afterwards, every conceivably supporting fact is also asserted as "probable"; every contradictory fact is explained thru some alternative reasoning; supporting testimonies (real or fabricated) are given publicity; unsupporting testimonies are disregarded by wichever method, usually as poster dumbness or rival manufacturer fabrication. Indeed, it is not an uncommon strategy nowadays: manufacturers' agents spread similar rumors about "early units" in every relevant forum whenever they release products with notorious problems. There is a very recent case in the digital photography world with a new Sony digicam (F828). If you read the specifications, this seems a very promising camera, but the first users of production units are reporting some serious image quality issues. Babble about early units have just begun. (I know digicams are off-topic here, I am just illustrating the pattern.) Notice that I'm not saying that you are an HP agent. Many times this dirty work is inadvertently made by normal users. If HP had fixed the problem (as you imply), can you explain why are they allowing all these speculations go on and on when a simple official announcement would settle the question? If you just want to toss stones, go ahead. They hurt no one but yourself. No, I don't want that. I just want things being well done. But I'm glad that you didn't feel hurt.

"Gene" is not too identifying either Message #6 Posted by Ernest on 3 Jan 2004, 9:26 p.m., in response to message #4 by Gene Is it?

It is to people who come here with a little regularity Message #7 Posted by Gene Wright on 3 Jan 2004, 10:01 p.m., in response to message #6 by Ernest Give me a break. Regular readers here know full well who I am. More so than someone named "Ernest". Website: http://www.rskey.org/gene/ Most recent work for HP: http://www.hp.com/calculators/graphing/49gplus/ (Check the learning modules at the right)

Re: It is to people who come here with a little regularity Message #8 Posted by Vieira, Luiz C. (Brazil) on 3 Jan 2004, 10:12 p.m., in response to message #7 by Gene Wright Consider my name on the list, Gene ;^) (of course) Luiz (Brazil)

Re: It is to people who come here with a little regularity Message #9 Posted by Andrés C. Rodríguez (Argentina) on 5 Jan 2004, 12:24 a.m., in response to message #7 by Gene Wright Gene is indeed one of the regular and respected regular contributors, here, as Luiz Vieira and Frank Knight had made clear before me.

Re: It is to people who come here with a little regularity Message #10 Posted by Veli-Pekka Nousiainen on 5 Jan 2004, 2:44 a.m., in response to message #9 by Andrés C. Rodríguez (Argentina) I totally trust Gene! I would even, say... have 400 USD of my money in _his_ account with no receipt whatsoever !!! [VPN]

Re: "Gene" is not too identifying either Message #11 Posted by Frank Knight on 4 Jan 2004, 7:20 p.m., in response to message #6 by Ernest I know Gene, a regular and a good, reputable, smart, helpful guy.

Re: John Doe, eh? or did a TI user find the forum? Message #12 Posted by john doe on 4 Jan 2004, 11:13 p.m., in response to message #2 by Gene i' use both TI89 and the hp48gx. recently purchased 49g+s software sucked. everytime you want to transfer, you have to start the xmodem and then clik connect button of the software. besides, what does the sofware offer anyway? i don't see anything good in it. the SD card reader won't read folders. TRY THAT. it only reads the root. horrible manual. you have to admit it. after paying $150 customers expect a decent manual.

Re: John Doe, eh? or did a TI user find the forum? Message #13 Posted by Veli-Pekka Nousiainen on 5 Jan 2004, 2:36 a.m., in response to message #12 by john doe "i' use both TI89 and the hp48gx. recently purchased 49g+s software sucked. everytime you want to transfer, you have to start the xmodem and then clik connect button of the software. besides, what does the sofware offer anyway? i don't see anything good in it. the SD card reader won't read folders. TRY THAT. it only reads the root. horrible manual. you have to admit it. after paying $150 customers expect a decent manual." The CD contains a bigger manual - together it's over 1000 pages of information. I suggest that you ask in 'comp.sys.hp48' about the SD handling and connections. I have NEVER had the trouble that you are describing. The HP directoriess are unfortunately not easily available directly in a flash memory, but you may create real DOS folders both in PC and in the calc. Access is :3:"folder\subfolder\data" in the 49g+. You may also Run programs directly from the SD or recall data from it. Use the syntax described above. BTW: What's wrong eith pressing two keys on the calc when starting a PC session? I hope this helped a little [VPN]

Re: John Doe, eh? or did a TI user find the forum? Message #14 Posted by John Doe on 5 Jan 2004, 8:44 p.m., in response to message #13 by Veli-Pekka Nousiainen thanks Velli for that information. I bought it two times. first time i was pissed that i returned it. then same day i bought it again and hoping that hp will improve the computer software and release ROM update soon. no doubt its a powerful calculator. The reason i complained abt the software is because it doesn't really offer much. for files i just use my SD card. nothing is stored in the calc. i did figure out how to format SD card using the calc itself though. u go to reset->selftest->format which formats the SD to FAT16.

Re: John Doe, eh? or did a TI user find the forum? Message #15 Posted by GE (France) on 5 Jan 2004, 6:25 p.m., in response to message #2 by Gene Hmmm... Maybe you don't really realize that the wording "did a TI user find the forum" sounds aggressive. My feeling only. Also Gene, I hope you are still a TI user, as stated on your very nice site (nice BECAUSE it has so many HP *and* TI goodies). I cant understand if someone thinks 'Gene' sounds a little like a pseudo ('GE' is in the same league). I can understand if someone doesn't like to have bought products he feels are DEFECTIVE. I can understand that your good early work on the 49G+ makes you react quite emotionally. I don't understand why I write this on a calc forum ?? My $.02. Regards !

Re: ?! Message #16 Posted by Victor Koechli on 3 Jan 2004, 4:46 a.m., in response to message #1 by john doe Look at his email address! Just another anonymous poster. I couldn't care less for his opinion... Cheers, Victor

[ Return to Index | Top of Index ]

Go back to the main exhibit hall