The Museum of HP Calculators

HP Forum Archive 21

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Elegance?
Message #1 Posted by JimP on 29 Jan 2013, 12:42 a.m.

First time I've seen this one. While it has the dreaded "=" key, the design is quite attractive. 610 functions apparently....

http://www.canon-europe.com/For_Home/Product_Finder/Calculators/Scientific/X_Mark_I_Pro/

      
Re: Elegance?
Message #2 Posted by Walter B on 29 Jan 2013, 1:53 a.m.,
in response to message #1 by JimP

Here's a reasonable picture of it: Link (what's so difficult with that?). Nice for sure. Personally, I'd like to see some space between the buttons. Still looks like Casio. And ... yes ... there is that annoying '=' ...

d;-)

            
Re: Elegance?
Message #3 Posted by Mike (Stgt) on 29 Jan 2013, 9:32 a.m.,
in response to message #2 by Walter B

Form follows function. So it is to show off.

Ciao.....Mike

      
Re: Elegance?
Message #4 Posted by Paul Dale on 29 Jan 2013, 2:23 a.m.,
in response to message #1 by JimP

It certainly looks nice and I'd love to repurpose it.

However, the layout is all over the place. The function grouping don't make sense. HYP is way off.

- Pauli

      
Re: Elegance?
Message #5 Posted by hpnut on 29 Jan 2013, 12:59 p.m.,
in response to message #1 by JimP

the design's too Apple-ish for me :-)

however, if it had RPN, i would probably change my view.

cheers,

hpnut in Malaysia

            
Re: Elegance?
Message #6 Posted by JimP on 29 Jan 2013, 5:27 p.m.,
in response to message #5 by hpnut

The design/form factor held the appeal for me. Yes it's a bit Apple-ish but being the owner of an iPod Touch, to me that kind of brushed aluminum/thin body style is not without merit! One review suggested that it's a bit plasticky, but I'm tempted to try and acquire one just because of its looks alone. Eye of the beholder and all that!

The lack of RPN of course is a deal breaker (and the lack of a solar panel is also a negative) but if it could be repurposed -- no idea how -- at least it could serve as version 0.1 of a hardware style template for the next great project, hint hint....

                  
Re: Elegance?
Message #7 Posted by Jeroen Van Nieuwenhove on 29 Jan 2013, 6:45 p.m.,
in response to message #6 by JimP

It looks very much like another Casio knockoff. There are some striking similarities with the Casio FX-115 ES plus. I very much doubt that there will be a connector or even the processor horsepower and the memory needed for a decent repurposing effort.

Jeroen

                  
Re: Elegance?
Message #8 Posted by Derek Walker (UK) on 31 Jan 2013, 3:13 a.m.,
in response to message #6 by JimP

Quote:
the lack of a solar panel is also a negative

Curiously the financial version is solar only X mark 1

The scientific version would look better with more attention to text appearance. There is a mix of all-capitals, capitalised first letter and all lower case, without much apparent logic. I like the upright sans-serif font, but then there is a heavy italic script for lower-case x, integrals and fractions. IMHO Braun did this style much better many years ago.
                        
Re: Elegance?
Message #9 Posted by Walter B on 31 Jan 2013, 3:26 a.m.,
in response to message #8 by Derek Walker (UK)

Braun had its own leading industrial design department and a top person leading it. That's the difference.

(I've worked at Braun two decades ago for some years.)

d:-)

      
Re: Elegance?
Message #10 Posted by Alexander Oestert on 30 Jan 2013, 8:55 a.m.,
in response to message #1 by JimP

Well, what can I say? I got me one and it's sitting right next to my tablet now. I bought it from Amazon for under 30€.

It is very beautiful, labels are perfectly legible and the display is clear and crisp. It is a perfect design match to Apple's wireless keyboard, that I'm currently typing on. The only drawback is its non-aluminum backside - it is only made from plastic.

            
Re: Elegance?
Message #11 Posted by Walter B on 30 Jan 2013, 8:57 a.m.,
in response to message #10 by Alexander Oestert

Hallo Alexander,

How about keyboard tactile feedback?

d:-)

                  
Re: Elegance?
Message #12 Posted by Alexander Oestert on 30 Jan 2013, 9:16 a.m.,
in response to message #11 by Walter B

It is different from, say, the HP-15c's feedback, more like Casio, but accurate, no bouncing, no double registration of key presses so far. I like it - but I'm pretty sure that die hard HP afficionados shouldn't bother to get one of these. The UI is very similar to Casio's school type calculators, so no need to read the manual if you're familiar with the Casios.

                        
Re: Elegance?
Message #13 Posted by Walter B on 30 Jan 2013, 9:42 a.m.,
in response to message #12 by Alexander Oestert

Danke!

d:-)

            
Re: Elegance?
Message #14 Posted by LHH on 30 Jan 2013, 11:43 p.m.,
in response to message #10 by Alexander Oestert

The US Amazon doesn't seem to list this product. Does anybody know if they are they available in the US? Overall it looks "handy" and the price seems reasonable. Calculators are like reading glasses for me and I have them strewn about the house in my most likely "resting/reading" spots. I have a couple of old TI calcs in the mix I would like to eventually replace with something like this. Maybe they will show up here (US) eventually.

      
Re: Elegance?
Message #15 Posted by Mic on 2 Feb 2013, 2:31 a.m.,
in response to message #1 by JimP

Hi,

You can read my full review of this calc here : http://www.calc-bank.com/index.php?mod=articles&ac=commentaires&id=75

            
Re: Elegance?
Message #16 Posted by JimP on 3 Feb 2013, 10:09 p.m.,
in response to message #15 by Mic

Merci Mic,

It's a nice machine to look at. The last photograph suggests the keys can easily become recessed, giving an uneven appearance that lowers the quality. Perhaps if it were properly aluminum-backed (Apple... ;o) then this would not be a problem.

In all these Casio clones, wouldn't it be nice to find ONE calculator somewhere that had a simple-to-use TVM app built in?

Of course, then we'd also need a proper ENTER key and none of this "=" nonsense that interferes with proper arithmetical thinking!


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