HP Forum Archive 19

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Why the resistance to make a true pocket Sci RPN calc Message #1 Posted by Gerardo Rincon on 12 Nov 2010, 9:54 p.m. I'm yet to understand why is it that HP has not built a true pocket scientific RPN calculator like the HP-15 was? HP scientific calculators are huge. The newer HP 35s calc is pretty big. A single line screen, pocket size, RPN/Alg would be a great addition to the HP line of calculators. I also dislike calculator with menus in which I had to click multiple key strokes to get to a simple percent change or find mathematical functions. Direct key strokes are wonderful - one or two color shift keys can accomodate a lot of direct functions. Programming capabilities are nice but not necessarily required.

Re: Why the resistance to make a true pocket Sci RPN calc Message #2 Posted by bill platt on 12 Nov 2010, 10:01 p.m., in response to message #1 by Gerardo Rincon My schoolage son just commented today how strange it is that there are no machines on the market today as powerful and small as the 15c. Maybe there is hope. Then again, look at who his father is...

Re: Why the resistance to make a true pocket Sci RPN calc Message #3 Posted by Martin Pinckney on 12 Nov 2010, 10:21 p.m., in response to message #2 by bill platt As far as why HP hasn't built a new 15c-type calculator, corporate decisions these days seem to be made by idiotic marketing concepts instead of common sense. As far as menu- vs. keyboard-driven interface, that's more of a personal preference. But I agree the functionality of keyboard-driven is simpler, even if the keyboard is more cluttered.

Re: Why the resistance to make a true pocket Sci RPN calc Message #4 Posted by Walter B on 13 Nov 2010, 2:17 a.m., in response to message #3 by Martin Pinckney Quote: corporate decisions these days seem to be made by idiotic marketing concepts instead of common sense. Common sense depends on the community you're in. Nowadays, the community seems to be dominated by marketeers and similar folks with only $,$$$,$$$ in their eyes, at least where HP is located. Sad, but fact.

Re: Why the resistance to make a true pocket Sci RPN calc Message #5 Posted by robert rozee on 13 Nov 2010, 3:50 a.m., in response to message #4 by Walter B quite simply, because the goal is no longer to produce able engineers with useful tools, but instead to produce consumers that will buy disposable products of minimum acceptable quality. the 15c was a quality product that would last a lifetime. the person who could master it would attain a level of skill that would see them do well in their profession. but HP (and many other previously 'quality' companies) discovered that this was not the way to maximize shareholder revenue. instead we provide students with tools that are designed to become obsolete, to break, and whose purpose is as limited as the market will withstand. it is not just an HP problem, it is becoming almost impossible to buy ANY quality scientific calculator that is not geared exclusively to to what has become a dumbed-down educational system. today's calculators are not designed as general purpose problem solving tools, but as "answering machines" where the student can type in (verbatim) a limited range of questions, and have the machine magically produce an answer that student can write into exam paper and teacher can with little effort assign a grade to. but we are all happy about this, as it maximises shareholder revenue - revenue with which we can all buy pink plastic flamingos and fruit-flavoured vodka mixers.

Re: Why the resistance to make a true pocket Sci RPN calc Message #6 Posted by Walter B on 13 Nov 2010, 4:14 a.m., in response to message #5 by robert rozee Quote: but we are all happy about this, as it maximises shareholder revenue - revenue with which we can all buy pink plastic flamingos and fruit-flavoured vodka mixers. You get to the point :))

Re: Why the resistance to make a true pocket Sci RPN calc Message #7 Posted by Patrick Rendulic on 13 Nov 2010, 5:02 a.m., in response to message #1 by Gerardo Rincon I teach physics to teenagers. Each year it gets harder to convince them to buy a "decent" calculator. The problem is that they don't see a need to buy one because they all have their iphones. Obviously they are not allowed to use them. But they are getting more and more reluctant. That's the current problem.

Re: Why the resistance to make a true pocket Sci RPN calc Message #8 Posted by bill platt on 13 Nov 2010, 8:15 a.m., in response to message #7 by Patrick Rendulic Just require them to load free42;-0 Edited: 13 Nov 2010, 8:16 a.m.

Re: Why the resistance to make a true pocket Sci RPN calc Message #9 Posted by DaveJ on 15 Nov 2010, 12:41 a.m., in response to message #1 by Gerardo Rincon Sounds a lot like this credit card sized RPN/ALG scientific calc: Dave. Edited: 15 Nov 2010, 12:52 a.m.

Re: Why the resistance to make a true pocket Sci RPN calc Message #10 Posted by Mark Henderson on 15 Nov 2010, 1:08 a.m., in response to message #9 by DaveJ How can we help you to finish this tiny wonder Dave???

Re: Why the resistance to make a true pocket Sci RPN calc Message #11 Posted by Walter B on 15 Nov 2010, 1:20 a.m., in response to message #9 by DaveJ Long time no see ;)

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