Re: Most Famous Calculator? Message #47 Posted by Les Bell on 13 Feb 2013, 10:21 p.m., in response to message #45 by Harald
Quote:
But from today's point of view I would have to vote for the HP45. Apart from complex number support and the obvious battery lifetime limitations, it is very close to what an engineer needs on a daily basis. And to me, that is just astonishing for a 40 year old calculator!
I think you're right, there. For daily, back-of-an-envelope work, which is what a calculator is really for (anything more complex is more easily done on a computer), the 45 was pretty close to the sweet spot - although I've always thought the addition of a TVM solver, like on the original HP-27, would be worthwhile.
In terms of fame, I'd have to say the 12C is probably the one; it's unique in the way it dominates the finance industry. TI own the schools market, of course, but no one single model of TI calc seems to stand out.
However, I'd also say the HP-35 and HP-65 were the most influential calculators. Each one was a massive leap over what was previously available, and was imitated by competitors. The 41C was also a massive leap, but its unique features (ROM's, peripherals, etc.) were never copied in the same way.
Best,
--- Les
[http://www.lesbell.com.au]
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