HP Forum Archive 19

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2012 - Is this the End? Message #1 Posted by Joerg Woerner on 24 Nov 2009, 7:56 a.m. HP Aficionados, I expected these two calculators not before 2012: HP CalcPad 200 and HP CalcPad 100 Will you trash now your iPhones??? Regards, Joerg BTW: This is the latest TI calculator - just for reference: Edited: 24 Nov 2009, 7:58 a.m.

I think I'll pass (out) on these. Message #2 Posted by Frank Boehm (Germany) on 24 Nov 2009, 9:20 a.m., in response to message #1 by Joerg Woerner I wonder how much engineering time went into the TI calculator, probably gazillions of hours were spent by the marketing guys whether to use *this* colour or something completely different (like baby blue)... Concerning the HPs: they could have at least implemented Bluetooth. nd I'm not sure what they are good for. Extended keyboard replacement for laptops?

Re: I think I'll pass (out) on these. Message #3 Posted by Bart (UK) on 24 Nov 2009, 9:44 a.m., in response to message #2 by Frank Boehm (Germany) Quote: Extended keyboard replacement for laptops? Yes, I believe they are meant as numeric keypad extensions for laptops lacking a dedicated numeric pad. Comes with calculator software apparently (four banger stuff I think). See pdf specs. Actually, I was looking for sometning like this about 15 years ago. I was entering lots of numbers into spreadsheets on a laptop. Edited: 24 Nov 2009, 9:46 a.m.

Expect Armageddon looking different Message #4 Posted by Walter B on 24 Nov 2009, 9:24 a.m., in response to message #1 by Joerg Woerner I've seen a model 200 this morning on TAS, but had no specs at that time. After checking them now, however, it's just a most simple algebraic 4-banger even lacking SQRT or exponential notation - as they write: ideal for the mobile professional in business, finance, retail - that's all, besides the function as keyboard extension, of course. No real reason to get rid of real tools d:-) Ceterum censeo: HP, launch a 43S. Edited: 24 Nov 2009, 9:28 a.m.

Re: 2012 - Is this the End? Message #5 Posted by Martin Pinckney on 24 Nov 2009, 9:54 a.m., in response to message #1 by Joerg Woerner I've had a CalcPad 200 for several weeks now. Got it off eB** for $8.99 with free shipping! HP lists them for $30, I think. It's definitely a cheapo product, but it serves the purpose. And at that price, why not get one?

Re: 2012 - Is this the End? Message #6 Posted by Bart (UK) on 24 Nov 2009, 10:27 a.m., in response to message #5 by Martin Pinckney Quote: And at that price, why not get one? Because I haven't found it in the UK yet.

Re: 2012 - Is this the End? Message #7 Posted by Brian Walsh on 24 Nov 2009, 10:41 a.m., in response to message #1 by Joerg Woerner I like the idea! But here's what HP must provide: - RPN logic - scientific functions (32/42/etc.) - TVM functions (12C) I also hope the Word and Excel buttons will be changed to more generic names and hope they also work with OpenOffice, which I use. Down the road wish list: - Flash memory so different feature sets can be downloaded from the PC. I want my 41 or 42! Some will want a full 12C. Others will want a 15C or 16C. - Provide soft keys with function labels on the display, to accommodate different personalities. - Keystroke programming - User defined keys Edited: 24 Nov 2009, 10:43 a.m.

Re: 2012 - Is this the End? Message #8 Posted by Tim Wessman on 24 Nov 2009, 6:26 p.m., in response to message #7 by Brian Walsh Why the "must provide"? You can't really have a keyboard with a bunch of specialized functions not supported by any OS. This really is just a keyboard keypad with a few extra features. You seem to be wanting a completely reprogrammable keypad ala iphone or something. As for the buttons, they are not generic because they are hardcoded to spit out "Win-R excel.exe" and so on. Kind of a silly decision, but someone decided having it work on any computer (granted, windows only) with no drivers or needing to install custom software was a higher priority. To get it to work with openoffice, you'd have to make a link from excel.exe to your software of choice. Will it change in a future revision? No idea. Kind of depends on how these ones are received I think. TW

Re: 2012 - Is this the End? Message #9 Posted by David Hayden on 24 Nov 2009, 4:16 p.m., in response to message #1 by Joerg Woerner TI really made a calculator called the e-coli'er?? Comes with free e-coli? Send in the coupon for a bonus bag of salmonella?

Re: 2012 - Is this the End? Message #10 Posted by Joerg Woerner on 24 Nov 2009, 4:39 p.m., in response to message #9 by David Hayden French market only ;-)) Translates to schoolboy or something like this (I'm neither a native French nor a native English speaker). Regards, Joerg Edited: 24 Nov 2009, 4:40 p.m.

Re: 2012 - Is this the End? Message #11 Posted by Walter B on 24 Nov 2009, 5:13 p.m., in response to message #9 by David Hayden Learning a second language may help.

Re: 2012 - Is this the End? Message #12 Posted by Maximilian Hohmann on 24 Nov 2009, 5:17 p.m., in response to message #11 by Walter B Quote: Learning a second language may help. Like Forth or RPL ;-) ?

Re: 2012 - Is this the End? Message #13 Posted by David Hayden on 25 Nov 2009, 10:24 a.m., in response to message #11 by Walter B Quote: Learning a second language may help. Sorry, I should have made it clear that I was making a big joke. I remember enough French to know that it meant something like "schoolboy". It reminded me of the infamous Chevy Nova automobile. The name sounds great in English, but it means "doesn't go" in Spanish. For non-native English speakers on the forum who might not know the word, e-coli is a bacteria. There are several forms, but some contaminate food and then cause great "abdominal distress" when eaten. Add the "er" suffix and an "e-colier" is something that makes, creates or produces e-coli.

Re: 2012 - Is this the End? Message #14 Posted by Peter A. Gebhardt on 24 Nov 2009, 5:20 p.m., in response to message #1 by Joerg Woerner Since Apple landed a huge success with it's iPod (and colorful iMac) line of products, it seems to me, that anybody else in the marketing of electronics prefers to market gadgets instead of usefulness ... Steve Jobs would certainly have rejected such a product during it's first presentation to him - with one and only one question: "Where do you put it while working with your laptop on an airplane?" 'nuff said ... Best regards, Peter A. Gebhardt Edited: 24 Nov 2009, 5:21 p.m.

Re: 2012 - Is this the End? Message #15 Posted by Tim Wessman on 24 Nov 2009, 6:19 p.m., in response to message #14 by Peter A. Gebhardt I'm the first to admit this isn't something that will be useful for everyone, and most likely not the vast majority of the people in the world, but if you need to enter a lot of numbers in on a laptop it works quite well. It is mainly targeted towards people needing a number pad on a laptop. Also has 2 USB ports for expansion, a few hotkeys to launch common MS applications, and to launch the hp calculator manager software which allows you to run whichever default calculator you'd like. . . Mainly, its just a new category HP has never played in and there isn't much risk of trying to expand, is there? I never thought I'd use it, but I've found myself using it a few times, and there is a person on my row who loves it. TW Edited: 24 Nov 2009, 6:20 p.m.

Re: 2012 - Is this the End? Message #16 Posted by Peter A. Gebhardt on 24 Nov 2009, 6:47 p.m., in response to message #15 by Tim Wessman Tim, this HP-gadget competes with already available cheap SE Asia pads - but does neither deliver a Wow! effect, nor does it "evangelize" for a new "grassroot movement" fostering future HP calculator business - as a relaunch of the (say) HP-42s with (at least!) USB would do. That's what makes me sorry about HP spending engineering time and other resources for it. Maybe even putting the SKU in HPs Database and/or updating it's website cost more than it's expected net profit ... Best regards, Peter A. Gebhardt

Re: 2012 - Is this the End? Message #17 Posted by Martin Pinckney on 24 Nov 2009, 8:00 p.m., in response to message #16 by Peter A. Gebhardt Do the cheap SE Asia pads have the hot keys to launch popular applications or Quote: Crunch numbers in standalone calculator mode, or simply attach it to a USB port on your laptop. You can even send your last calculation to the PC, instead of re-entering it. Launch WordŽ, ExcelŽ, HP CalcPad calculator, or the PC desktop, with a single button. And the built-in 2-port USB 2.0 hub extends the number of devices you can connect to your PC. ? I don't know; I'm asking. If not, this is the "wow" effect for me, albeit without the exclamation point.

Re: 2012 - Is this the End? Message #18 Posted by Tim Wessman on 24 Nov 2009, 10:09 p.m., in response to message #17 by Martin Pinckney As far as I know, it is unusual to have them. I doubt it is a first though. Very few HP engineers were harmed (used?) in the making of this product. . . :-) The only first would be a quick launch button that launches your favorite HP emulator software I think. That part is actually kind of neat. I have it set to launch my HP-??? emulator. TW

Re: 2012 - Is this the End? Message #19 Posted by Bart (UK) on 25 Nov 2009, 4:59 a.m., in response to message #18 by Tim Wessman Quote: I have it set to launch my HP-??? emulator. Perhaps with keyboard overlays for your fav emulator?

Re: 2012 - Is this the End? Message #20 Posted by Bart (UK) on 25 Nov 2009, 5:04 a.m., in response to message #14 by Peter A. Gebhardt Then he may have lost out on an opportunity. Very limited vision if one thinks laptops are only used on airplanes. As I mentioned previously, there was a time in my life when it would have been useful, sitting in remote locations on a little fold-out table entering lots of numbers on a laptop. There wasn't enough space for a full keyboard, but such a keypad would've been ideal.

Re: 2012 - Is this the End? Message #21 Posted by Thomas Radtke on 25 Nov 2009, 5:52 a.m., in response to message #20 by Bart (UK) Quote: Very limited vision [...] Apparently people with such a limited vision are most successful. Think about Microsoft being way behind other companies regarding GUI or the Internet several years ago. To fix your number 1 position, finally deny all standards in favor of your own system (OpenGL and Java are good examples).

Re: 2012 - Is this the End? Message #22 Posted by Bart (UK) on 25 Nov 2009, 6:38 a.m., in response to message #21 by Thomas Radtke Actually, I think Steve Jobs did not have limited vision. Xerox did. That's why Xerox dumped the GUI idea while Apple and others took the idea over from them. He may not have seen opportunity in a keypad - it probably won't be near as good a seller as the iPod - but I also cannot believe that he would think laptops are used mosly on airplanes. The only reason Microsoft is successful is Bill Gates' marketing strategy of the Borg :-). Edited: 25 Nov 2009, 6:42 a.m.

Re: 2012 - Is this the End? Message #23 Posted by David Hayden on 25 Nov 2009, 10:42 a.m., in response to message #22 by Bart (UK) Quote: Actually, I think Steve Jobs did not have limited vision. Xerox did. That's why Xerox dumped the GUI idea while Apple and others took the idea over from them. I was at Stanford in the early 80's and we had a lot of the goodies that Xerox's Palo Alto Research Center (PARC) came out with. I'm simply stunned at the number of billion dollar ideas PARC created and XEROX let get away. In addition to the GUI, they created laser printers, the mouse, ethernet, a really cool LISP workstation, etc. They are even generally credited with with inventing the personal computer In other words, picture a world where one company invented the IBM PC, networking the HP laserjet, the Apple Mac and Microsoft Windows, oh, and the Xerox copier of course. If Xerox had decent management, they probably would have gotten so big that the government would have broken them up. Isn't it amazing how bad management can ruin a good idea.

Re: 2012 - Is this the End? Message #24 Posted by Peter A. Gebhardt on 25 Nov 2009, 11:13 a.m., in response to message #20 by Bart (UK) Bart, Quote: Very limited vision if one thinks laptops are only used on airplanes. Maybe he envisioned you using a 102-keyboard with your laptop once being back in your office? ;-)) Best regards, Peter A. Gebhardt Disclaimer: I'm a former Apple employee

Re: 2012 - Is this the End? Message #25 Posted by Bart (UK) on 25 Nov 2009, 11:54 a.m., in response to message #24 by Peter A. Gebhardt Which would mean writing out sheets and sheets of data only to have to type it in again? I don't think so!! I'm much too lazy for that :-). I soon found a better alternative, a specialised data logger that would store 99 points of data and download via RS232. Much better. A stand alone numeric keypad still has its uses though. At times I have thought about hacking up a 102-keyboard to make my own.

Re: 2012 - Is this the End? Message #26 Posted by Michele Signorini on 25 Nov 2009, 6:14 a.m., in response to message #1 by Joerg Woerner Looking on internet, you may find other manufacturers of USB keypad with LCD (I found Canon, Kensington and Targus). All of the products with similar (limited) functions, the Kensington K72273US being even wireless. The Targus seems to be the only one to have at least a square root function... Would anybody guess if any of these calculator/keypads are in some way reprogrammable? canon link kensington link targus link

Re: 2012 - Is this the End? Message #27 Posted by Martin Pinckney on 25 Nov 2009, 3:46 p.m., in response to message #26 by Michele Signorini I noticed the Kensington K7227XUS models even have a wedge shape vaguely reminiscent of the HP 41c.

Re: 2012 - Is this the End? Message #28 Posted by Chuck on 25 Nov 2009, 5:04 p.m., in response to message #26 by Michele Signorini My wireless keypad is my ipod numpad for iphone

Re: 2012 - Is this the End? Message #29 Posted by Doug on 7 Dec 2009, 5:39 a.m., in response to message #1 by Joerg Woerner Thanks Joerg but remember they must "change" every 4 months.

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