Re: HP 48 & HP 49...1999 and 2003 releases Message #17 Posted by Mike Morrow on 14 Aug 2009, 7:26 p.m., in response to message #16 by Bart (UK)
They must not care that the HP48S and G-series have the worst LCD display quality ever put on a graphing calculator by anyone. The LCDs were poor brand new right out of the box. The display clarity of the HP49g+ and later is stunning by comparison. My early HP49g+ display is actually perceptibly better than that of my HP50g, when a side-by-side comparison is made.
They must not care that HP48-series LCDs are woefully unprotected and can easily be damaged with slight pressure from a sharp surface (like the edge of a stapler in a drawer).
They must not care that HP48 memory expansion cards were (and are) quirky and unreliable (as the backup battery died) and *extremely* expensive. The SD card technology for the HP49g+ and later is a tremendous feature which seems seldom to be credited the value it deserves in the HP49g+ design.
They must not care the the keyboard and labeling color scheme used in both the HP48S and G series are studies in poor contrast and legibility, and just plain left-coast artsy-campy ugliness. The HP49g+ and HP50g keyboards have far better contrast, even if one doesn't like the colors used.
As an HP calc user for more than 35 years, IMHO the HP50g is the best handheld calculator ever made, by wide margin. Which is not to say it couldn't be improved.
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