Idea for high-end scientific (but not graphing) HP Message #1 Posted by bhtooefr on 30 Mar 2010, 3:27 p.m.
This calculator would slot in above the 35s, and would target the "I want a 48gII or 50g because I want the stack of an RPL calculator, and some of the nice features, but I don't care about most of the other features" demographic.
Go for styling like the SmartCalc 300s. Solar might even be doable, but it'll add to the vertical height of the device.
It seems that on RPN calcs, HP is going back towards their heritage. No reason to fight that at all. Use a 48-like layout, although a row or two of keys could probably be removed, due to the removal of graphing features and probably CAS features. Either that, or use the modern layout, but you could probably remove a row of keys there, too - the 35s, actually, looks like a winner, layout-wise, just add a row on top for the function keys.
To prevent it from cannibalizing sales of the 48gII and 50g, no PC connectivity, no expansion, and only a 4-line LCD - think 28-like.
Give it an ARM7 instead of the ARM9 - longer battery life, cheaper, and slower (helps prevent cannibalization of sales.) Some ARM7 microcontrollers may even have enough RAM and flash to avoid having to have anything outside of the MCU.
Now, price it where the 35s is right now, and either drop the 35s to near where the 33s is now (probably either replacing the 33s, or dropping its price,) or just replace the 35s.
Emphasis how flexible it is at handling unit conversions, varying datatypes, and such.
I think it might just sell.
Thoughts? Sorry, no image, lack of photoshopping skills, but I think it might just be possible to make a $60 RPL calc.
(Yes, I'm someone that owns a 50g because I wanted an RPL calc, and heard bad things about the 48gII, but I often end up using as not much more than an RPL 4-banger. I wouldn't even use all of the features of a 33s.)
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