Re: 39G--am I missing something? Message #9 Posted by Ron Ross on 30 Sept 2004, 3:26 p.m., in response to message #8 by bill platt
Jordi developed an enabler that is rumored to make the Hp39G into an Hp40G. And since Jordi is now providing proof positive of his excellent work, you used to be able to get a copy of his enabler by sending him a postcard with your email address and he used to graciously send a working version of his enabler (I suspect he still does, but I don't want to make commitments for him).
This has been a behind the scenes secret that Hp did not want to leak out and probably unfairly got Jordi to agree to keep silent about. Now that the new 39G+ is in reality an 39G - (they cut something off err out). Hp did not want their Hp39G banned from exams (ACT banned it already and SAT doesn't care).
That said, you can buy an Hp39G off of ebay for peanuts and get a CAS enabler that effectively makes the 39G rival the Casio FX 2.0. Mathematically, it makes it on par with even the Ti-89 (there is more to a graphics than math horsepower, and the Ti-89 will blow an Hp39/40G away in all else).
But the Hp40G (or 39G with enabler) is a very simple calculator to use as flag settings aren't there to mess up. The screen is cleaner with no clutter and with only 27 variables, any variables are instantly assumed to be implied multiplication. And only with the CAS do you get the Eq Writer vs doing without on the standard Hp39G.
Sadly, the Hp39G has the rubber keyboard and no RPN aplet available. It suffers from the same afflictions as the Hp49G.
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