How about a 10C w/o programming? Message #28 Posted by Karl Schneider on 28 Dec 2004, 9:43 p.m., in response to message #15 by Wlodek Mier-Jedrzejowicz
One product that would "fill the niche" is a 10C without its (virtually useless) programming capabilities, which unfortunately persist in the 12C and 12C Platinum.
The 10C ran from 1982-84, when it was discontinued due to poor sales. In this Forum, I have criticized its introduction as a "programmable" $80 alternative to the excellent 11C and 15C, which sold for not much more. However, with a few missing functions (e.g., hyperbolics and delta-%) to replace the crummy programming, and sold at a lower price, it could be a fine entry-level RPN calc that would pass any scholastic or testing-board criteria.
The 10C keyboard, with only one shift key, could provide only a limited number of functions. Removal of programming capability would render unnecessary nine of them (GTO, PSE, R/S, SST, BST, P/R, x<=y, x=0, MEM), and two more (INT, FRAC) would become expendable. That's a lot of space for useful functions. (Why didn't HP do that in the first place?)
Of course, as Wlodek and Bill have stated, the real hurdle would be the production costs. Much of the "body" is still in production, but the firmware and electronic documentation might no longer be available.
Edited: 28 Dec 2004, 11:36 p.m.
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