The Museum of HP Calculators

HP Forum Archive 18

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State of the art
Message #1 Posted by Walter B on 19 Mar 2008, 6:33 p.m.

Hi all,

FWIW, please find below my newest designs for a 15S (based on 15C), a 43S (after 42S), and a 44S (like 17bii+ silver). A 45S (based on 35S) has almost the same keyboard as the 43S, just different cursors and a smaller LCD of 132x48 dots. Each model stays within the dimensions of its “parent”. Sorted by “power”, there will be 43S > 45s > 15S > 44s. The 15S, 43S, and 45S feature the same set of functions on their keyboards, while some more burying in menus was inevitable on the 44S. Furthermore, these drafts have in common:

  • a line of 6 menu keys, whose default primary functions are always accessible using f-shift (thus, TOP.FCN of 42S becomes obsolete);
  • full dot matrix displays (of different height) for maximum flexibility;
  • RPN and ALG for reasons discussed several times here in this forum.
Generally speaking, prints on the keys are for functions, while orange prints on the plate stand for menus. Exceptions are < (below the “i”) on all models but 44S, and TRIG and TVM on the 44S.

Though not really egg-shaped, you may take these as my Easter presents to the community :) Thanks to every forum member for your contributions to many refreshing discussions.

Sorry for the dimensions of the images. After all I needed some pixels for sufficient resolution. Though, they stay within Dave's file size limits ;)

      
Re: State of the art
Message #2 Posted by Trent Moseley on 19 Mar 2008, 9:53 p.m.,
in response to message #1 by Walter B

I'll buy one!

tm

            
Re: State of the art
Message #3 Posted by Paul Dale on 19 Mar 2008, 9:54 p.m.,
in response to message #2 by Trent Moseley

of each??

- Pauli

                  
Re: State of the art
Message #4 Posted by Geoff Quickfall on 19 Mar 2008, 10:04 p.m.,
in response to message #3 by Paul Dale

Wow, those are slick. I will take the 15c

Hope HP calc division is watching...

      
Re: State of the art
Message #5 Posted by Namir on 19 Mar 2008, 10:09 p.m.,
in response to message #1 by Walter B

Walter,

If HP is expanding their calculator division, I sure hope they come knocking on your door. You would champion the design of really cool calculators.

Namir

PS: I'll buy 2 of each

Edited: 19 Mar 2008, 10:09 p.m.

            
Re: State of the art
Message #6 Posted by DaveJ on 19 Mar 2008, 10:33 p.m.,
in response to message #5 by Namir

Quote:
Walter,

If HP is expanding their calculator division, I sure hope they come knocking on your door. You would champion the design of really cool calculators.

A photoshop model does not a calculator make!

But very very cool indeed. Although I would get incredibly annoyed that it doesn't have primary Log and Ln button.

Can I have a simple non-programmable scientific version please? :->

Dave.

                  
Re: State of the art
Message #7 Posted by Walter B on 20 Mar 2008, 2:39 a.m.,
in response to message #6 by DaveJ

Quote:
A photoshop model does not a calculator make!
Of course you're right, Yoda ;) However, there's a full-fledged menu system and corresponding function set behind these drafts. IIRC I didn't observe this elsewhere so far.
                        
Re: State of the art
Message #8 Posted by DaveJ on 20 Mar 2008, 3:05 a.m.,
in response to message #7 by Walter B

Quote:

Of course you're right, Yoda ;) However, there's a full-fledged menu system and corresponding function set behind these drafts. IIRC I didn't observe this elsewhere so far.

*in my best Yoda voice* Hardware, calculators are. Trivial details, be all things other.

Dave.

                              
Re: State of the art
Message #9 Posted by Egan Ford on 20 Mar 2008, 11:55 a.m.,
in response to message #8 by DaveJ

Quote:
*in my best Yoda voice* Hardware, calculators are. Trivial details, be all things other.
Software, calculators are. The hardware is just a shell (buttons, CPU, RAM, and a display, nothing more).

I am not trivializing the hardware, obviously given the amount of criticism over recent models creating good hardware is a challenge. But the soul of the calculator is in the software.

                  
Re: State of the art
Message #10 Posted by Namir on 20 Mar 2008, 11:44 a.m.,
in response to message #6 by DaveJ

The journey of a thousand mile begins with the first step. Without a vision of what a calculator might look (and do) how do you build new calculators?

Namir

                        
Re: State of the art
Message #11 Posted by DaveJ on 20 Mar 2008, 7:31 p.m.,
in response to message #10 by Namir

Quote:
The journey of a thousand mile begins with the first step. Without a vision of what a calculator might look (and do) how do you build new calculators?

Namir

HP already have some vision. Take the existing 12C, whack in some new firmware or whatever and change the keytops and badging. Bingo, a basic scientific and a step in the right direction. Take the existing 35S, whack in some new firmware and keytops and you have a more usable basic scientific that looks like a million bucks.

Walters visions are fantastic, but they are harder to implement and can have hardware gotcha's. HP already have existing hardware platforms in place that only require a few tweaks to get a new product to market. That could be a good first step.

Dave.

                  
Re: State of the art
Message #12 Posted by Mike Reed on 20 Mar 2008, 9:15 p.m.,
in response to message #6 by DaveJ

Quote:
A photoshop model does not a calculator make!

Hmmmm.... WHY NOT!! Use an existing emulator engine, a photo-shopped dream machine jpg, write a kml script... This could be do-able! Then we could all have our personalized perfect calculators. Virtually. HP could sponsor a "beauty contest", and the winning entry gets prototyped! LOL OK, i'm kidding, but don't the possibilities sound interesting though!

      
Re: State of the art
Message #13 Posted by designnut on 20 Mar 2008, 1:12 p.m.,
in response to message #1 by Walter B

Walter, thank you for the lovely present. It seems to suffer in part from the desire to do all things for all people. I have a 50G and my reaction is that it should be a PC program rather than a calculator It is an overkill for all it's Grand Design. It appears more attention is needed to actual users market than the state of the art calculator. I despair at the choice of a beginners calculator to gift children. In an attempt to explain all the complexity of the 50G things are glossed over, like the clock doesn't start to run until the final OK which leaves the set menu. The alarm set is described in detail, but no mention is made of what the alarm does when it times out. Mom used to say there are 100 people with a dollar for everyone with ten$. Where is the lower end RPN calculator? No not RPN/algebraic, just RPN Sam

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