HP Forum Archive 17

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Wired Magazine Rates Graphing Calculators Message #1 Posted by Tony on 24 Mar 2007, 5:23 p.m. The April 2007 Wired Magazine rates graphing calculators: TI-89 Titanium - 8 of 10 HP 50g - 7 of 10 Casio ClassPad 300Plus - 7 of 10 Sharp EL-9900C - 5 of 10 Interesting note on the HP, "steepest learning curve of the lot".

Re: Wired Magazine Rates Graphing Calculators Message #2 Posted by Eric Smith on 24 Mar 2007, 8:06 p.m., in response to message #1 by Tony A steep learning curve is good. If the learning curve were shallow, it would take you a very long time to learn how to use it.

Re: Wired Magazine Rates Graphing Calculators Message #3 Posted by Palmer O. Hanson, Jr. on 24 Mar 2007, 10:35 p.m., in response to message #2 by Eric Smith Quote: A steep learning curve is good. If the learning curve were shallow, it would take you a very long time to learn how to use it. From my Webster's New World Dictionary: "SYN. --steep suggests such sharpness of rise or slope as to make ascent or descent very difficult (a steep hill);" But, of course, you already knew that.

Re: Wired Magazine Rates Graphing Calculators Message #4 Posted by Les Bell on 24 Mar 2007, 11:18 p.m., in response to message #3 by Palmer O. Hanson, Jr. Quote: "SYN. --steep suggests such sharpness of rise or slope as to make ascent or descent very difficult (a steep hill);" Sure, but the work done in raising a mass through a height vertically is the same, whether you do it quickly or slowly (of course, you already knew that!). Me, I'd rather get it over and done with and reap the benefits ASAP. Steep learning curve for me, every time! Best, --- Les [http://wwww.lesbell.com.au]

Re: Wired Magazine Rates Graphing Calculators Message #5 Posted by ECL on 25 Mar 2007, 1:22 p.m., in response to message #4 by Les Bell Les, Quote: Sure, but the work done in raising a mass through a height vertically is the same, whether you do it quickly or slowly... Aha! But Les, as you most certainly know, the POWER requirement varies with velocity, lol! So we could say that you'd want a quick processor (brain) to tackle steep learning curves w/o devoting great amounts of time. :) When you provoke engineers...lol ;)

Re: Wired Magazine Rates Graphing Calculators Message #6 Posted by Les Wright on 24 Mar 2007, 11:45 p.m., in response to message #2 by Eric Smith Thanks for pointing that out Eric. "Steep learning curve" is one of those chalk-on-a-blackboard irritating cliches. Usually, overuse of cliches renders them meaningless. In this case, the cliche has taken on a meaning precisely the opposite to its original use, which I believe is the rather narrow field of experimental psychology--rats in mazes, that sort of thing. In that case, if time is on the x axis and some measure of learning is on the y axis, smart rats will learn more in less time, and the slope of the resulting graph--the primordial learning curve--will be steeper. I like to use the phrase "shallow learning curve" in casual conversation to really confuse folks easily baffled when the discussion moves into the Cartesian plane. The smart rat gets the most pellets most quickly. I'd rather be the smart rat. Les Edited: 24 Mar 2007, 11:47 p.m.

rats Message #7 Posted by Don Shepherd on 25 Mar 2007, 9:30 a.m., in response to message #6 by Les Wright Speaking of rats, here is another truism: while it is true that the early bird gets the worm, it's the SECOND rat that gets the cheese!

Re: rats Message #8 Posted by Eric Smith on 26 Mar 2007, 2:29 a.m., in response to message #7 by Don Shepherd And the early worm "gets" the bird!

Re: Wired Magazine Rates Graphing Calculators Message #9 Posted by Bruce Bergman on 24 Mar 2007, 8:58 p.m., in response to message #1 by Tony I am quite certain the "steepest learning curve" is due to the mediocre documentation that comes with it. If it had a book as solid as the 40gs or the TI-89, it would be easier. Go HP! :-)

Re: Wired Magazine Rates Graphing Calculators Message #10 Posted by opotente on 25 Mar 2007, 10:44 a.m., in response to message #9 by Bruce Bergman Hi Tony, could you be so kind and send us the internet link? I would like to read the article just in case that it is online. Best regards,

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