[AZ-Observing] Re: The HP-35s
- From: Gene A Lucas <geneluca@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: az-observing@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Wed, 22 Apr 2009 18:18:27 -0700
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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