The Museum of HP CalculatorsHP Biographies
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Full Name (family, given): Ron Ross
Location: Maryland/Delaware
Entered: 28 Mar 2003, 4:04 p.m.
I was back in school as an EE major after being out of school for 2 years. I had used (and had begun to despise) Ti calculators up until this highly math intensive semester. My Ti-55 had kicked the bucket (actually the Ti was suffering from terrible key debounce, just like my Ti-30 which I had traded up from earlier). Well I sent it back for repair and got a new, better LCD Ti-55 II. Unfortunately with similar key feel and even the same key debounce!!!
Much as I liked the functions to price ratio of Ti’s, a calculator HAS to WORK when you need it! HP’s were sworn by, by all the people who had them, and I was beginning to believe Ti’s were SWORN AT by all the people who owned them. At least me, anyway.
Well, my shopping began in earnest, would I buy an Hp11c, Hp15c, or an Hp41, c or cv? I really like the 41 series, but I wanted matrix capabilities and numerical integration, and the 41 series needed an add-on module to get this and other features that the 15c came with as standard. Prices were $70 for an 11c, $100 for a 15c and $140 for a 41c and $200 for a 41cv.
I did not figure I could afford the extra application pacs anyway, so I bought what I could. An Hp15c. I used it for years.
Later my wife landed a job with HP and was doing some number crunching at work and pulled out her old Casio Fx-4000. Her manager suggested she pull a calculator from stock rather than use such a fine instrument such as hers at work (I suspect he said so with volumes of sarcasm). She came home and asked if she could use my Hp15c at work. Well, I am a very understanding and sympathetic husband and gave her my very understanding and sympathetic answer. NO! NO! NO!... and HELL NO!!! But,….she could buy one. It is then that I learned that she got great discounts. She wanted something as close to her Casio as Hp had. Well the 27s was the perfect calculator for her (she is on her second, as she had the first stolen, and good reason for my No,… Hell NO!! answer). Well, with such great discounts, she asked if I wanted another Hp for myself. Well, Duhh!! I certainly did, I wanted two: an Hp42s and an Hp48s.
This was the beginning of my Hp collection.
Later, when my brother-in-law visited (a rare event, since he is oversees), I gave him my 48s (oh yeah, I have replaced). I wasn’t heavily involved, but the bug had bitten me. Hp later repealed its employee discount plan and there went my great source of Hp calculators at reduced prices (I only once more took advantage of the Hp discount and that was to replace the stolen Hp27s).
Then I found ebay (for better or worse) and this forum (definitely for the Better! 8o) ).
My wife’s association with Hp is now history, but to her credit, she only has positive things to say about Hp. ( However, I am not a former employee, and I certainly will complain, at least about their calculator misdirection). Whether I or any of us on this forum are really listened to is another matter. If my wife had worked in anything affiliated with the calculator branch, I certainly would have tried to influence design. However, as a spouse, I did get to hear second hand about Hp’s ideals and business direction from an inside source. Needless to say, ( this is my opinion only ) Dilbert principles and predispositions are right on the mark for understanding how corporate Hp is now run.
Today I rant and rave about calculators on occasion, play with them, and often complain about how things are always supposed to improve and get better, but in the calculator field, that hasn’t really happened. I am a calculator geek and am not looking for a cure. I am just going to suffer with this affliction.
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