SR-52/56 Merged Keystrokes

[Dave Britten]

(07-04-2021 06:56 PM)Gene Wrote:  Chronologically... my opinions.

65 > everything (there was nothing handheld haha)
52 > 65 (although closer in some ways than the other comparisons below)
67 > 52
59 > 67
41 > 59

25 > everything
56 > 25 (opinion from Jim Davidson at the time was 100 unmerged > 49 merged)
56 > 57 > 25 and 58 > 25
58 > 29C (240 steps & 30 memories (with 480/0 400/10 320/20 as options) > 98 steps and 30 memories
58C > 33C
34C > 58C
etc.

That mostly agrees with my feelings on ranking the machines by capability. I'm not sure on 58 vs. 29C, unless you're considering a 58 with a few solid-state ROM modules. If we're talking 58C vs. 29C then it's an easy decision in favor of the TI. I don't know if I'd give the 34C the advantage over the 58C, especially when considering the library of TI ROM modules. I guess if you make extensive use of solve and integrate, the 34C might be a little more convenient.

I think the complexity and sophistication of the 41 sometimes makes it a little less convenient to use than other earlier models, but it's undeniably more powerful. I really think the 41 should have had a second shift key to get a little more out of the keyboard.

As for my personal rankings on which machines I'd prefer to use, there's a bit more variation.