New HP Calculator Release

you know, I've still got my original HP 35 calculator. stuffed battery, bung digit in the display and all.

I wonder if these are much of an improvement on the original?

Stealth Pilot

I wish they would quit changing the location of the "ENTER" key ...lew...

Probably studied Microsofts marketing strategy.

Actually looking at the pic I think they finally came to there senses and put it back where it belongs. I think I like keys on it better than the 32s II which was a really good pocket calculator.

I absolutely hate the 33s. Bad keys (have to watch to make sure it takes the press), lousy layout, wrong size, etc.

I still think that the 32s II was the best general purpose pocket sized calculator they've made. If they'd just constructed it better. Mine here by the computer is going flaky again. I'm going to have to take it apart and clean the contacts on the flexible strip again (and they didn't exactly make it to be taken apart).

Doesn't look like they're selling in the US yet.

I'm stickin' with my 15c. Now worth about 3X what I paid for it.

I do wish they'd rerelease it in a CMOS version.

Grant

Would you say more about that procedure, please? Photos in the dropbox would also be greatly appreciated. I have two 32SII's both flakey.

The LCD displays are usually connected to the PC board with "Zebra Strips", which are alternating layers of conductive and non conductive rubber. The surface deteriorates with time, so you remove them and clean the ends, as well as the PC board and display with pure Isopropyl alcohol on a Q-tip.

I'm familiar with Z-strip. The LCD displays in my calculators work fine, the problem is flakey keyboards.

Are they the crappy steel snap disks?

No. The keyboard signals go through the Z strip.

If I get time to do the job I'll take pics. The main difficulty is removing the keyboard cover without tearing it up. You'll have to pry it up so that you can get to the melted posts through holes connection that is between the 2nd and 3rd key rows from the bottom. The rest is easy to figure out for someone like you.

I don't see any advantage over the 50g.

At least the location on this one is a lot closer to the older models my hands are trained to use. I'm forever miskeying stuff on an HP33s. Looks like the decimal point symbol is a lot easier to see on the new 35s is a lot easier to see on the 33s as well.

Mike

CMOS not NMOS. NiAH not NiCAD. Solver - nice. more memory, .... and it works.

My HP 28C is still going well - this last battery set was fresh - lasts a long time. Prior sets were likely shelf dead and then sold.

I have a software for my Sony Clie / PDA - MathU Pro - an HP programmable calculator. They make PDA replacements.

Mart> >

Hmm ... I thought that was what the 'C' in the model number of the 15C *was* -- CMOS. Mine runs for years on three SR357 cells, as does the companion 16C (computer math version). And the two of them take up less space together than most of the others did, except perhaps my wife's 25.

And to keep it metal-related, I use a spare 15C in the shop, where it lives in a Ziploc baggie (facing backwards) to protect it from oil and swarf, let allow it to be used.

Enjoy, DoN.

I'm pretty sure the 'C' in HP calculator designations means it has their 'continuous' memory feature. In other words, it doesn't forget the stack and other register contents when shut off. (As far as I'm concerned, 'off' is really very low current draw 'stand by' mode.)

BTW, I also had 32SII keyboard issues... otherwise, it was a GREAT machine

If you have a 16C, sell it and retire. I'm not kidding... take a look at what they're going for on e-Bay...

Erik

According to Erik :

But how would you implement this other than with CMOS (at least for the memory), especially given the relatively tiny batteries used?

Sure -- but I think that implies CMOS as well to implement that feature.

Only if I can get a functional replacement. I use it too much to get rid of it.

And I am *already* retired -- though extra income would be nice. :-)

Enjoy, DoN.

We're both right, see 'HP-25C' here...

I've been usin my 10C for YEARS and still on the orig batterys. I had a 21 along time ago which did have the keys quit working. Just recently got one (it's at school now so don't remember the number) but it need batterys already. "Don't use a calculator with an equal sign" :-) ...lew...