HP Forum Archive 18

[ Return to Index | Top of Index ]

INVISIBLE DECIMAL POINT Message #1 Posted by designnut on 2 Aug 2008, 10:57 p.m. I submit that HP needs to improve the appearance of their decimal point, it can hide in plain sight. It needs to be displaced or enlarged at least vertically for visibility. I use the comma to get a bit better visibility, but it really needs a fix. I think they could make better use of their label real estate on the faceplate. There is space that could be used for larger type. Give their visual clarity more consideration. Sam Ok I'm not 20:20 anymore.

Re: INVISIBLE DECIMAL POINT Message #2 Posted by Walter B on 2 Aug 2008, 11:52 p.m., in response to message #1 by designnut Hmmmh, Sam, this is why peoples with *older* roots in mathemetics use a comma as decimal separator. Good old Gauß couldn't see a point either (assume the same for Pythagoras... ;)

Re: INVISIBLE DECIMAL POINT Message #3 Posted by Karl Schneider on 3 Aug 2008, 3:08 a.m., in response to message #2 by Walter B Hi, Walter -- Quote: ...this is why peoples with *older* roots in mathemetics use a comma as decimal separator. So, how are elements of an ordered pair such as (3.4 , -5.6) denoted -- with a semicolon as (3,4 ; 5,6)? As a "yankee", I've always preferred the period as a radix point because it looks tidier -- rows of numbers written spreadsheet-style don't dip below a line. However, I'll admit that this style has become more difficult to read, because typewriter-style monospace fonts such as Courier New (as Microsoft calls it) are no longer the norm. The original HP-35 with its 15-character LED display used a full position for the decimal point -- it could not be overlooked. Later models with fewer digits in their LED and LCD display place the radix points between digits. -- KS Edited: 3 Aug 2008, 1:42 p.m. after one or more responses were posted

Re: INVISIBLE DECIMAL POINT Message #4 Posted by Walter B on 3 Aug 2008, 8:16 a.m., in response to message #3 by Karl Schneider Hi Karl, Quote: So, how are elements of an ordered pair such as (3.4 , -5.6) denoted -- with a semicolon as (3,4 ; 5,6)? Exactly. BTW, the comma is also more robust against print problems in so called "true type" fonts -- I've experienced quite some cases where tiny radix points were next to invisible on paper and the reader had to guess. Anyway, your choice, enjoy! Best regards, Walter

Re: INVISIBLE DECIMAL POINT Message #5 Posted by Katie Wasserman on 3 Aug 2008, 11:38 a.m., in response to message #3 by Karl Schneider Actually only the 2X series and the 3X series LED calculators use the decimal point alongside the digit. The classics, the 9X and the 19C/10 used a whole digit for the decimal point. Some of the alphanumeric LCD displays used a whole digit too (e.g., 75C/D, 71b, 28S, 42S). The 50G still works this way. For sure, the 19C/10 have the best decimal points! -Katie

Re: INVISIBLE DECIMAL POINT Message #6 Posted by Matt Kernal on 3 Aug 2008, 12:10 p.m., in response to message #5 by Katie Wasserman Quote: For sure, the 19C/10 have the best decimal points! This is so cool. Check out this thread (sorry Katie, I didn't take the time to find your original post on this great easter egg). Matt Edited: 3 Aug 2008, 12:14 p.m.

[ Return to Index | Top of Index ]

Go back to the main exhibit hall