HP Forum Archive 16

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HP 15C lost! Can you help me find one? Message #1 Posted by Mark Paris on 25 Aug 2006, 11:53 a.m. Hey there friends, I've lost/misplaced/had stolen my HP-15C that I've used for many years, on the job here as a theoretical nuclear physicist. I've placed a WTB ad on this site. But in case you don't make it over there, I wanted to mention it here too. I'm offering "good money," condition dependent. I'm NOT a collector. I just want to get back to work and put down this damnable algebraic calculator. Thanks much. Mark Paris

Re: HP 15C lost! Can you help me find one? Message #2 Posted by Ron Ross on 25 Aug 2006, 12:35 p.m., in response to message #1 by Mark Paris Just in case you end up w/o anyone rushing to beat down your door to sell an Hp15c (although there are a few established retailers that do sell the Hp15c, all are well over $100 and most are closer to $200+). If you feel these are prohibitive prices, you might consider an Hp11c which is often significantly less than a 15c (of course IF you need the 15c, nothing less will DO!). You can also buy an Hp41c series for the cost of an Hp15c and you may consider that as well (still not as capable w/o modules). An Hp33s can be had NEW for about $50 from various sources, one that I recommend is hpcalc.org. Has lots more features and functions than the older Hp15c except for lack of Matrix support and complex functions ability (Hp33s can handle complex numbers, just not nearly as elegantly as the Hp15c). It is Hp's replacement for this series of calculator. This is your most reasonable replacement option. It is an okay replacement, but not something you will find any attachment for, once you've owned a 15c. Or step up to an Hp graphics. I might suggest buying an Hp48G off of ebay (approx $50-70) and it will still have an Hp feel and quality, OR you can purchase a new Hp graphics for $80-130 depending upon model. They are calculating marvels, just not near the quality of your beloved Hp15c.

Re: HP 15C lost! Can you help me find one? Message #3 Posted by Jeff O. on 25 Aug 2006, 1:15 p.m., in response to message #2 by Ron Ross Have you responded to this MoHPC classified ad? (I am not affiliated with the seller, just wondering if you checked.) If yes, and the price was too high or the calculator already sold, you do realize that they are readily available on eBay? Typical prices seem to be $150 to $300 and higher. How do such prices compare to your definition of “good money”? To stay on the low end of the price range, look for ones without box and manual, and maybe a little scuffed or dinged or with initials engraved. In addition to Ron’s suggested alternatives, the HP42S is also worthy of consideration. It has all the power of the 15C and then some. Unfortunately, your most likely route to finding one of those is probably the same as finding a 15C, i.e. eBay. Prices are possibly marginally lower than the 15C. Sorry if the above information is not really what you were hoping for. Good luck in your quest.

Re: HP 15C lost! Can you help me find one? Message #4 Posted by Mark Paris on 25 Aug 2006, 2:10 p.m., in response to message #3 by Jeff O. Much thanks for the useful and helpful suggestions. Ron, I have looked into the 11c and am monitoring a couple of auctions for them. They would do alright. I didn't often use the matrix algebra since Mathematica is easier. But you never really need something until you don't have it. Thanks also for pointing out the 33s, 41c, and 48g's. Though I know it sounds shallow --- I prefer the "landscape" layout of the 11c or 15c. The "portrait" layout doesn't allow two-handed speed. Actually, I just got an offer from a MoHPC user for the 15c with manual and sleeve for $250. I think I'll wait. That's a little more "good money" than I wanted to part with. Jeff, I contacted the seller of the MoHPC ad that you sited two days ago. He sent me a price list. I offered his asking, then didn't hear back from him. I'm guessing I moved too slow. I hadn't realized what a hot commodity I was dealing with. I thought, "Nobody still uses or wants these things." Typical clueless scientist, no doubt. Thanks again. Mark

Re: HP 15C lost! Can you help me find one? Message #5 Posted by Jeff O. on 25 Aug 2006, 3:22 p.m., in response to message #4 by Mark Paris Quote: ...I just got an offer from a MoHPC user for the 15c with manual and sleeve for $250. I think I'll wait. That's a little more "good money" than I wanted to part with. I'm not questioning your price comfort-level, as I think $250 is a lot of money too, but consider that when introduced in 1982 the 15C cost $135, which is $283.29 in 2006 dollars. When discontinued in 1989 the list price was $80, which is $130.65 today. I don't know when you bought yours or how much you paid, but it was likely not as far from the $150 to $250 range as it might seem. (Of course I'm not one to talk, having purchased an HP-45 in 1973 for $395 while earning $35 per week at my part time job. I sure wouldn't pay $1800 for one today even if my income is a bit higher than it was then.)

Re: HP 15C lost! Can you help me find one? Message #6 Posted by e.young on 25 Aug 2006, 2:03 p.m., in response to message #1 by Mark Paris I think ebay is your quickest and easiest solution, but is also probably the most expensive solution. Last year I bought a good quality HP 32sii off of ebay, and then bought an HP33s as a backup so I won't be without RPN in case my 32 goes down. Interstingly, I've had to get 2 replacements from HP for the 33s, but the 32sii keeps on going. It's interesting to me that someone in your line of work still appreciates a good calculator. In my line of work (structural engineer) many of my coworkers seem amazed I will spend the money for an HP. The younger ones in fact seem amazed I don't rely on the computer to do everything. They seem to have a hard time functioning without a computer.

Re: HP 15C lost! Can you help me find one? Message #7 Posted by Mark Paris on 25 Aug 2006, 2:18 p.m., in response to message #6 by e.young Mr/Dr. Young, I was a mech-e-in-training at one point, just about the time the graphical calcs came out (that dates me perhaps a little older than I'd care to admit). Everyone had one. I never had a use for them. Sure, I'd be writing Hollywood screenplays or tending bar without computers. But who can stand pointing and clicking or (at best) numerical keypadding for simple alg and trig calcs? Argh. I sure do miss that old 15c though. Mark

Re: HP 15C lost! Can you help me find one? Message #8 Posted by Ron Ross on 25 Aug 2006, 2:34 p.m., in response to message #7 by Mark Paris Buy the Hp33s to get you by until you finally break down and buy the Hp1#c series you want. Its RPN, works okay and will do what you want/need for the moment. I had to buy one for the PE exam, and it worked and functioned well for my needs. Its well made by other calculator standards (sadly, IT AINT nearly as good as an Hp 15c). But it is also ONLY $50 vs the Hp15c had to have cost you much more, especially in todays $$$$.

Re: HP 15C lost! Can you help me find one? Message #9 Posted by Walter B on 26 Aug 2006, 1:33 a.m., in response to message #8 by Ron Ross Having enjoyed a 15C for many years, you'll be disappointed with a 33s for sure. It combines the cluttered keyboard of 32sii with a flawed colour scheme - worse than 48g - almost unusable IMHO unless you have no alternative. A 32s (not ii!) may do it for you, a 42s certainly will. They use alphanumeric LCD, IMO increasing program readability a lot compared to the keycodes you are used to. Please see the museum for more details. If you prefer landscape RPN as you wrote, there simply is nothing else than 15c and 11c in your level. Good luck!

HP-32S/SII background Message #10 Posted by Karl Schneider on 26 Aug 2006, 4:21 p.m., in response to message #9 by Walter B Hi, Walter -- I basically agree with what you said, although I still prefer the HP-32SII to the HP-32S, despite the poorly-organized keyboard arrangement that doesn't hold a candle to that of the HP-15C (as we've discussed recently...) The history is that the Pioneer models with dot-matrix displays were designed to be "menued" with only one shift key in order to offer a clean keyboard arrangement. The Pioneer-series keys do not have beveled faces for printing functions utilizing a second shift key. This is why both the 32S and the 42S have similar appearances. Unfortunately, the RPN-based 32S was missing some useful functions, as well as a functionality (Equations) that was available on three original algebraic dot-matrix-display models (HP-17B, HP-22S, and HP-27S). In addition, users apparently preferred to have functions printed on the keyboard, rather than buried in menus. (I happen to share those sentiments.) So, the HP-32SII was developed. Missing functions were added, as were Equation functionality from the HP-22S (which used the same display), and the useful new Fractions functionality (although it had some bugs in first-year HP-32SII's). A second shift key made more functions directly accessible, but not always well-organized. By necessity, shifted-function legends were printed side-by-side on the keyboard face (as in the algebraic HP-20S and HP-21S). Here's a comparison between the HP-32S and the HP-32SII: http://www.hpmuseum.org/cgi-sys/cgiwrap/hpmuseum/archv014.cgi?read=70928#70928 -- KS Edited: 26 Aug 2006, 7:35 p.m. after one or more responses were posted

Re: HP-32S/SII background Message #11 Posted by Walter B on 26 Aug 2006, 6:44 p.m., in response to message #10 by Karl Schneider Hi Karl, looking at it from the manufacturing side, the Pioneer keyboard was quite a cost reduction. Everything in just two shots (one for the labels), no more keyboard assembly. I assume, however, this progress killed the traditional key shape of HP. Nevertheless, I would have appreciated them sticking to the beveled keys, even if I had to pay some bucks more. It was a nice method to avoid keyboard clutter.

Re: HP-32S/SII background Message #12 Posted by bill platt on 27 Aug 2006, 3:17 p.m., in response to message #11 by Walter B When I 1st replaced a lost 11c with a 32s11, I too was disappointed that the keys were no longer beveled. but then I realized that I liked the new better!

Re: HP 15C lost! Can you help me find one? Message #13 Posted by John Groenendijk on 27 Aug 2006, 10:03 a.m., in response to message #1 by Mark Paris I have a brand new (not used) hp15c, but no manual. If you are interested you may contact me. Price indication $100.

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