Who buys HPs these days? Message #1 Posted by Frank Rottgardt on 1 Nov 2007, 7:45 a.m.
Hi,
looking at the calculators HP launched after the 48-series they left the path "from engineers for engineers". Rather flashy designs and cheap plastics. The 50g and 35s giving small indications for a change to the better. But RPN still going strong, at least.
So I sometimes wonder what type of customer are HP´s marketing cracks aiming on?
Watching this forum one can say that the average age seems to be beyond 30. Many technicans and engineers in the middle of their career. The 48G / 50g is used by many, but sometimes I get the feeling it is a kind of toy to complete the collection and have fun with rather than the choice for daily number crunching on the job. Here most of us are looking for a good scientific with some easy programming in a small form factor. I/O in shape of a SD or the like would be welcome. Solver and numerical integration is a must. Graphics are of minor importance.
Then we have the freshman at college/university and kids at highschool learning their math etc. Here graphics are a must. These customers want? flashy colours. Doing your homework a capable machine like the 50g is a perfect companion. But then, during exams or tests the choice of calculators is limited. No I/O is allowed. The 33s ist a good example for this kind of stuff.
So there are a number of questions:
1) Are we "elder" engineers still a target group?
One could say yes and no. Yes, since HP still supports the HP user conferences, and yes because RPN is alive after all. One could say no, since our dream calculator is still not there. Will say a machine like the HP-45s.
2) Will there ever be a chance to see a 45s from HP?
I would say it is not likely. The 33s is a top seller. Why this? It is simply the best performing calculator among the ones allowed for exams (no I/O). Do students love it? Who knows? Many needed to learn RPN only some weeks before their exams. Can´t be comfortable if one is used to its AOL/CAS TI.
Will be fun to share your thoughts.
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