The Museum of HP Calculators

HP Forum Archive 21

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HP-42S celebrates its 25th anniversary today!!!
Message #1 Posted by Yriarte on 31 Oct 2013, 12:20 a.m.

IMHO simply the best RPN scientific calculator! It's my faithful companion since 1998. By the way, someone knows who was the project/manager leader of this beauty?

Best regards.

      
Re: HP-42S celebrates its 25th anniversary today!!!
Message #2 Posted by Fred Lusk on 31 Oct 2013, 1:49 a.m.,
in response to message #1 by Yriarte

Subtraction alert: the HP-42S was introduced in 1988, not 1998 (the 25th anniversary part is correct). :-)

The HP-42S has been my daily driver since the spring of 1989. When it dies, I will have to retire. (Actually, that's why I have Free42 on all three computers and my iPhone.)

I continued to use my HP-41CX in parallel through the mid 1990s, primarily because of the modules and other unique capabilities. I sometimes now use my HP-48G+ and HP-35S for certain things, but most of my other HP's don't get used very often.

I agree that the HP-42S is the best RPN scientific calculator ever, but it could have been better. First, ALL of the native HP-41CX capabilities plus the Advantage ROM should have been included in the HP-42S, and that includes full I/O and putting the alphabet on the keys not hot keys. In addition, if I could pick one thing from the 48 series to add, it would be units. While I understand all the enthusiasm for reintroducing the HP-15C, the real need IMHO is a reintroduced and enhanced HP-42S, including a better display and more memory.

            
Re: HP-42S celebrates its 25th anniversary today!!!
Message #3 Posted by 'Angel Martin on 31 Oct 2013, 3:08 a.m.,
in response to message #2 by Fred Lusk

Quote:
First, ALL of the native HP-41CX capabilities plus the Advantage ROM should have been included in the HP-42S,

Yes the lack of I/O was unforgivable but as far as I can tell the 42 pretty much includes the majority of the Advantage pac (like Matrices, Complex numbers, etc.) - in a far superior implementation.

To me the CL has turned things around - and it's now the most powerful RPN calculator - within the obvious limitations of the 10-/ 13-digit precision architecture.

And as far as unit conversion... simply plug the UNIT_CONV extension module (also embedded in the PowerCL).

Edited: 31 Oct 2013, 3:10 a.m.

            
Re: HP-42S celebrates its 25th anniversary today!!!
Message #4 Posted by Walter B on 31 Oct 2013, 6:22 a.m.,
in response to message #2 by Fred Lusk

Quote:
While I understand all the enthusiasm for reintroducing the HP-15C, the real need IMHO is a reintroduced and enhanced HP-42S, including a better display and more memory.
Hear, hear! As we know this for long, we did something for it (WP 34S) and will continue to do so (WP 43S) with the means we can get.

d:-)

                  
Re: HP-42S celebrates its 25th anniversary today!!!
Message #5 Posted by db (martinez, ca.) on 31 Oct 2013, 4:48 p.m.,
in response to message #4 by Walter B

Quote:
While I understand all the enthusiasm for reintroducing the HP-15C, the real need IMHO is a reintroduced and enhanced HP-42S, including a better display and more memory.

While we're writing wishes that might be read by Cerril, Tim, David, Eric, Richard Ottsen, the Trinity (that's you guys Walter), or Sants Clause for that matter; lets be specific. Memory that is easy to back up, on standard, cheap and available media - with an OS that expects to store and retrieve programs and data without a fight. That is what we want.

Data files that are treated like a red-headed stepchild like HP IL, ROMs that can only be accessed at a global label, collector's edition" tapes that work no better than cheap micro cassettes, and breakage prone proprietary plugs like the 48 are not really an option.

I do feel like I'm preaching to the choir here but thought I should vent anyway.

      
Re: HP-42S celebrates its 25th anniversary today!!!
Message #6 Posted by Eddie W. Shore on 31 Oct 2013, 3:44 p.m.,
in response to message #1 by Yriarte

Quote:
IMHO simply the best RPN scientific calculator! It's my faithful companion since 1998. By the way, someone knows who was the project/manager leader of this beauty?

Best regards.


Happy 25th HP 42s!

            
Re: HP-42S celebrates its 25th anniversary today!!!
Message #7 Posted by FORTIN Pascal on 31 Oct 2013, 4:25 p.m.,
in response to message #6 by Eddie W. Shore

I just really got into hp calculators and I find it highly interesting. However, XD from an outsidrr point of view... Wishing happy birthday to a calculator is some crazy stuff

                  
Re: HP-42S celebrates its 25th anniversary today!!!
Message #8 Posted by Massimo Gnerucci (Italy) on 31 Oct 2013, 5:56 p.m.,
in response to message #7 by FORTIN Pascal

Quote:
Wishing happy birthday to a calculator is some crazy stuff


Been there, done that (twice!!)

;-)

Edited: 31 Oct 2013, 5:59 p.m.


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