[AZ-Observing] Re: The HP-35s

I use an RPN (reverse Polish) HP calculator all day every day in my work in
the field of finance. The HP12c financial calculator I have owned for over
25 years still functions perfectly and, as another subscriber mentioned, the
original batteries lasted well over 20 years. It is an absolute puzzle to me
why RPN is not more widely used generally. I struggle every time I am forced
to use a regular calculator. Another puzzle is why the original scientific
versions are no longer available as one can buy a new HP12c on Amazon that
is identical to my original one. I purchased an extra one years ago in order
to have one at home as well as at work. Long live Polish Notation! 

-----Original Message-----
From: az-observing-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:az-observing-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Gene A Lucas
Sent: Wednesday, April 22, 2009 6:18 PM
To: az-observing@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [AZ-Observing] Re: The HP-35s

Greets,
When I was in college, I went with the somewhat more advanced HP-25C, which
was programmable and had "continuous memory".
It too uses RPN, and I found that very useful.  It cost about $250 at the
time...(!) A couple of years ago, I found a discarded HP-25C outfit where I
worked, complete in the original box, with accessories, so I have two of
them.
The only complaint is that the HP-25C used a peculiar insertable
rechargeable NiCad battery pack -- but I found that I could cut up one of
the plastic battery holders and insert regular AA batteries, and it works
fine.
Many years later, I bought a newer model HP-20S Scientific model, which has
more features (and only cost about $35) -- but it doesn't seem to use RPN,
and so it is more awkward to use if you are chaining functions...
Somewhere in my internet wanderings I found a web page which is a sort of
museum for pocket  calculators and such.... Check this out:
http://www.hpmuseum.org/
Gene Lucas (17250)
stanlep@xxxxxxxxxxxxx wrote:
> I don't know how many of you are HP pocket calculator fans. It uses 
> RPN, reverse Polish (as in Gorodenski) notation, the only way to go. I 
> bought an HP-15c scientific programmable hand calculator sometime in the
1980's.
> I know they stopped making them in 1989 and so it had to have been 
> bought no later than that. This has been a really rugged calculator 
> and it still fully works, as beat up as it is. Once over a decade ago 
> I accidentally spilled some beer on it. I took it apart, rinsed it in 
> distilled water and let it dry for a day. This was a really popular 
> calculator and I never could understand why they discontinued it back 
> in 1989. I couple years ago I thought I could go to the store and buy 
> another one and that is when I discovered it had been discontinued. 
> There is a web that was/is collecting names of individuals who missed 
> this calculator to turn over to HP to encourage them to put it back in 
> production. I gave my name. Today I bought  an HP-35s at ASU which I 
> think is the answer to the demand for the old HP-15c. However, it is 
> much more powerful. I bought it because my old HP-15c is so old I am 
> scared one day it will cease to function and I wanted a spare around that
works the same while they are still available.
> I was going to put it in storage for that reason, but after looking at 
> it more, I think I will put my old HP-15c in storage. It is really 
> nice. I don't think it is built as sturdy as my old HP-15c. It was 
> built in the US, the new one in China, but it the same keyboard 
> appearance. I just wanted to let you know about this if you are one of 
> those who missed the HP-15c, and to let others know about it.
> Stan
>   
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