Re: Replacing a dinosaur Message #9 Posted by Ron Ross on 22 June 2006, 7:53 a.m., in response to message #1 by Palmer O. Hanson, Jr.
I would vote for an Hp17B (of any flavor, the older line of better quality than the new ones on the shelf which DO HAVE 32K). With its built in stats, solver, and long variable names, you should be able to put together anything you need in stats and have a great pocket calculator. It is an algebraic calculator with the newer II and II+ having an RPN option (which I suspect he doesn't want or need).
What happened to his STATS module? True, his Ti may have died, but the module could be recovered or did he toss out that peice of JUNK, only to find he should have scavaged the module?
He might be able to make the newer Hp33s work, but its stats are not nearly as good as the Hp17's and with single varables, RAM availability isn't anywhere close to 32K.
If he doesn't need any trig functions, my suggest is the Hp 17B series.
Or he has to move into the graphics line.
The Ti-83/84 would work well for him, the Ti-83/84 is very easy to use and is programmable in BASIC (Ti version) so is easy to customize.
Hp39/40G series which is similar to Ti-83, with lots more math capability (no real edge in Stats though), but is programmed with applets which are more awkward to implement than BASIC (or thats my experience, but I don't use this algebraic machine that much).
Or a Casio or Sharp graphics. All have or can be made to be comparable through programming.
I would probably avoid recommending an RPN only machine to him unless he is of an open mind and can show a commitment to learning all the other features of the Hp48/49 line or even an Hp41 series.
If I could suggest something for him w/o regard to availability, I would suggest an Hp27s! The Hp19B is also extremely similar in features and functions (and fairly easy to still get), but is a DAMN clamshell with the weak battery door (that takes 3 N cells!) and somewhat bulkier form factor and lacks algebraic precidence (business calcs often do, and that irks ME!)
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