The Museum of HP Calculators

HP Forum Archive 18

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WHATS YOUR FAVORITE NON- HP CACULATOR
Message #1 Posted by Howard Lazerson on 19 Dec 2008, 5:21 p.m.

Mine is the SHARP EL5813, ONLY 30 steps but I learned how to do some creative manipulation of formulas with it, still works, then I discovered HP and bought an 11C and never looked back

      
Re: WHATS YOUR FAVORITE NON- HP CACULATOR
Message #2 Posted by Stefan Vorkoetter on 19 Dec 2008, 7:37 p.m.,
in response to message #1 by Howard Lazerson

Mine is the Sharp PC-1211. Programmable in BASIC. 1424 bytes of program storage space. Still have it and it still works, although there's some display ghosting now.

My only other programmable non-HPs were a Commodore PR-100, and then a Texas-Instruments SR-52.

Stefan

      
Re: WHATS YOUR FAVORITE NON- HP CACULATOR
Message #3 Posted by Donald Williams on 19 Dec 2008, 7:40 p.m.,
in response to message #1 by Howard Lazerson

Casio 9860G Slim. After my immense disappointment with the HP-35S I bought the G Slim and never looked back.

      
Re: WHATS YOUR FAVORITE NON- HP CACULATOR
Message #4 Posted by Namir on 19 Dec 2008, 7:47 p.m.,
in response to message #1 by Howard Lazerson

The TI-95, TI-74, and Casio FX880. Both models are very similar and use an LCD display and qwerty keyboard. The 95 was supposed to compete with the HP41C. It is very versatile but has only one module port and a printer port.

The TI-74 is a BASIC machine that supports CALLable subroutines. Unfortunately it has no user defined functions.

The Casio FX-880 has a fantastic built-in library of programs that covers a wide area of numerical analysis. You can exter math expressions for root solving, numerical integration, and so on! The BASIC programming for this machine is very nice too.

Namir

Edited: 19 Dec 2008, 7:49 p.m.

      
Re: WHATS YOUR FAVORITE NON- HP CACULATOR
Message #5 Posted by Geir Isene on 19 Dec 2008, 7:48 p.m.,
in response to message #1 by Howard Lazerson

TI-59

      
Re: WHATS YOUR FAVORITE NON- HP CACULATOR
Message #6 Posted by ZOleg on 19 Dec 2008, 7:53 p.m.,
in response to message #1 by Howard Lazerson

TI-59, TI-89

      
Re: WHATS YOUR FAVORITE NON- HP CACULATOR
Message #7 Posted by V-PN on 19 Dec 2008, 7:59 p.m.,
in response to message #1 by Howard Lazerson

Q9550

      
Re: WHATS YOUR FAVORITE NON- HP CACULATOR
Message #8 Posted by db (martinez, ca.) on 19 Dec 2008, 9:42 p.m.,
in response to message #1 by Howard Lazerson

It's a toss-up.
The Corvus 500 or the Heathkit navigation computer are my choices, and they're both RPN.
The MK 152 and the DIY RPN are very close seconds.
Now if you'd have asked for my favorite non-hp RPN programmable scientific calculator watch..............

Edited: 20 Dec 2008, 11:29 a.m.

            
Re: WHATS YOUR FAVORITE NON- HP CACULATOR
Message #9 Posted by Art Litka on 20 Dec 2008, 4:27 p.m.,
in response to message #8 by db (martinez, ca.)

Hey db, this is your HP buddy from Fla visiting in Oakland! (407) 416-1816-Please call!

                  
Re: WHATS YOUR FAVORITE NON- HP CACULATOR
Message #10 Posted by db (martinez, ca.) on 22 Dec 2008, 10:16 p.m.,
in response to message #9 by Art Litka

Hi art; You've got email, with my new phone number (yours didn't go from here on my cell). I'm in southern Utah right now trying to have fun and keep warm. I have two new RPNs to show you and a bottle of Chilean wine, but it looks like that might have to wait till next year. Write again. - db

      
Re: WHATS YOUR FAVORITE NON- HP CACULATOR
Message #11 Posted by Bruce Bergman on 20 Dec 2008, 12:36 a.m.,
in response to message #1 by Howard Lazerson

Although I don't own one, I am very impressed with the Casio 9860G Slim model. Very cool beast, and everyone I know who has one, or who has used one, raves about it. I may eventually break down and buy one. I hear there is a Lua port for it, and a Forth port for it.

The only non HP calculator I own currently is the TI MultiView (um, I think it's the 30x; not sure). I don't "like" using it, but every time I do, I'm impressed with the capabilities they crammed in that little $15 wonder. I'd love to see HP come out with something in the same genre, but I doubt that they will. And not at $15, that's for sure.

Oh, I do own a Russian calc which I purchased because I had never seen a Russian RPN calculator before, but I don't consider it for this topic since it's more "shelf bling" than anything else.

Now, as to my "favorite" non HP, I'd have to say it was the Monroe 1665. We actually programmed these in a computer programming class in high school (circa 1979), with cards and everything. They were amazing machines, I still remember them clacking away while they calculated and printed out results. I miss them.

Here's a link: Monroe 1665 Calculator

Thanks, Bruce

      
Re: WHATS YOUR FAVORITE NON- HP CACULATOR
Message #12 Posted by marais on 20 Dec 2008, 3:49 a.m.,
in response to message #1 by Howard Lazerson

The EL5813 was my first programmable, but my favorite non-hp programmable is of course the Casio FX-602P. 512 program steps, an excellent dot matrix display, and almost a small computer system if printer and cassette interface were added. The machine is very slim, in an elegant metal case, and runs forever on two Lithium cells. But what really got me hooked at the time was the alphanumeric programming - no more opcodes like with the TI-59, its main competitor at the time. By the way, my favorite non-programmable non-HP would be an aristo. One of the finest keyboards ever designed.

Andreas

      
Re: WHATS YOUR FAVORITE NON- HP CACULATOR
Message #13 Posted by Maximilian Hohmann on 20 Dec 2008, 6:04 a.m.,
in response to message #1 by Howard Lazerson

Hello!

Since I owe my diplomas to it: The Ti59

Most impressive calculator, that I've come across: Ti Voyage 200

Most handsome calculator: Sinclair Sovereign

Greetings, Max

            
Re: WHATS YOUR FAVORITE NON- HP CACULATOR
Message #14 Posted by Marcus von Cube, Germany on 20 Dec 2008, 12:27 p.m.,
in response to message #13 by Maximilian Hohmann

Max, we must be of similar age! :)

My first calculator was an SR-51A, followed by a programmable SR-56. I spent hours discovering their features. The TI-59 followed when I saved some money, originally laid back for a vacation with my girl friend: We separated and I bought the 59 instead. ;) The 59 keyboard is horrible, I prefer the older designs. The programming model of both is useful, but the 56 lacks continuous memory and the capacity of the 59 is unrivaled.

Today, I often reach for my Voyage 200 or its (literally) bigger brother TI-92Plus. The PC/Mac connectivity is very good and I love playing around with the CBL (Calculator Based Laboratory). The querty keyboard makes typing in programs or expressions on these machines a pleasure.

The Casio or Sharp BASIC programmables have their nice sides, too. I'm currently writing new PC software for the Casios (http://www.mvcsys.de/doc/casioutil.html). Their simple but useful concept of ten program areas just pleases me.

I don't have a real favorite. Whenever I want to play around or do some real calculations I just randomly pick one of my machines...

      
Re: WHATS YOUR FAVORITE NON- HP CACULATOR
Message #15 Posted by Etienne Victoria on 20 Dec 2008, 10:38 a.m.,
in response to message #1 by Howard Lazerson

The TI-58C that opened to me the world of programming.

It's still there, still works perfectly, (keyboard bounce cured, accupack changed).

Etienne

      
Re: WHATS YOUR FAVORITE NON- HP CACULATOR
Message #16 Posted by gileno on 19 Dec 2008, 9:27 p.m.,
in response to message #1 by Howard Lazerson

Sharp PC-1600

      
Re: WHATS YOUR FAVORITE NON- HP CACULATOR
Message #17 Posted by Jeff O. on 20 Dec 2008, 11:13 a.m.,
in response to message #1 by Howard Lazerson

This one, running Hugh's latest ROM:

...

      
Re: WHATS YOUR FAVORITE NON- HP CACULATOR
Message #18 Posted by ArthurFord on 19 Dec 2008, 7:59 p.m.,
in response to message #1 by Howard Lazerson

Graphing: TI-89 Scientific: Casio fx-115W

      
Re: WHATS YOUR FAVORITE NON- HP CACULATOR
Message #19 Posted by Egan Ford on 20 Dec 2008, 12:59 p.m.,
in response to message #1 by Howard Lazerson

Does the 50g count? :-)

If not, then its going to have to be i41CX+ on my iPhone. If you disqualify that because it has "HP Inside" (as does the 50g), then I'm left with Free42 and Sage (sagemath.org).

            
Re: WHATS YOUR FAVORITE NON- HP CACULATOR
Message #20 Posted by Howard Lazerson on 20 Dec 2008, 3:58 p.m.,
in response to message #19 by Egan Ford

NO votes for sliderules or abacus?!

                  
Re: WHATS YOUR FAVORITE NON- HP CACULATOR
Message #21 Posted by Les Bell on 20 Dec 2008, 5:52 p.m.,
in response to message #20 by Howard Lazerson

Quote:
NO votes for sliderules or abacus?!
You can always count on me - my favourite non-HP calculator is the Jeppesen CR-5.

Best,

--- Les
[http://www.lesbell.com.au]

                  
Re: WHATS YOUR FAVORITE NON- HP CACULATOR
Message #22 Posted by V-PN on 20 Dec 2008, 10:37 p.m.,
in response to message #20 by Howard Lazerson

I thought I already voted for my abacus: Q9550

      
Re: WHATS YOUR FAVORITE NON- HP CACULATOR
Message #23 Posted by Dan Grelinger on 20 Dec 2008, 4:12 p.m.,
in response to message #1 by Howard Lazerson

TI-58C.

I owe it my recovery from a bad sophomore year in engineering, when I came close to bombing. I was so fascinated with that machine, that I actually had to learn how to solve my engineering problems so that I could program the solutions for them into the calculator. And the matrix math functions saved me several incorrect answers on tests. And finally, the rudimentary key code programming skills I learned served me very well in my senior year microprocessor programming courses. After having it for a year, I replaced it with an HP-41CV, but it still holds a special place in my heart and my memory. In a lapse of judgement, I threw it away in 1996 after the Ni-Cd battery was so old the calc would not work even when it was plugged in. But, I have since bought a few replacements and have had the pleasure of re-reading the user manual again.

Dan

            
Re: WHATS YOUR FAVORITE NON- HP CACULATOR
Message #24 Posted by JDonley on 20 Dec 2008, 6:41 p.m.,
in response to message #23 by Dan Grelinger

Aurora FN1000. Have carried one in my shirt pocket every day for 2 years now. Am sure I have used it every day. Fancy it's not, but reliable and rugged and so compact. It easily fits in my shirt pocket along with a small wire bound notebook and several ballpoints and eyeglass case. Wish they hadn't been discontinued.

      
Re: WHATS YOUR FAVORITE NON- HP CACULATOR
Message #25 Posted by Mike Reed on 20 Dec 2008, 6:33 p.m.,
in response to message #1 by Howard Lazerson

the Kurta "coffee-grinder".

I don't even try to use any other machines unless they are RPN or RPL, which pretty much makes it HP or nuthin! Although, i do admit to owning several of those! lol

polarbear Mike

            
Re: WHATS YOUR FAVORITE NON- HP CACULATOR
Message #26 Posted by Michael Meyer on 20 Dec 2008, 9:13 p.m.,
in response to message #25 by Mike Reed

Has to be my TI-59. Got me through 1979-1983 of college. I must have been lucky...I never had a problem with the keyboard, the card reader always worked (still does, even the original roller), and I was able to write every computer class assignment a second time for my calculator. Even the alphanumeric output worked on the thermal printer. I've restored at least a half dozen of these over the years. (Cheap and fun to fix.) So, in sheer volume of the calculators I've collected, and in the years I spent programming it, I guess it's my favorite non-HP.

My next calculator was a 15C, then a 71B. I had an HP-25 in high school, and it's RPN again from now on.

RTN2RPN

                  
Re: WHATS YOUR FAVORITE NON- HP CACULATOR
Message #27 Posted by Martin Pinckney on 21 Dec 2008, 10:31 a.m.,
in response to message #26 by Michael Meyer

I have to agree with all those who said TI-59, since it got me through graduate school, and introduced me to how powerful a hand-held device can be. But the failing keyboard is what brought me to HP, and glad of it!

      
Re: WHATS YOUR FAVORITE NON- HP CACULATOR
Message #28 Posted by Palmer O. Hanson, Jr. on 20 Dec 2008, 10:57 p.m.,
in response to message #1 by Howard Lazerson

Although I haven't yet managed to get it to work the first calculator that I like to show to visitors is a Canon Pocketronic. It looks a lot like the TI Cal-Tech and uses a simnilar ticker tape type output. It also comes with a 20 ampere high speed battery charger.

The second calculator that I like to show to visitors is a Faber-Castell 67/22R five inch slide rule which comes with an Addiator on the back.

The third calculator that I like to show is a old eight digit rotary Addometer manufactured in the 1930's and 1940's by The Reliable Typewritr and Adding Machine Company.

My favorite working vintage handheld electronic calculator is the TI-95 where the outstanding characteristic was the programmable memory module which would retain memory when removed from the machine.

Finally, the vintage machine that I used the most before I retired back in 1989 was the Radio Shack Model 100 computer.

Palmer

      
Re: WHATS YOUR FAVORITE NON- HP CACULATOR
Message #29 Posted by DaveJ on 21 Dec 2008, 6:37 p.m.,
in response to message #1 by Howard Lazerson

I have two (apart from my uWatch of course):

The Casio CFX-400 Scientific calculator watch.

It speaks for itself.
More valuable on the 2nd hand market than almost any HP calc too.

The Casio FX-61F Electroncis Engineering calculator.
It's specifically designed for Electronics Engineering with dedicated parallel, inductance and capacitance keys.

Dave.

Edited: 23 Dec 2008, 4:18 a.m.

      
Re: WHATS YOUR FAVORITE NON- HP CACULATOR
Message #30 Posted by Antonio Maschio (Italy) on 22 Dec 2008, 5:41 a.m.,
in response to message #1 by Howard Lazerson

The Sharp PC-1401 and the Casio fx-7700GB I own.

-- Antonio

      
Re: WHATS YOUR FAVORITE NON- HP CACULATOR
Message #31 Posted by Dusan Zivkovic on 22 Dec 2008, 6:40 a.m.,
in response to message #1 by Howard Lazerson

Sharp PC-E500, which counts as a calculator in its calc/matrix/stat mode.

      
Re: WHATS YOUR FAVORITE NON- HP CACULATOR
Message #32 Posted by Ken Shaw on 22 Dec 2008, 2:08 p.m.,
in response to message #1 by Howard Lazerson

Sharp EL-9000

            
Re: WHATS YOUR FAVORITE NON- HP CACULATOR
Message #33 Posted by Walter Lam on 22 Dec 2008, 9:55 p.m.,
in response to message #32 by Ken Shaw

I used to own two Casio calculators which were my favorite non-HP calculator.

Casio fx-3800p

This is one of the popular scientific and programmable calculators in Hong Kong during 1980s and early 1990s.

Casio fx-3900pv. It has bulit-in Simpson's Rule integration (In Mode 1).


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