Calculator Comparison

Features in optional ROMs are listed as Option. Features in HP mag card or tape Application Pacs are listed as +. Other software is not included.
Display and Keyboard	HP-29C	HP-41CV
Display type	LED	LCD
Display format	1 Line	1 Line
FIXed number format	Yes	Yes
SCIentific number format	Yes	Yes
ENGineering number format	Yes	Yes
STanDard / ALL number format	-	-
Alpha messages and prompts	-	Yes
Softkeys labeled by mag. card or overlay	-	Yes
Softkeys labeled by display menus	-	-
Softkeys with neither labeling system	-	-
Status annunciators	-	Yes
Redefinable keyboard	-	Yes
Logic	HP-29C	HP-41CV
Logic system	RPN	RPN
Stack levels	4	4
Last x	Yes	Yes
Undo	-	-
Precedence	-	-
Parentheses	-	-
Storage Addition (STO +)	Yes	Yes
Storage Arithmetic (STO +, −, ×, ÷)	Yes	Yes
Storage Exponentiation (STO ^)	-	-
Recall Arithmetic	-	-
Named variables	-	-
Multiple data types	-	-
Directories	-	-
Math	HP-29C	HP-41CV
+, −, ×, ÷	Yes	Yes
1/x	Yes	Yes
√	Yes	Yes
x²	Yes	Yes
LOG x	Yes	Yes
10^x	Yes	Yes
LN x	Yes	Yes
e^x	Yes	Yes
y^x	Yes	Yes
π	Yes	Yes
%	Yes	Yes
% change	-	Yes
INTeger truncation and ABSolute value	Yes	Yes
Trigonometric functions (SIN, COS etc.)	Yes	Yes
Hyperbolic trig. (SINH, COSH etc.)	-	Option
# of trig. modes (degrees, radians, grads)	3	3
Advanced Math	HP-29C	HP-41CV
Solver / root finder	-	Option
Numeric integration	-	Option
Complex numbers	-	Option
Matrix operations	-	Option
Matrix writer	-	-
Equation writer	-	-
Symbolic operations	-	-
Fractions	-	-
Plotting and graphics (display)	-	-
Plotting and graphics (printer / plotter)	-	Option
Statistical	HP-29C	HP-41CV
Mean, standard deviation (# of variables)	2	2
Σ of n, x, x²	Yes	Yes
Σ of n, x, x², y	Yes	Yes
Σ of n, x, x², y, xy	Yes	Yes
Σ of n, x, x², y, y², xy	Yes	Yes
Σ of lists	-	-
Random number generator	-	-
Linear regression, estimate	-	Option
Curve fitting	-	Option
Correlation coefficient	-	Option
Normal distribution	-	Option
Factorial	-	Yes
Gamma	-	+
Combinations and permutations	-	-
Scientific and Time	HP-29C	HP-41CV
Polar / rectangular conversions	Yes	Yes
Base conversions (2, 8, 10, 16)	-	Octal+Option
Arithmetic in bases 2, 8 and 16	-	-
Bit operations (AND, OR, XOR, ...)	-	Option
Selectable word size (1-64 bits)	-	-
Selectable complement mode (1's, 2's, unsigned)	-	-
Decimal hrs / hrs.min.sec. conversions	Yes	Yes
Hrs.min.sec arithmetic	-	Yes
Time of day clock	-	Option
Timer	-	Option
Dynamic calculations (timer × rate)	-	-
Alarms	-	Option
Unit Conversions	HP-29C	HP-41CV
Centimeters / inches	-	Option (some)
Millimeters / inches	-	-
Meters / feet	-	-
Kilograms / pounds (mass)	-	-
Newtons / pounds (force)	-	-
British thermal units / joules	-	-
Liters / gallons	-	-
° Celsius / ° Fahrenheit	-	-
Other	-	-
User-defined units	-	-
Time Value of Money	HP-29C	HP-41CV
Number of payments (n)	-	Option
Interest rate (i)	-	Option
Present Value (PV)	-	Option
Payment (PMT)	-	Option
Future Value (FV)	-	Option
Cash Flow Analysis	HP-29C	HP-41CV
Net present value (NPV)	-	Option
Internal rate of return (IRR)	-	Option
Amortization	HP-29C	HP-41CV
Accumulated Interest (ACC INT)	-	Option
Balance (BAL)	-	Option
Depreciation	HP-29C	HP-41CV
Straight line (SL)	-	Option
Sum of the years digits (SOYD)	-	Option
Declining balance (DB)	-	Option
Bonds and calendar functions	HP-29C	HP-41CV
Bond price	-	Option
Bond yield	-	Option
Date arithmetic / calendar functions	-	Option
Memory and Programming	HP-29C	HP-41CV
Programming language(s)	RPN	RPN
RAM / Max # of variables or addressable registers	30 Registers	319
Max # of program steps	98	1000-2231*
RAM / Max vars or regs with full optional RAM	-	-
Max # of prog steps with full optional RAM	-	-
Merged program steps	Yes	Yes
Manual register / program memory allocation	-	Yes
Automatic register / program memory allocation	-	-
Overlapped register and program memory	-	-
Continuous memory	Yes*	Yes
Flags	-	56
Conditional tests	8	10
Subroutine levels	3	6
Indexed looping (increment by +/- 1, end at 0)	Yes	Yes
Indexed looping (choice of increment and end)	-	Yes
Multiple index / loop registers	-	Yes
Line number addressing	-	-
Branching by relative line number	Yes	-
Global program label addressing	Yes	Yes
Local program label addressing	-	Yes
Indirect / computed addressing and control	Yes	Yes
Multiple indirection registers	-	Yes
Pause	Yes	Yes
Alpha messages and prompts in programs	-	Yes
Alpha program listings	-	Yes
Alpha string manipulation	-	Yes
Program step insert / delete	Yes	Yes
I/O and Expansion Features	HP-29C	HP-41CV
ROM modules	-	Yes
RAM modules or expansion option	-	Yes
General expansion slots / connector	-	Yes
Magnetic card reader/writer	-	Option
Tape drive	-	Option
Disk drive	-	Option
Upgradeable firmware	-	-
Optical wand	-	Option
Serial port	-	Option
Infrared input	-	-
Infrared output	-	Option
Printer	-	Option
Networking	-	HP-IL option
Other	-	Various
General	HP-29C	HP-41CV
Sounds	-	Yes
Self test	-	-
Hard case (in addition to soft case)	-	-
Additional Features	-	-
Batteries	Rechargeable	4 N cells
Length (inches)	5.1"	5.6"
Width	2.7"	3.1"
Height	1.2"	1.2"
Weight (oz or lbs)	6 oz	7 oz
Year of introduction	1977	1980
Features in optional ROMs are listed as Option. Features in HP mag card or tape Application Pacs are listed as +. Other software is not included. Unlim means limited only by available memory.

Features in optional ROMs are listed as Option.
Features in HP mag card or tape Application Pacs are listed as +.
Other software is not included.

Display and Keyboard

HP-29C

HP-41CV

Display type

LED

LCD

Display format

1 Line

FIXed number format

Yes

SCIentific number format

Yes

ENGineering number format

Yes

STanDard / ALL number format

Alpha messages and prompts

Yes

Softkeys labeled by mag. card or overlay

Yes

Softkeys labeled by display menus

Softkeys with neither labeling system

Status annunciators

Yes

Redefinable keyboard

Yes

Logic

HP-29C

HP-41CV

Logic system

RPN

Stack levels

Last x

Yes

Undo

Precedence

Parentheses

Storage Addition (STO +)

Yes

Storage Arithmetic (STO +, −, ×, ÷)

Yes

Storage Exponentiation (STO ^)

Recall Arithmetic

Named variables

Multiple data types

Directories

Math

HP-29C

HP-41CV

+, −, ×, ÷

Yes

1/x

Yes

√

Yes

x²

Yes

LOG x

Yes

10^x

Yes

LN x

Yes

e^x

Yes

y^x

Yes

% change

Yes

INTeger truncation and ABSolute value

Yes

Trigonometric functions (SIN, COS etc.)

Yes

Hyperbolic trig. (SINH, COSH etc.)

Option

# of trig. modes (degrees, radians, grads)

Advanced Math

HP-29C

HP-41CV

Solver / root finder

Option

Numeric integration

Option

Complex numbers

Option

Matrix operations

Option

Matrix writer

Equation writer

Symbolic operations

Fractions

Plotting and graphics (display)

Plotting and graphics (printer / plotter)

Option

Statistical

HP-29C

HP-41CV

Mean, standard deviation (# of variables)

Σ of n, x, x²

Yes

Σ of n, x, x², y

Yes

Σ of n, x, x², y, xy

Yes

Σ of n, x, x², y, y², xy

Yes

Σ of lists

Random number generator

Linear regression, estimate

Option

Curve fitting

Option

Correlation coefficient

Option

Normal distribution

Option

Factorial

Yes

Gamma

Combinations and permutations

Scientific and Time

HP-29C

HP-41CV

Polar / rectangular conversions

Yes

Base conversions (2, 8, 10, 16)

Octal+Option

Arithmetic in bases 2, 8 and 16

Bit operations (AND, OR, XOR, ...)

Option

Selectable word size (1-64 bits)

Selectable complement mode (1's, 2's, unsigned)

Decimal hrs / hrs.min.sec. conversions

Yes

Hrs.min.sec arithmetic

Yes

Time of day clock

Option

Timer

Option

Dynamic calculations (timer × rate)

Alarms

Option

Unit Conversions

HP-29C

HP-41CV

Centimeters / inches

Option
(some)

Millimeters / inches

Meters / feet

Kilograms / pounds (mass)

Newtons / pounds (force)

British thermal units / joules

Liters / gallons

° Celsius / ° Fahrenheit

Other

User-defined units

Time Value of Money

HP-29C

HP-41CV

Number of payments (n)

Option

Interest rate (i)

Option

Present Value (PV)

Option

Payment (PMT)

Option

Future Value (FV)

Option

Cash Flow Analysis

HP-29C

HP-41CV

Net present value (NPV)

Option

Internal rate of return (IRR)

Option

Amortization

HP-29C

HP-41CV

Accumulated Interest (ACC INT)

Option

Balance (BAL)

Option

Depreciation

HP-29C

HP-41CV

Straight line (SL)

Option

Sum of the years digits (SOYD)

Option

Declining balance (DB)

Option

Bonds and calendar functions

HP-29C

HP-41CV

Bond price

Option

Bond yield

Option

Date arithmetic / calendar functions

Option

Memory and Programming

HP-29C

HP-41CV

Programming language(s)

RPN

RAM / Max # of variables or addressable registers

30 Registers

319

Max # of program steps

1000-2231*

RAM / Max vars or regs with full optional RAM

Max # of prog steps with full optional RAM

Merged program steps

Yes

Manual register / program memory allocation

Yes

Automatic register / program memory allocation

Overlapped register and program memory

Continuous memory

Yes*

Yes

Flags

Conditional tests

Subroutine levels

Indexed looping (increment by +/- 1, end at 0)

Yes

Indexed looping (choice of increment and end)

Yes

Multiple index / loop registers

Yes

Line number addressing

Branching by relative line number

Yes

Global program label addressing

Yes

Local program label addressing

Yes

Indirect / computed addressing and control

Yes

Multiple indirection registers

Yes

Pause

Yes

Alpha messages and prompts in programs

Yes

Alpha program listings

Yes

Alpha string manipulation

Yes

Program step insert / delete

Yes

I/O and Expansion Features

HP-29C

HP-41CV

ROM modules

Yes

RAM modules or expansion option

Yes

General expansion slots / connector

Yes

Magnetic card reader/writer

Option

Tape drive

Option

Disk drive

Option

Upgradeable firmware

Optical wand

Option

Serial port

Option

Infrared input

Infrared output

Option

Printer

Option

Networking

HP-IL option

Other

Various

General

HP-29C

HP-41CV

Sounds

Yes

Self test

Hard case (in addition to soft case)

Additional Features

Batteries

Rechargeable

4 N cells

Length (inches)

5.1"

5.6"

Width

2.7"

3.1"

Height

1.2"

Weight (oz or lbs)

6 oz

7 oz

Year of introduction

1977

1980

Features in optional ROMs are listed as Option.
Features in HP mag card or tape Application Pacs are listed as +.
Other software is not included.

Unlim means limited only by available memory.

HP-29C notes:

The HP-19C has its own features page.
16 of the 30 registers were continuous.

HP-41CV notes:

HP-41CV instructions occupied a variable number of bytes so the maximum number of steps is expressed as a range.
Extended memory modules could be added to increase memory further than the maximums listed above but this memory was not directly accessible.
Some features marked Option were supplied in the Advantage ROM. This module was released late in the 41 production run to give it the features of the newer models.

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