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HPcalc.org's intersting Update
Message #1 Posted by Tim Wessman on 3 June 2004, 12:50 a.m.

http://www.hpcalc.org/qonos.php

12345

      
Re: HPcalc.org's intersting Update
Message #2 Posted by Raymond Del Tondo on 3 June 2004, 4:37 a.m.,
in response to message #1 by Tim Wessman

Wow, this thing looks really interesting!

Especially the position and size of the ENTER key and the (hopefully) reliable keyboard could make this machine a must-have for me;-)

Raymond

            
Re: HPcalc.org's intersting Update
Message #3 Posted by Tim Wessman on 3 June 2004, 9:10 a.m.,
in response to message #2 by Raymond Del Tondo

Notice it has the large ENTER above, and a small one below. . . I guess that will satisfy everyone. . . =)

                  
Re: HPcalc.org's intersting Update
Message #4 Posted by Matt Kernal (US) on 3 June 2004, 3:06 p.m.,
in response to message #3 by Tim Wessman

Can't figure out why anyone would need a Space key as big as Texas. Please enlighten me.

Also, you'd better hold on to it tight... looks pretty top-heavy with the keyboard open, don'it? Not to mention (how much worse) with the Expansion Skid attached.

Where can I buy one?!?

Matt

p.s. I know "Maths" is a common European/Australian expression for Mathematics, but feel free to save a byte (and some ink) on the american model by shortening "MathsExplorer" down to "MathExplorer", if for no other reason than just plain easier pronunciation. It just flows smoother off the tongue. I guess this would be a comment for JYA's survey, huh?

Oh, BTW, thanks to the immediacy of the E-mail culture, it's typical for americans (sadly, these days) to shorten words down to the least possible number of words/letters that still conveys a phrase or meaning, like BTW (By The Way) or MathExplorer (Mathematics Explorer) above :-).

                        
Re: HPcalc.org's intersting Update
Message #5 Posted by Joe Edwards on 9 June 2004, 11:43 p.m.,
in response to message #4 by Matt Kernal (US)

Would that be North Americans or South Americans? Or citizens of the U.S.A.?

Your comment isn't exactly correct. We still use BIG words here in Texas. :)

Joe

            
Re: HPcalc.org's intersting Update
Message #6 Posted by Namir on 3 June 2004, 3:35 p.m.,
in response to message #2 by Raymond Del Tondo

Well at last something more on the reality side! Sounds like someone is really creating a new machine instead of just wishing to the Calculator Gennie it comes true! I'll buy one or two!!!

:-)

Namir

      
Re: HPcalc.org's intersting Update
Message #7 Posted by Johnny Bjoern Rasmussen on 3 June 2004, 4:41 a.m.,
in response to message #1 by Tim Wessman

My reaction in two words: Wo-ow!

Hope it becomes a reality!

      
Re: HPcalc.org's intersting Update
Message #8 Posted by J-F Garnier on 3 June 2004, 7:16 a.m.,
in response to message #1 by Tim Wessman

Sounds too good to be true...

Question: Does Qonos have the right to include HP49 and TI89 ROM into the emulators? Or is it just *simulation*?

The mouse pointer is strange, too.

J-F

            
Re: HPcalc.org's intersting Update
Message #9 Posted by Veli-Pekka Nousiainen on 3 June 2004, 7:30 a.m.,
in response to message #8 by J-F Garnier

Question: 
Does Qonos have the right to include HP49 and TI89 ROM into the emulators? 
Or is it just *simulation*?

An educated guess: *CAS simulation by Bernard Parisse's Xiac* If my guess is correct, you can actually train to use Qonos CAS by downloading a Win32 CAS (look web sites at www.hpcalc.org) {VPN}

      
Re: HPcalc.org's intersting Update - Kinpo contract
Message #10 Posted by Renato (Brasil) on 3 June 2004, 7:27 a.m.,
in response to message #1 by Tim Wessman

At http://www.hydrix.com/pages/body/about/history_tiles.jsp they say:

March 2003 * start of Kinpo contract to produce new generation of graphical calculators

I guess they are not "producing" calculators for Kinpo , but just "designing".

Interesting , isnīt it ?

renato 1234

      
Re: HPcalc.org's intersting Update
Message #11 Posted by Vieira, Luiz C. (Brazil) on 3 June 2004, 7:28 a.m.,
in response to message #1 by Tim Wessman

Here we go again... and for God's sake: someone take all hammers out of the hands of those HP-staff guys, willyah?

>8^D

Luiz (Brazil)

      
Re: HPcalc.org's intersting Update
Message #12 Posted by Wayne Brown on 3 June 2004, 8:14 a.m.,
in response to message #1 by Tim Wessman

I think the "possible designs" are ugly. But it doesn't really matter to me, as I don't anticipate buying one anyway; too many "bells and whistles" for my tastes, though I might be a little interested if not for the objectionable shape.

            
Re: HPcalc.org's intersting Update
Message #13 Posted by Steve S on 3 June 2004, 6:23 p.m.,
in response to message #12 by Wayne Brown

Sadly, count me among those that don't particularly like this design. Having used handheld analytical instruments, I've got a just a little experience with fold-down keyboards. Holding the device near its center-of-mass and pressing keys near the lower edge of the fold-down leads to a very "spongy" feeling regardless of how crisp the key is; you simply cant hold the device rigidly.

I, for one, hope that the final design isn't along these lines, or (unlikely, I know) offers an alternate form factor.

"...good industrial design is very, very hard...!"

                  
Re: HPcalc.org's intersting Update
Message #14 Posted by Veli-Pekka Nousiainen on 3 June 2004, 9:50 p.m.,
in response to message #13 by Steve S

[pre] Well - they should have hired you (or me :) My favourite folding design is a fold-up display: Make the display thin and light and fold it up from the base unit. The base has the batteries, the keyboard, etc..

Maybe it's not too late to change the design. Maybe Hydrix people are listening... << VPN >>

            
Re: HPcalc.org's intersting Update
Message #15 Posted by Steve Borowsky on 4 June 2004, 6:55 p.m.,
in response to message #12 by Wayne Brown

I would definitely consider buying but I find the shape objectionable too. I wish the industrial designers would consider that the shortest distance between two points is a straight line. Does everything made today have to look like it just stepped out of a Saturday morning cartoon?

                  
Re: HPcalc.org's intersting Update
Message #16 Posted by Cameron on 4 June 2004, 7:15 p.m.,
in response to message #15 by Steve Borowsky

LOL

"We bought that expensive CAD package so I suppose we'd better use it."

Time passes...

"Hey! Check out what I can do with these splines..."

Cameron

xyzzy

                  
Re: HPcalc.org's intersting Update
Message #17 Posted by Garth Wilson on 4 June 2004, 10:31 p.m.,
in response to message #15 by Steve Borowsky

Steve said,

> I would definitely consider buying but I find the shape objectionable too. I wish the industrial designers would consider that the shortest distance between two points is a straight line. Does everything made today have to look like it just stepped out of a Saturday morning cartoon?

Well put, Steve!! These designers go crazy with their 3-D CAD, and I for one don't like it one bit.

                        
Re: HPcalc.org's intersting Update
Message #18 Posted by OpenRPN on 5 June 2004, 1:04 a.m.,
in response to message #17 by Garth Wilson

Indeed, it seems most industrial designers these days can't tell the difference between a calculating machine and a cell phone.

                              
Re: HPcalc.org's intersting Update
Message #19 Posted by Angel Martin on 5 June 2004, 7:16 a.m.,
in response to message #18 by OpenRPN

That's because for them there is *no* difference, just another assignment to excercise their skills. Problem is people in charge of the whole project let them get overboard (directionless?)

delete 1234

      
RE: HPcalc's Update
Message #20 Posted by Eddie Shore on 3 June 2004, 9:10 p.m.,
in response to message #1 by Tim Wessman

That is nice! This could be on my wish list: a caclualtor that combines spreadsheet and professional software.

            
RE: HPcalc's Update
Message #21 Posted by Veli-Pekka Nousiainen on 3 June 2004, 9:53 p.m.,
in response to message #20 by Eddie Shore

That is nice! This could be on my wish list: a caclualtor that combines spreadsheet and professional software.

You mean the HP-75C with VisiCalc ROM? << VPN >>

                  
Re: RE: HPcalc's Update
Message #22 Posted by Angel Martin on 4 June 2004, 12:55 a.m.,
in response to message #21 by Veli-Pekka Nousiainen

That was a low punch! (but I laughed just the same).

                        
Re: RE: HPcalc's Update
Message #23 Posted by Rafi on 4 June 2004, 1:28 a.m.,
in response to message #22 by Angel Martin

All I ask is that the ir transmitter not be crippled. I consider the ability to use the device as a remote control a necessity.

            
Ugly device in a poor design
Message #24 Posted by Marx Pio on 4 June 2004, 11:54 p.m.,
in response to message #20 by Eddie Shore

IMHO. I think that it looks like the old(really old) PT550 cel phone from motorola. ;).The fold keyboard is a bad choice it makes this thing too long when open and you have to be very carefully when handling it. They should include a mini trackball or mini joystick(like the Etrex Vista GPS) instead the four arrows for direction. The LCD should be designed in order to be positioned at the desired angle for best viewing. I can design a better device in fews sketchs. If they want, I'll do it for free... ;)

Pio

                  
Re: Ugly device in a poor design
Message #25 Posted by Jean-Yves Avenard on 6 June 2004, 1:59 a.m.,
in response to message #24 by Marx Pio

Don't get fooled with the scale. Opened the device is less long than a 49G!

Also the rendering is with a 3.5" screen, final product is using a 3" screen, it is not wider around the screen area.

I'm sorry if it's technically quite difficult to put so much features and a big screen in something that has to look different than a HP15C

                        
Re: Ugly device in a poor design
Message #26 Posted by Wayne Brown on 6 June 2004, 8:02 a.m.,
in response to message #25 by Jean-Yves Avenard

Quote:
Also the rendering is with a 3.5" screen, final product is using a 3" screen, it is not wider around the screen area.

Do you mean that it has a rectangular form factor, with straight sides and no bulges or curves around the screen? That would be a considerable improvement.

                              
Re: Ugly device in a poor design
Message #27 Posted by Jean-Yves Avenard on 6 June 2004, 12:46 p.m.,
in response to message #26 by Wayne Brown

With a 3" screen then yes.

There's very little you can do to fit a 3.5" screen except if you want a keyboard overly large that doesn't fit comfortably in the hand... So you may find it ugly but if you have a better solution, please feel free to submit it!

                                    
Re: Ugly device in a poor design
Message #28 Posted by Wayne Brown on 6 June 2004, 3:57 p.m.,
in response to message #27 by Jean-Yves Avenard

In that case, I'm glad you switched to a 3" screen. Perhaps I'll be interested in this device after all...

                                    
Pretty Device with a Good Design
Message #29 Posted by Veli-Pekka Nousiainen on 6 June 2004, 5:27 p.m.,
in response to message #27 by Jean-Yves Avenard

Jean-Yves Avenard aka Gherkin wrote:
" if you have a better solution, please feel free to submit it!"

I guess it's too late to persuade you to change the design at this point. If do, then I suggest the following for the next generation of Hydrix calculatrice: 1) Put a second row of function keys below the LCD and a second menu line in the display. This will help if/when you deside to do a vertical model similar to the HP-200LX, because you can then easily have F1...F12 and that is needed with many terminal programs, etc. 2) Use a flip-up LCD - light and thin - over the keyboard That design would make the device even smaller and would allow many other things to be done easier (sled, batteries, SDIO card location, etc.) It would be also quite easy to use a color screen later on and any repairs to the LCD would be much easier. 3) SOFTWARE: The key assignment routine should use strings for key locations so that if you will have a different layout later the programs will still function without a rewrite. KEY$ or KEYSTRING => "A"..."Z", "SPACE", "ENTER", "0"..."9", The shift keys and cursor keys might be as follows: "ALPHA", "LS", "RS", "ON" and "UP", "DOWN", LEFT", "RIGHT" # VPNh

      
Re: HPcalc.org's intersting Update
Message #30 Posted by Tom (UK) on 8 June 2004, 12:22 p.m.,
in response to message #1 by Tim Wessman

I would be more interested if it had an RPN calculator (67/15/42 etc) rather than an RPL (48/49) version.

For a neat case design look no further than the Psion 3/5 series of PDAs - not sure if it would work in the 'vertical' or handheld format.

I guess the folding keyboard is so the display can be seen at all times (with a few keys operable) so alarms / quick functions can be done without opening the case. If the display folded over, the device would have to be opened to see what was causing an alarm etc.

Also price is listed as >$350. This would be OK if the 'correct' conversion to Euros / UK Pounds was done, ie from about 300 Euros or 200 UK Pounds. I don't feel like buying any product if the conversion looks poor. Just look at books (VAT free in the UK) - quite often the Dollar and Pound price is the same!


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