Key features and picky people Message #5 Posted by Walter B on 2 Dec 2010, 4:02 a.m., in response to message #4 by Tim Wessman
IMHO keys were - and to some extent still are - one of the "key" features putting HP ahead of the crowd since 1972. The opposite is true as well: if HP would become unable to deliver "good keys" then all calculator manufacturers are equal in this feature, and other points will determine the buyer's choice.
So, again IMHO, a "good key" basicly is one giving you an unambiguous tactile feedback when that key is pressed and registered. Nothing more.
Consequence: If you get this tactile feedback, you can rely on the keystroke being registered. BTW, this works fine with all the vintage HP pocket calcs I've experienced so far. Additionally, most of their keyboards were also designed well in respect of function grouping and key locations, but that's another topic and is changed easily - after all, it's only a match table connecting keys and functions. The basic key hardware and registering firmware has to work reliably in any case. After all, a calculator shall be a professional tool.
Corrolary: If you happen to observe a single keystroke being not registered though the tactile feedback was given, you're extremely alarmed since this shakes the basis of your trust in your calculator! So if people would observe this on a true HP calc and talk about it, I won't call them picky but concerned.
As mentioned above, this topic was discussed earlier in this forum already several times, but that's what it all boils down to IMHO.
Ceterum censeo: HP, launch a 43S (with a good keyboard, of course :)
Walter
Edited: 2 Dec 2010, 5:48 a.m.
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