HP Forum Archive 14

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HP33S Message #1 Posted by Richard on 8 Sept 2004, 7:44 p.m. I am a long user of HP Calculators from HP-35 to HP48G+ I have a spare HP-32S II in the box just in case my other one gives up... I tought it might be nice to have a 2 lines display; so I purchased an HP-33S.... Very poor display with a lot of shadowing and bad contrast ratio; I still have to try it in daylight conditions; We get used to the chevron key pad and grouping is better; The clic is not as smouth as the HP-32... a bit big for its power; The sub-menu works very well with the possibility to scan the different functions without leaving the sub-menu level; 2x faster then the HP-32 on integral (4 X sqr(1-x^2)dx)with the same precision (pi to 12 digits)14 sec / 28 sec (8 sec on 48G+) Its very sad to see that we lost HP quality and vision; We should ask Agilent to step in... they are the real HP people;

Re: HP33S Message #2 Posted by John Smitherman on 9 Sept 2004, 10:36 a.m., in response to message #1 by Richard Hi Richard. You can adjust the contrast of the 33s by holding down the C and then pressing + and - as needed (page 1-1 in the user's manual). I finally decided to purchase a 33s to use at work (s/n CNA41712635). My biggest complaint is the miniscule , and . I would gladly give up the 2 line display if it meant that the , and . would be more visible and distinguishable. Being able to easily switch the calculation mode between RPN and algebraic is very handy when others want to borrow the calculator. Thus far, I have not found any inaccuracies with the types of calculations that I do. I have done random checks using a HP 32sii and TI 83+. I do appreciate all the testing and posting of results to this forum that others have provided. I purchased the 33s from hpshopping.com and paid $49.99. I am waiting for the $9.99 rebate. Has anyone received their rebate? $40 is getting close to the value that I place on this device. Regards, John

Re: HP33S Message #3 Posted by bill platt on 9 Sept 2004, 10:39 a.m., in response to message #2 by John Smitherman I received my rebate about 7 weeks after I mailed it in. Best regards, Bill Delete when read---- 1234

Re: HP33S Message #4 Posted by DougT on 9 Sept 2004, 11:50 a.m., in response to message #2 by John Smitherman John, I received my check fairly quickly for a rebate offer - it only took three weeks or so. I was hoping they'd include a larger "." or "," in the envelope, but no dice... Take care, Doug

Re: HP33S Message #5 Posted by E_Look on 9 Sept 2004, 11:35 p.m., in response to message #2 by John Smitherman I got mine many weeks after I submitted the rebate... ... and it was so vague that I almost did not remember what it was for! But I recalled after a while that I had to send the coupon to Florida and that was also where the check was from. I actually have gotten to enjoy using it for light to medium type calculations on an "everyday" basis, though I still have to hunt for the right keys every so often. As for the radix, because of the publicity and its actual size, I always look twice to see where it is, and whether it is a comma or a point. Cool case, though, a la 49G+.

Re: HP33S Message #6 Posted by Iqbal on 10 Sept 2004, 7:46 a.m., in response to message #2 by John Smitherman John said "Being able to easily switch the calculation mode between RPN and algebraic is very handy when others want to borrow the calculator." This can be seen as a disadvantage too :) Not that I'm selfish or anything, but I prefer not to lend my HPs. I once lent a student my 42S. The guy did some magic and then called to ask what does 'memory clear' mean. After that day, I vowed not to lend any of my HPs.

Re: HP33S Message #7 Posted by Ed Look on 11 Sept 2004, 1:44 a.m., in response to message #6 by Iqbal Ouch!

Re: HP33S Message #8 Posted by Richard on 11 Sept 2004, 7:12 p.m., in response to message #2 by John Smitherman Thanks for your answer John; If you take a good look on the HP32S display and compare it to the Hp33S, you will notice tho followig: The digits are Blacker on the 32S; The display on the 33S sit low bellow the frame and to close to the bottom edge so it prevents to see the . and , when looked at a low angle; The digits on the HP32S have more space in between and this helps to position the . and , in a less blending way with the digits; Also, with the 33S, the liquid crystals float to high above the backing and make a lot of shadowing that makes for fuzzy display; The reading is OK in Daylight conditions but very bad with an halogen lamp that is now very popular; The faster CPU must be pulling more current and they probably had to go for a less hungry display; Regards, Richard

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