The Museum of HP Calculators


HP-17B Features

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-17B
Display type LCD
Display format 2 Line
FIXed number format Yes
SCIentific number format -
ENGineering number format -
STanDard / ALL number format Yes
Alpha messages and prompts Yes
Softkeys labeled by mag. card or overlay -
Softkeys labeled by display menus Yes
Softkeys with neither labeling system -
Status annunciators Yes
Redefinable keyboard -
Logic HP-17B
Logic system Algebraic
Stack levels 4
Last x Yes*
Undo -
Precedence -*
Parentheses Yes
Storage Addition (STO +) Yes
Storage Arithmetic (STO +, −, ×, ÷) Yes
Storage Exponentiation (STO ^) Yes
Recall Arithmetic -
Named variables -
Multiple data types -
Directories -
Math HP-17B
+, −, ×, ÷ Yes 
1/x Yes
Yes
x2 Yes
LOG x Yes
10x Yes
LN x Yes
ex Yes
yx Yes
π Yes
% Yes
% change Yes
INTeger truncation and ABSolute value -
Trigonometric functions (SIN, COS etc.) -
Hyperbolic trig. (SINH, COSH etc.) -
# of trig. modes (degrees, radians, grads) -
Advanced Math HP-17B
Solver / root finder Yes
Numeric integration -
Complex numbers -
Matrix operations -
Matrix writer -
Equation writer -
Symbolic operations -
Fractions -
Plotting and graphics (display) -
Plotting and graphics (printer / plotter) -
Statistical HP-17B
Mean, standard deviation (# of variables) 1
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 Yes
Random number generator -
Linear regression, estimate  Yes
Curve fitting Yes
Correlation coefficient Yes
Normal distribution -
Factorial Yes
Gamma -
Combinations and permutations -
Scientific and Time HP-17B
Polar / rectangular conversions -
Base conversions (2, 8, 10, 16) -
Arithmetic in bases 2, 8 and 16 -
Bit operations (AND, OR, XOR, ...) -
Selectable word size (1-64 bits) -
Selectable complement mode (1's, 2's, unsigned) -
Decimal hrs / hrs.min.sec. conversions -
Hrs.min.sec arithmetic -
Time of day clock Yes
Timer -
Dynamic calculations (timer × rate) -
Alarms Yes
Unit Conversions HP-17B
Centimeters / inches -
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-17B
Number of payments (n) Yes
Interest rate (i) Yes
Present Value (PV) Yes
Payment (PMT) Yes
Future Value (FV) Yes
Cash Flow Analysis HP-17B
Net present value (NPV) Yes
Internal rate of return (IRR) Yes
Amortization HP-17B
Accumulated Interest (ACC INT) Yes
Balance (BAL) Yes
Depreciation HP-17B
Straight line (SL) Yes
Sum of the years digits (SOYD) Yes
Declining balance (DB) Yes
Bonds and calendar functions HP-17B
Bond price Yes
Bond yield Yes
Date arithmetic / calendar functions Yes
Memory and Programming HP-17B
Programming language(s) -
RAM / Max # of variables or addressable registers 6.7K bytes /
10 registers
Max # of program steps -
RAM / Max vars or regs with full optional RAM -
Max # of prog steps with full optional RAM -
Merged program steps  -
Manual register / program memory allocation  -
Automatic register / program memory allocation -
Overlapped register and program memory -
Continuous memory Yes
Flags -
Conditional tests -
Subroutine levels -
Indexed looping (increment by +/- 1, end at 0) -
Indexed looping (choice of increment and end) -
Multiple index / loop registers -
Line number addressing -
Branching by relative line number -
Global program label addressing -
Local program label addressing -
Indirect / computed addressing and control -
Multiple indirection registers -
Pause -
Alpha messages and prompts in programs -
Alpha program listings -
Alpha string manipulation -
Program step insert / delete -
I/O and Expansion Features HP-17B
ROM modules -
RAM modules or expansion option -
General expansion slots / connector -
Magnetic card reader/writer -
Tape drive -
Disk drive -
Upgradeable firmware -
Optical wand -
Serial port -
Infrared input -
Infrared output Yes
Printer Option
Networking -
Other -
General HP-17B
Sounds Yes
Self test Yes
Hard case (in addition to soft case) -
Additional Features -
Batteries 3 SR 44
Length (inches) 5.85"
Width 3.15"
Height 0.6"
Weight (oz or lbs) 5 oz
Year of introduction 1988
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-17B notes:
  • Had functions for getting sum xy etc. based on the summation list.
  • LAST extracted number from history stack to the calculator line.
  • The calculator didn't have precedence but the solver did.
  • To start the self test, with the calculator on, press and hold the fourth menu key from the left and press the ON/CLR key. Pressing the + key will step through a series of tests (including printing a copyright) until you see KBD 01. Then you must press each key from the upper left from left to right and then down until you see KBD OK. Pressing + again displays OK-17B-E. If there is a problem, you will see a FAIL message. To exit the test, at any point, press and hold the third menu key and then press the ON/C key. Instead of stepping through the general tests, you can start some specific self tests after pressing LOG+ON/EXIT by pressing
    • 1st Menu key: SPD
    • 2nd menu key: Beep
    • 3rd menu key: DISP
    • 4th menu key: ROM
    • 5th menu key: DRAM
    • 6th menu key: URAM
    • RCL: ESD (electro-static discharge test?)
    • STO: KBD
    • %: Displays the OK message
  • A continuous test (minus the keyboard test) can be started by holding 1/x and pressing ON/C. Exit this test in the same way as the individual test.

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