Re: HP 11c chg batteries, not working
Message #15 Posted by bill platt on 16 Sept 2004, 11:18 a.m.,
in response to message #10 by janedibber
Hi Jane,
I understand your feelings. I too used one from 1982 through 1995, when I lost it on an airplane. (replaced it with a 32sii which I was very happy with--more powerful in every way than the 11c for 1/2 the price at the time).
When I suddenly became a "collector" 1-1/2 years ago, I bought an 11c again and it was very much like "coming home".
Now that I have used a whole range of these HP calculators, I think I can make a few observations which may or may not be helpful to you.
If you do a lot of programming, then the 32s (and 32sii) is much nicer than the 11c. And, the 33s has yet even more power, as it has the equivalent of 7 kb of 32s memory. The 33s is great for memory!
If you find that you need to solve "equations" or "expressions" but do not need a looping capability, then again, the 32sii and the 33s are better in that you have a built-in algebraic expression interpreter. (Of course they also have RPN programming as well so you can do looping if you want).
Note also that the 11c does not have a built-in solver routine. The 32s, 32sii and 33s have a solver.
However, if you do not take advantage of the programming capability of the 11c, but rather do manual things, and you like the ergonomics of the stack functions, then you will be greatly disappointed by the 33s. The 32s and the 32sii will not disappoint you so much here, although stuff is in a different location. The 33s has the stack buttons scattered all over the place.
The 32s is the same as the 32sii expcept that it is older and does not have the following:
kg-->lb, in-->cm, fahr--celcius conversions, roll up (R up), equation capability, fraction entry and display capability. But, the 32s menu system is more logical than the 32sii--there is a bit of "cramming" in the 32sii and in attempting to keep as much of the 32sii arrgt as possible, some things are not quite so smoothly organized in the arrangement.
The 33s has all of the conversions that the 32sii has, plus some "constants". However, there are three significant bugs in the built-in functions:
1. rectangular to polar conversion
2. decimal hours --> H.ms conversion.
3. Reset does not properly reset RAD to DEG setting but removes RAD annunciator.
Fortunately, for the first two bugs, it is possible to input robust, small program routines to return the correct answers--developed here on the Forum by a guy called "Norris".
The 3rd bug merely requires vigilance after a reset!
I hope this information helps you.
Ironically, by becoming a collector, I have now opened my eyes up to all the other possibilities--and so now I see regular RPN in a much less favorable light than I once did. I am now very happy to have an editable algebraic command line for instance. I find this superior for so much work--as you can see and check, or later modify, a solution, rather than retyping everything. This is also greatly helpful when doing sums--as you have a record of the input to check! Much faster than re-doing! In other words, the Algebraic command line machines, including most sharp "PC" series, and the HP 30s, and some of the Casios, are really great---better even. Sharps are even programmable.
If you like RPN and HP, and you are not needing trigonometry, then I recommend the 17bii, which is RPN and has an algebraic solver, and as such, effectively has an editable command-line parser. If you go into the solver and type "X=" and then the expression you want to solve, you can then solve for "x' and you get the answer--and it goes to teh stack as well. (The big downer on the 32sii and 33s is that the equation list is not editable!!!).
I like the 17bii perhaps more than any other HP in fact, for genereal non-geometry use. (And there are some clever solver routines for the trigs available).
Best regards,
bill
http://plattdesign.net
Edited: 16 Sept 2004, 11:28 a.m.
| 
Go back to the main exhibit hall