HP Forum Archive 14

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Why the 33S is so long in the making Message #1 Posted by An anonymous HP User on 4 Feb 2004, 8:34 p.m. This is just a theory. There is not one bit of hard evidence to back this up. After months of watching the 33S being delayed again and again, reading all the posts speculating about what it may actually have been in the way of features and functions, something occurred to me. Why would the likes of Amazon and Wal-Mart be taking pre-production orders for a calculator? Are they not some of the biggest marketing channels in the US for such a product? Why take orders one week and then not the next? Very odd behaviour, indeed. So here's the theory: What if the pre-production orders were nothing more than market research? Is there not a better way to figure out how many you would sell than to actually sell them? Not take any money mind you, but simply promise first lot delivery? Anybody have a better explanation of why it is taking so long to write some firmware?

I assumed it was keyboard problems . . . Message #2 Posted by Paul Brogger on 4 Feb 2004, 8:48 p.m., in response to message #1 by An anonymous HP User Given the storm of criticism that greeted the initial release of the 49G+, I figured that ironing out keyboard manufacturing troubles had gained an increased priority. (I have no hard information to back up that assumption.)

Re: Why the 33S is so long in the making Message #3 Posted by sjthomas on 5 Feb 2004, 9:48 a.m., in response to message #1 by An anonymous HP User Quote: Anybody have a better explanation of why it is taking so long to write some firmware? I also have not a shred of evidence, but I doubt the delays are due to this simply being market research. Were not both the 49G+ and the 48GII both affected by a power issue -- too much power drain when the units were turned off, if I recall correctly? The issue was fixed on the 49G+ with a flash ROM update, and the 48GII units were recalled because they do not have upgradable firmware. It is not unreasonable to infer that the 33S -- being designed at the same time -- was affected by this common design shortcoming. Since the 33S was not yet released and does not have upgradable firmware, perhaps it was simply delayed until the problem was fixed and production ramped back up. My guess anyway. sjthomas

Re: Why the 33S is so long in the making Message #4 Posted by jaredengineer on 5 Feb 2004, 1:08 p.m., in response to message #3 by sjthomas I have talked with the folks at HP technical support and from what I could get out of them, the problem was twofold. First the keyboard issue was one of concern, and as I understand it a keyboard similiar in material to the 9g was planned initially. Second there were what was described to me as "HUGE" issues with the processor on the calculator specifically with its ability to change between RPN and Algebraic modes. Seems reasonable.

Re: Why the 33S is so long in the making Message #5 Posted by Bill Wiese on 5 Feb 2004, 7:29 p.m., in response to message #4 by jaredengineer Hi... jaredengineer wrote: Quote: I have talked with the folks at HP technical support and from what I could get out of them, the problem was twofold. First the keyboard issue was one of concern, and as I understand it a keyboard similiar in material to the 9g was planned initially. Second there were what was described to me as "HUGE" issues with the processor on the calculator specifically with its ability to change between RPN and Algebraic modes. Seems reasonable. This is what happens when you outsource to a crap stamp-em-out company like Kinpo instead of looking back over your storied history... IIRC, some of the HP98xx desktop series calcs w/algebraic logic translated expressions into RPN for evaluation/ execution. Such an approach avoids having to run in "Mode A" or "Mode B" and having to tweak lots of firmware so it can work in either mode (or at least not interfere!) And HP probably did it back then with less code/overhead than is available on the 6502-derived microcontroller (Sunplus SPLxxxx) used by Kinpo! My view of a hybrid calc like a 33S: - generally, use step by step programming "language" like regular HP programmables. - when expressions are called for, an algebraic expression can be stored or evaluated when encountered - in RPN mode, math & string expressions are worked on operator-at-a-time on the stack - unlikely a program needs to run in both RPN & algebraic mode, so a user program is one or the other. - in direct (non-program mode) expressions can be entered algebraically & then evaluated or items entered on RPN stack and operated upon... This is NOT rocket science, folks. Bill Wiese San Jose, CA

Re: Why the 33S is so long in the making Message #6 Posted by NDA on 5 Feb 2004, 9:05 p.m., in response to message #5 by Bill Wiese Remember too, this comes from someone at tech support, who, if he knew anything would NOT be able to tell anyone or else he'd lose his job. He may have said some things, but I wouldn't put much emphasis on them. Why aren't people who know things talking? Ever heard of NDAs? HP seems to take them seriously. It is like the people who ask on c.s.hp48 about unreleased products. Anyone who says something can't possibly know anything. I would advise being patient. Good things come to those who wait.

Re: Why the 33S is so long in the making Message #7 Posted by Paul Marin on 6 Feb 2004, 10:18 p.m., in response to message #1 by An anonymous HP User We actually had a similar problem with a local car manufacture here in Australia. Ford put built a model called the "Falcon AU" a few years ago. Didn't sell as expected. What happened next, unheard of in this country, Ford Australia actually published photo's of pre-production units in the major papers around the country to get the publics opinion on the re-designed model, prior to production commencing. Maybe HP have lost confidence in their designers, who just don't know what the market wants and are too scared to commit to something in fear of a backlash at HQ? Again just a theory And my 1 cents worth, even though they abolished the one cent a few years ago Paul

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