Re: Next HP scientific calculator Message #6 Posted by Mike Morrow on 1 Mar 2009, 11:51 a.m., in response to message #3 by Martin Pinckney
First, I don't ever expect to see re-issues of the HP-15C or the HP42S, in any form. But...
A reincarnation of the HP42S (with a more attractive external color scheme) would be far better than wasting effort on the HP-15C. The HP42S has a two-line alphanumeric display, ten times the effective speed, 15 times the RAM, several orders of magnitude greater precision, audible beeps, IR printer output, alphanumeric program steps, more natural complex number handling (yea, I know you can't directly manually enter four complex numbers to the stack...big deal), much more natural matrix handling, a user accessible machine-level debugger, and other features that the HP-15C lacks or implements weakly. Overall, the increased capabilities and ease of use of the HP42S are an order of magnitude better. Plus, a "landscape" keyboard on a hand held calculator is cute (appeals to those business users of the HP-12C), but it is less effectively usable than the "portrait" arrangement when actually being used hand held!
Like many other calc nuts, I occasionally like to take a particular program I've written for a recent calculator, and implement it on older machines such as the HP-25, HP-34C, HP-41CX, HP-15C, and HP42S. Any time I use anything earlier than the HP42S, the advantages of the HP42S become immediately obvious.
I'm not knocking the HP-15C. IMHO, it's the second-best RPN calculator of all time. I've had one since 1986, using it daily at work for 11 years. But its HP42S replacement is simply stunning. Only the color scheme and display sharpness are inferior.
I believe that HP adapted the "Pioneer" HP17BII to Chinese technology (HP17BII+ ??), so the same could be done for the "Pioneer" HP42S. Even if Walter's HP43S could never be made, a re-issued HP42S would still be welcome.
The HP42S...I guess you could say I'm a fan. :-)
Edited: 1 Mar 2009, 12:05 p.m.
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