Re: HP48gx vs HP49g Message #2 Posted by Vieira, Luiz C. (Brazil) on 13 May 2004, 1:23 a.m., in response to message #1 by Joe Edwards
Hi, Joe;
I don't have an HP48GX because I thought that two HP48G+ would be better (having a spare is, sometimes, a life saver...). Anyway, for me the best characteristic shown in the hP49G that beats the HP48 is the upgradable O.S. (flash memory). Other than that, I see no significant advantage. In fact, I think that the keyboard organization in the hP49G is not good, the key-feeling is also bad and sometimes it's better typing a function/command name instead of trying to find where in the h... did they hide it! The [CAT] key in the HP49G allows a "fast" input mode, but the HP48 menu organization is hundreds of times better and more intuitive.
There are many other internal considerations that must be taken int account as well, but they are too specialized and I have not found myself in a situation where thay made a big difference (SYS-RPL programming, assembly lnaguage, etc.). And about the speed, I observed that in some programs the HP49G is faster, but it doesn't happen in all cases. Maybe because it has some routines optimized (it becomes faster) and the "bigger memory" ends up requesting extra bits for addressing (slowing it down). But these are only guesses, maybe I wrote a bunch of nonsense here... q8^(
I think that you'd find it a good experience testing them both the way you need, so you'll be able to add your own impressions to the ones I placed here (and others surely will), and even disagree with them.
Best regards.
Luiz (Brazil)
Edited: 13 May 2004, 1:24 a.m.
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