NEW: HP 15C Collectors Edition

[jklsadf]

I believe HP does not have the source code for the new 17bii+, 33s, or 35s developed by Kinpo. All three calculators use mask-programmed Sunplus 6502 processors. Fixing bugs in these calculators would require a new mask set (which is probably why it hasn't been done...it doesn't make economic sense for HP/whoever owns the rights now). I can't remember if there was any word from HP if the code for these calculators was actually done in C or assembly?

Developing something like a new 42s would be a massive undertaking for whoever owns the rights (would probably need a completely different processor as others have noted), despite the 17bii+ being similar. It would probably be the same level of difficulty as the DM42 and use free42 (I guess Saturn emulation and using the original code is another possibility, and might be easier from a licensing standpoint). It is possible, since swiss micros have done so, but probably doesn't make nearly as much economic sense as the 15C collector's edition.

From what I remember, not having the code for the calculators listed above (the 17bii+, 33s, and 35s) was a major reason for HP internally developing the code for the new 12C+, 10bii+, and 20b/30b. I believe the code was ported from one of the basic handhelds or palmtops to C code if I remember right, and the code from those was based on the code from the earlier HP calculators.

One of the other posts mentioned bringing back the hp 50g, but the Samsung ARM processor in that calculator is also end of life, so it would be a relatively major undertaking (although I think HP does at least have the code for the saturn emulator and other stuff used in the 50g?), and probably doesn't make financial sense either (the existing HP Prime likely sells better). I think the 50g was already at the very limit of what can be done with the Saturn architecture also, so not a great long-term option either compared to the Prime.

(05-07-2023 11:04 PM)brouhaha Wrote:  

(05-07-2023 06:52 PM)Thomas Radtke Wrote:  That's good news. Or would be, if the sources were available.

Not available to the general public. Available to the relevant people in HP and Moravia, almost certainly.

I have no way to know, but it's highly likely that HP, and perhaps some employees of Moravia, have the 10bii+, 12c Platinum/Prestige, 17bii+, 20b, 30b, 33s, and 35s source code. Probably also the source code for most Saturn-based calculators as well, for what that's worth.

But they probably don't have much pre-Saturn source code. I mean, HP once asked ME for a copy of the 12C source code, which I didn't (and don't) have. As I understand it, they were able to track down a copy of the 12C source code, though more recently I've heard it stated that HP doesn't have "usable" source code for the 12C. I suspect that may mean that they don't consider ~6000 lines of Nut assembly source code to be "usable". I don't even necessarily disagree, despite that I do a fair bit of hacking Nut assembly code. Programming in Nut assembly, and even Saturn assembly, is much more difficult than e.g. C or C++.