Re: Voyager Trivia Question Message #20 Posted by Karl Schneider on 15 Aug 2009, 1:59 a.m., in response to message #19 by Mark Edmonds
Quote:
Also, it wasn't just that it was the first series where every single model across the range is programmable, it was also the only series HP ever produced that had this distinction.
Durn! I shoulda got that one, because I've commented on Voyager programmability issues in the past.
It should be noted that there are four basic paradigms of RPN programmability -- two of which are represented in the Voyager line.
Examples
Type A: HP-41, HP-42S
Type B: HP-32S, HP-32SII, HP-33s, HP-35s
Type C: HP-67, HP-34C, HP-11C, HP-15C, HP-16C
Type D: HP-55, HP-33E/C, HP-38E/C, HP-10C, HP-12C
The distinction of "first all-programmable series" may be largely due to the Voyagers being the first line with Continuous Memory across the board.
The HP-12C and predecessor HP-38E/C are the only business models with RPN keystroke programmability. Later business models were based on AOS. Of those, the cheaper ones were nonprogrammable (programming was not very popular with business types anyway); the better ones had the advanced equation solver. Earlier business models used LED displays, and only the HP-38C had Continuous Memory.
The "Type C" programmability of the HP-15C (as well as the HP-34C) was essential, due to the need to define user functions for SOLVE and INTEG. This kind of programmability was very useful in the HP-16C for nonstandard data conversions, but was mainly a nicety in the HP-11C.
The "Type D" programming paradigm of the HP-10C and HP-12C was rather substandard, lacking insert/delete editing. I've stated before that the HP-10C ought to have been a non-programmable with more built-in mathematical functions. That would have made it more practical, provided greater separation from the HP-11C and HP-15C, and met the criterion of non-progammability for those users who required that.
-- KS
(Corrected per Walter's input)
Edited: 16 Aug 2009, 12:06 a.m. after one or more responses were posted
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