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How about an amazing new HP RPN calculator? Well, it's here and HP didn't make it...

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  How about an amazing new HP RPN calculator?  Well, it's here and HP didn't make it... Oregonian Haruspex <bob_davis_retired@yahoo.com> - 2015-04-14 13:45 -0700
    Re: How about an amazing new HP RPN calculator?  Well, it's here and HP didn't make it... root <NoEMail@home.org> - 2015-04-14 22:17 +0000
      Re: How about an amazing new HP RPN calculator?  Well, it's here and HP didn't make it... Oregonian Haruspex <bob_davis_retired@yahoo.com> - 2015-04-14 18:34 -0700
      Re: How about an amazing new HP RPN calculator?  Well, it's here and HP didn't make it... Oregonian Haruspex <bob_davis_retired@yahoo.com> - 2015-04-23 13:43 -0700
        Re: How about an amazing new HP RPN calculator?  Well, it's here and HP didn't make it... root <NoEMail@home.org> - 2015-04-23 22:02 +0000
          Re: How about an amazing new HP RPN calculator?  Well, it's here and HP didn't make it... Oregonian Haruspex <bob_davis_retired@yahoo.com> - 2015-04-23 16:52 -0700
            Re: How about an amazing new HP RPN calculator?  Well, it's here and HP didn't make it... Michael Black <et472@ncf.ca> - 2015-04-23 23:37 -0400
              Re: How about an amazing new HP RPN calculator?  Well, it's here and HP didn't make it... Oregonian Haruspex <bob_davis_retired@yahoo.com> - 2015-04-23 22:39 -0700
          Re: How about an amazing new HP RPN calculator?  Well, it's here and HP didn't make it... root <NoEMail@home.org> - 2015-04-24 18:07 +0000
            Re: How about an amazing new HP RPN calculator?  Well, it's here and HP didn't make it... Oregonian Haruspex <bob_davis_retired@yahoo.com> - 2015-04-24 12:50 -0700
            Re: How about an amazing new HP RPN calculator?  Well, it's here and HP didn't make it... Oregonian Haruspex <bob_davis_retired@yahoo.com> - 2015-05-01 15:19 -0700
              Re: How about an amazing new HP RPN calculator?  Well, it's here and HP didn't make it... bashley@gmail.com - 2015-05-04 08:36 -0700
                Re: How about an amazing new HP RPN calculator?  Well, it's here and HP didn't make it... Oregonian Haruspex <bob_davis_retired@yahoo.com> - 2015-05-04 14:53 -0700
                  Re: How about an amazing new HP RPN calculator?  Well, it's here and HP didn't make it... Hils <hils@saynotospam.net> - 2015-05-29 07:23 +0100
    Re: How about an amazing new HP RPN calculator?  Well, it's here and HP didn't make it... RS Wood <rsw@therandymon.com> - 2015-04-15 12:16 +0000
      Re: How about an amazing new HP RPN calculator?  Well, it's here and HP didn't make it... Oregonian Haruspex <bob_davis_retired@yahoo.com> - 2015-04-15 11:38 -0700
        Re: How about an amazing new HP RPN calculator?  Well, it's here and HP didn't make it... Nyssa <Nyssa@flawlesslogic.com> - 2015-04-15 15:10 -0400
          Re: How about an amazing new HP RPN calculator?  Well, it's here and HP didn't make it... Larry Sheldon <lfsheldon@gmail.com> - 2015-04-15 20:36 -0500
      Re: How about an amazing new HP RPN calculator?  Well, it's here and HP didn't make it... Rich <rich@example.invalid> - 2015-04-16 16:40 +0000
        Re: How about an amazing new HP RPN calculator?  Well, it's here and HP didn't make it... Michael Black <et472@ncf.ca> - 2015-04-16 15:58 -0400
          Re: How about an amazing new HP RPN calculator?  Well, it's here and HP didn't make it... Paul Sture <nospam@sture.ch> - 2015-04-17 08:57 +0200
            Re: How about an amazing new HP RPN calculator?  Well, it's here   and HP didn't make it... Larry Sheldon <lfsheldon@gmail.com> - 2015-04-18 22:19 -0500
              Re: How about an amazing new HP RPN calculator?  Well, it's here   and HP didn't make it... Michael Black <et472@ncf.ca> - 2015-04-19 13:50 -0400
                Re: How about an amazing new HP RPN calculator?  Well, it's here     and HP didn't make it... Larry Sheldon <lfsheldon@gmail.com> - 2015-04-19 18:56 -0500
                  Re: How about an amazing new HP RPN calculator?  Well, it's here       and HP didn't make it... Larry Sheldon <lfsheldon@gmail.com> - 2015-04-19 19:10 -0500
                  Re: How about an amazing new HP RPN calculator?  Well, it's here     and HP didn't make it... Michael Black <et472@ncf.ca> - 2015-04-19 22:22 -0400
                    Re: How about an amazing new HP RPN calculator?  Well, it's here   and HP didn't make it... Bud Frede <frede@mouse-potato.com> - 2015-04-23 14:16 -0400
                  Re: How about an amazing new HP RPN calculator?  Well, it's here and HP didn't make it... mm0fmf <none@mailinator.com> - 2015-04-25 09:10 +0100
                    Re: How about an amazing new HP RPN calculator?  Well, it's here and HP didn't make it... Michael Black <et472@ncf.ca> - 2015-04-25 13:12 -0400
            Re: How about an amazing new HP RPN calculator?  Well, it's here and HP didn't make it... Bud Frede <frede@mouse-potato.com> - 2015-04-23 13:36 -0400
    Re: How about an amazing new HP RPN calculator?  Well, it's here and HP didn't make it... Oregonian Haruspex <bob_davis_retired@yahoo.com> - 2015-04-20 15:04 -0700
      Re: How about an amazing new HP RPN calculator?  Well, it's here and HP didn't make it... Michael Black <et472@ncf.ca> - 2015-04-20 18:59 -0400
        Re: How about an amazing new HP RPN calculator?  Well, it's here and HP didn't make it... Oregonian Haruspex <bob_davis_retired@yahoo.com> - 2015-04-20 17:14 -0700
        Re: How about an amazing new HP RPN calculator?  Well, it's here   and HP didn't make it... Larry Sheldon <lfsheldon@gmail.com> - 2015-04-20 21:55 -0500

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#7393 — How about an amazing new HP RPN calculator? Well, it's here and HP didn't make it...

["http://sourceforge.net/projects/wp34s/"]

Note:  I have no connection whatsoever with this project.  I just find 
it really, really cool.

People were disappointed that HP no longer appears to have the 
corporate will to produce a best-of-breed keystroke-programmable RPN 
calculator that actually topped their previous offerings.  Case in 
point, the selling price of a used HP-41 in good working condition 
regluarly tops $150 (and the top of the line HP-41CX often reaches 
$350).  These calculators were made from 1979 to 1990, and (along with 
the HP-67) were in fact many people's first personal computers.  While 
many of us used to high level languages may recoil in horror at the 
idea of keystroke programming, it is Turing complete and includes 
features like variables, conditional branching, loops, etc.

While HP does produce some keystroke-programmable models still today 
(namely the 35s), none had the amazing feature set, excellent manuals, 
or geek factor of a nicely expanded HP-41 series, so a number of HP RPN 
fams got together and created the WP-34s using the lower-cost HP-20b 
and HP-30b business calculators as a host for a brand-new firmware set. 
 Additionally, the authors have taken great care to ensure the 
numerical accuracy of these machines.  The firmware mod is 
user-installable and of course, free, but there are a few vendors who 
specialize in installing a couple parts on the board (to accomodate the 
real-time clock) and who will make sure their WP-34S has the highest 
quality keyboard and screen, as modern HP quality control ain't what it 
used to be.  These vendors also give some of the proceeds to the WP-34S 
crew.  The WP-34S crew also makes a bit of money selling a high quality 
printed version of the PDF manual.

While it's a bit more expensive than buying a 20b or 30b (the 20b is 
$19, the 30b is $27 on Amazon) and installing the firmware myself, I 
went for a pre-modded one and manual and they are in the mail.

Anyway I'm sure there are plenty of folks here who grew up using 67s, 
41s, and 48s, and maybe 10s, 11s, 15s, and 16s, so this project might 
be of interest.

[toc] | [next] | [standalone]

#7396

Oregonian Haruspex <bob_davis_retired@yahoo.com> wrote:
> ["http://sourceforge.net/projects/wp34s/"]
> 
> Note:  I have no connection whatsoever with this project.  I just find 
> it really, really cool.
> 
> People were disappointed that HP no longer appears to have the 
> corporate will to produce a best-of-breed keystroke-programmable RPN 
> calculator that actually topped their previous offerings.  Case in 
> point, the selling price of a used HP-41 in good working condition 
> regluarly tops $150 (and the top of the line HP-41CX often reaches 
> $350).  These calculators were made from 1979 to 1990, and (along with 
> the HP-67) were in fact many people's first personal computers.  While 
> many of us used to high level languages may recoil in horror at the 
> idea of keystroke programming, it is Turing complete and includes 
> features like variables, conditional branching, loops, etc.
> 
> While HP does produce some keystroke-programmable models still today 
> (namely the 35s), none had the amazing feature set, excellent manuals, 
> or geek factor of a nicely expanded HP-41 series, so a number of HP RPN 
> fams got together and created the WP-34s using the lower-cost HP-20b 
> and HP-30b business calculators as a host for a brand-new firmware set. 
>  Additionally, the authors have taken great care to ensure the 
> numerical accuracy of these machines.  The firmware mod is 
> user-installable and of course, free, but there are a few vendors who 
> specialize in installing a couple parts on the board (to accomodate the 
> real-time clock) and who will make sure their WP-34S has the highest 
> quality keyboard and screen, as modern HP quality control ain't what it 
> used to be.  These vendors also give some of the proceeds to the WP-34S 
> crew.  The WP-34S crew also makes a bit of money selling a high quality 
> printed version of the PDF manual.
> 
> While it's a bit more expensive than buying a 20b or 30b (the 20b is 
> $19, the 30b is $27 on Amazon) and installing the firmware myself, I 
> went for a pre-modded one and manual and they are in the mail.
> 
> Anyway I'm sure there are plenty of folks here who grew up using 67s, 
> 41s, and 48s, and maybe 10s, 11s, 15s, and 16s, so this project might 
> be of interest.

Sure it is of interest. Give a review after you get your calculator.
A quick check of the 30B vs the 41CX shows the 30B has far fewer keys.
Tell us how they handle the keys. Also I want to know how to get
around the key labels. I wouldn't want to have to mentally remap
the keys.

Thanks for the post. I can't live without RPN and I buy every
old HP I find at yard sales.
> 

[toc] | [prev] | [next] | [standalone]

#7397

On 2015-04-14 22:17:17 +0000, root said:

> Oregonian Haruspex <bob_davis_retired@yahoo.com> wrote:
>> ["http://sourceforge.net/projects/wp34s/"]
>> 
>> Note:  I have no connection whatsoever with this project.  I just find
>> it really, really cool.
>> 
>> People were disappointed that HP no longer appears to have the
>> corporate will to produce a best-of-breed keystroke-programmable RPN
>> calculator that actually topped their previous offerings.  Case in
>> point, the selling price of a used HP-41 in good working condition
>> regluarly tops $150 (and the top of the line HP-41CX often reaches
>> $350).  These calculators were made from 1979 to 1990, and (along with
>> the HP-67) were in fact many people's first personal computers.  While
>> many of us used to high level languages may recoil in horror at the
>> idea of keystroke programming, it is Turing complete and includes
>> features like variables, conditional branching, loops, etc.
>> 
>> While HP does produce some keystroke-programmable models still today
>> (namely the 35s), none had the amazing feature set, excellent manuals,
>> or geek factor of a nicely expanded HP-41 series, so a number of HP RPN
>> fams got together and created the WP-34s using the lower-cost HP-20b
>> and HP-30b business calculators as a host for a brand-new firmware set.
>> Additionally, the authors have taken great care to ensure the
>> numerical accuracy of these machines.  The firmware mod is
>> user-installable and of course, free, but there are a few vendors who
>> specialize in installing a couple parts on the board (to accomodate the
>> real-time clock) and who will make sure their WP-34S has the highest
>> quality keyboard and screen, as modern HP quality control ain't what it
>> used to be.  These vendors also give some of the proceeds to the WP-34S
>> crew.  The WP-34S crew also makes a bit of money selling a high quality
>> printed version of the PDF manual.
>> 
>> While it's a bit more expensive than buying a 20b or 30b (the 20b is
>> $19, the 30b is $27 on Amazon) and installing the firmware myself, I
>> went for a pre-modded one and manual and they are in the mail.
>> 
>> Anyway I'm sure there are plenty of folks here who grew up using 67s,
>> 41s, and 48s, and maybe 10s, 11s, 15s, and 16s, so this project might
>> be of interest.
> 
> Sure it is of interest. Give a review after you get your calculator.
> A quick check of the 30B vs the 41CX shows the 30B has far fewer keys.
> Tell us how they handle the keys. Also I want to know how to get
> around the key labels. I wouldn't want to have to mentally remap
> the keys.
> 
> Thanks for the post. I can't live without RPN and I buy every
> old HP I find at yard sales.

You can download the emulator from the project site and use the 
calculator today if you wish.  The one I ordered has had the clock 
crystal added, as well as having vinyl keycaps (which are supposed to 
be very wear resistant and durable, we'll see) and a legend added.  I 
plan on eventually adding the optional IR LED which will allow me to 
print to my HP 82240B as well.

In addition to having the standard HP "f" label key in yellow, it also 
has a "g" and "h" key in blue and green, plus an alpha mode.  This 
makes it so that each key has generally five functions - default, 
function y, g, b, and alpha available.  There are also four function 
keys on the top row (a-d) that have defaults assigned to them but which 
can be changed to execute user-defined commands or a program in memory. 
 Memory for programs and registers vastly exceeds the classic keystroke 
calculators (except the HP-41CL as noted below), and it is easy to make 
a backup to the flash memory or to a computer.

You may also be interested in the HP-41CL project:  
["http://www.systemyde.com/hp41/"]

This project is a completely new board that fits into any HP-41, which 
gives the functions of the HP-41CX excepting the timer (if you have a 
time module this will enable the timer of course).  The machine can 
still accept any port modules, but it has in the onboard flash the 
entire contents of practically every module ever sold (over 260 modules 
are included with the blessing of the module developers), and the 
processor can be adjusted to run up to 50x faster than the original 
calculators.  It also has 128 pages of flash memory available.  If you 
have HP-IL / HP-IB capable equipment this is a great boon of course.  
It's not cheap ($275 or so including all the options) but it is an 
amazingly huge upgrade that adds an amazing array of capabilities to 
these older calculators.

If you're an HP-71b fan, there is a similar upgrade board coming out, 
and while it doesn't include the speed enhancement of the HP-41CL mod 
does include pretty much every software pack ever made.

There is also a brand new firmware that is under development, using the 
HP-50g hardware as a host, which will include many new features and 
functionality and as an open platform it will allow the 50g system to 
expand beyond what is currently available.

Just goes to show that there is a lot of life left in the HP calculator 
world yet!

[toc] | [prev] | [next] | [standalone]

#7484

On 2015-04-14 22:17:17 +0000, root said:

> Give a review after you get your calculator.

OK, I got the calculator today and spent the last hour or so playing 
with it.  The keys feel good.  The size is great - right about the size 
of the 32S.  There are so many functions crammed into the WP-34s that 
it boggles the mind (over 600!) but the use of catalogs and the 
upper-line alphanumeric display really helps in accessing them.  You 
can also quick-jump in the catalog by typing the first letter of the 
function you wish to access.  I really appreciate the 8 level stack but 
for those of us set in their ways, you can toggle it to 4 levels as 
well.

It internally uses IEEE754's decimal64 format which is really nice for 
accuracy.

As the firmware is open source, people have developed a number of mods 
for it so far.  However, the original firmware authors have really made 
an effort to cram as much into the firmware as possible, so added 
functionality is not possible with firmware mods without stealing away 
register memory, program storage, or already existing functions.

Seeing as how this device is a massive superset of the 41/42s series 
already, I really can't imagine that there would be much lacking that 
couldn't be tackled with a user program.  Of course there is no input 
except by the keyboard, and no output except by the screen, or with a 
mod, an LED, so if you are using your 41 series calc for process 
control and whatnot it might be better to consider the other calculator 
mod I mentioned, the HP-41CL which, while being 50 times faster and 
with hundreds of times the memory of any 41, is still port-compatible 
with all modules made for the original calculators.

All in all, I'm really happy with the WP-34s.  The authors have been at 
work for a couple years on its successor, the WP-43s, which will be a 
graphing calculator on all-new hardware, probably with full RS-232 and 
IR IO and SD card storage.  I'm guessing they'll want at least $500 for 
it but they will likely sell every one they make.

I'm sure it'll take me some time to really get deeply enough into the 
34s to give a more comprehensive review but I'd say if you're an RPN 
fan that you have very little to lose by getting or making one 
yourself.  Neat stuff.

[toc] | [prev] | [next] | [standalone]

#7491

Oregonian Haruspex <bob_davis_retired@yahoo.com> wrote:
> On 2015-04-14 22:17:17 +0000, root said:
> 
>> Give a review after you get your calculator.
> 
> OK, I got the calculator today and spent the last hour or so playing 
> with it.  The keys feel good.  The size is great - right about the size 
> of the 32S.  There are so many functions crammed into the WP-34s that 
> it boggles the mind (over 600!) but the use of catalogs and the 
> upper-line alphanumeric display really helps in accessing them.  You 
> can also quick-jump in the catalog by typing the first letter of the 
> function you wish to access.  I really appreciate the 8 level stack but 
> for those of us set in their ways, you can toggle it to 4 levels as 
> well.
> 
> It internally uses IEEE754's decimal64 format which is really nice for 
> accuracy.
> 
> As the firmware is open source, people have developed a number of mods 
> for it so far.  However, the original firmware authors have really made 
> an effort to cram as much into the firmware as possible, so added 
> functionality is not possible with firmware mods without stealing away 
> register memory, program storage, or already existing functions.
> 
> Seeing as how this device is a massive superset of the 41/42s series 
> already, I really can't imagine that there would be much lacking that 
> couldn't be tackled with a user program.  Of course there is no input 
> except by the keyboard, and no output except by the screen, or with a 
> mod, an LED, so if you are using your 41 series calc for process 
> control and whatnot it might be better to consider the other calculator 
> mod I mentioned, the HP-41CL which, while being 50 times faster and 
> with hundreds of times the memory of any 41, is still port-compatible 
> with all modules made for the original calculators.
> 
> All in all, I'm really happy with the WP-34s.  The authors have been at 
> work for a couple years on its successor, the WP-43s, which will be a 
> graphing calculator on all-new hardware, probably with full RS-232 and 
> IR IO and SD card storage.  I'm guessing they'll want at least $500 for 
> it but they will likely sell every one they make.
> 
> I'm sure it'll take me some time to really get deeply enough into the 
> 34s to give a more comprehensive review but I'd say if you're an RPN 
> fan that you have very little to lose by getting or making one 
> yourself.  Neat stuff.
> 

Thanks for the follow-up. Where did you order the WP-34S? Did you get
the manuals as well as the device? How can I place an order?

[toc] | [prev] | [next] | [standalone]

#7492

On 2015-04-23 22:02:57 +0000, root said:

> Thanks for the follow-up. Where did you order the WP-34S? Did you get
> the manuals as well as the device? How can I place an order?

["http://commerce.hpcalc.org/34s.php"]

You can order one pre-made with the crystal added to the board (for the 
timekeeping functions) from the hpcalc.org site.  There is a link to 
order the printed manual on that page too.

I'm really loving this machine.  The unit conversions are great - place 
your number on the stack, and then hit g CONV and you are presented 
with a menu on the upper alphanumeric line showing the unit conversion, 
and the lower numeric line shows the converted unit in real time!  Hit 
enter to put the new value on the stack.

Really neat - the whole calc is filled with well-designed stuff like this.

[toc] | [prev] | [next] | [standalone]

#7494

On Thu, 23 Apr 2015, Oregonian Haruspex wrote:

> On 2015-04-23 22:02:57 +0000, root said:
>
>> Thanks for the follow-up. Where did you order the WP-34S? Did you get
>> the manuals as well as the device? How can I place an order?
>
> ["http://commerce.hpcalc.org/34s.php"]
>
> You can order one pre-made with the crystal added to the board (for the 
> timekeeping functions) from the hpcalc.org site.  There is a link to order 
> the printed manual on that page too.
>
You mean the crystal still isn't standard?

Was it the HP-65 that people got working as a stop watch, only to find it 
didn't keep proper time because the timing was an RC network?  So soon 
there was a mod for adding a crystal.

  Michael

> I'm really loving this machine.  The unit conversions are great - place your 
> number on the stack, and then hit g CONV and you are presented with a menu on 
> the upper alphanumeric line showing the unit conversion, and the lower 
> numeric line shows the converted unit in real time!  Hit enter to put the new 
> value on the stack.
>
> Really neat - the whole calc is filled with well-designed stuff like this.
>
>

[toc] | [prev] | [next] | [standalone]

#7495

On 2015-04-24 03:37:48 +0000, Michael Black said:

> On Thu, 23 Apr 2015, Oregonian Haruspex wrote:
> 
>> On 2015-04-23 22:02:57 +0000, root said:
>> 
>>> Thanks for the follow-up. Where did you order the WP-34S? Did you get
>>> the manuals as well as the device? How can I place an order?
>> 
>> ["http://commerce.hpcalc.org/34s.php"]
>> 
>> You can order one pre-made with the crystal added to the board (for the 
>> timekeeping functions) from the hpcalc.org site.  There is a link to 
>> order the printed manual on that page too.
>> 
> You mean the crystal still isn't standard?

The calculator that the WP-34s project is based on doesn't have any 
time functions, so there is no crystal by default.  Many HP calculators 
do have a crystal, however.

> Was it the HP-65 that people got working as a stop watch, only to find 
> it didn't keep proper time because the timing was an RC network?  So 
> soon there was a mod for adding a crystal.

I believe there were several calculators that were outfitted with 
crystals as a user mod.

[toc] | [prev] | [next] | [standalone]

#7503

root <NoEMail@home.org> wrote:
> Oregonian Haruspex <bob_davis_retired@yahoo.com> wrote:
>> On 2015-04-14 22:17:17 +0000, root said:
>> 
>>> Give a review after you get your calculator.
>> 
>> OK, I got the calculator today and spent the last hour or so playing 
>> with it.  The keys feel good.  The size is great - right about the size 
>> of the 32S.  There are so many functions crammed into the WP-34s that 
>> it boggles the mind (over 600!) but the use of catalogs and the 
>> upper-line alphanumeric display really helps in accessing them.  You 
>> can also quick-jump in the catalog by typing the first letter of the 
>> function you wish to access.  I really appreciate the 8 level stack but 
>> for those of us set in their ways, you can toggle it to 4 levels as 
>> well.
>> 
>> It internally uses IEEE754's decimal64 format which is really nice for 
>> accuracy.
>> 
>> As the firmware is open source, people have developed a number of mods 
>> for it so far.  However, the original firmware authors have really made 
>> an effort to cram as much into the firmware as possible, so added 
>> functionality is not possible with firmware mods without stealing away 
>> register memory, program storage, or already existing functions.
>> 
>> Seeing as how this device is a massive superset of the 41/42s series 
>> already, I really can't imagine that there would be much lacking that 
>> couldn't be tackled with a user program.  Of course there is no input 
>> except by the keyboard, and no output except by the screen, or with a 
>> mod, an LED, so if you are using your 41 series calc for process 
>> control and whatnot it might be better to consider the other calculator 
>> mod I mentioned, the HP-41CL which, while being 50 times faster and 
>> with hundreds of times the memory of any 41, is still port-compatible 
>> with all modules made for the original calculators.
>> 
>> All in all, I'm really happy with the WP-34s.  The authors have been at 
>> work for a couple years on its successor, the WP-43s, which will be a 
>> graphing calculator on all-new hardware, probably with full RS-232 and 
>> IR IO and SD card storage.  I'm guessing they'll want at least $500 for 
>> it but they will likely sell every one they make.
>> 
>> I'm sure it'll take me some time to really get deeply enough into the 
>> 34s to give a more comprehensive review but I'd say if you're an RPN 
>> fan that you have very little to lose by getting or making one 
>> yourself.  Neat stuff.
>> 
> 
> Thanks for the follow-up. Where did you order the WP-34S? Did you get
> the manuals as well as the device? How can I place an order?

I ordered one. $13 shipping is a little steep unless I get it tomorrow.

[toc] | [prev] | [next] | [standalone]

#7505

On 2015-04-24 18:07:58 +0000, root said:

> root <NoEMail@home.org> wrote:
>> Oregonian Haruspex <bob_davis_retired@yahoo.com> wrote:
>>> On 2015-04-14 22:17:17 +0000, root said:
>>> 
>>>> Give a review after you get your calculator.
>>> 
>>> OK, I got the calculator today and spent the last hour or so playing
>>> with it.  The keys feel good.  The size is great - right about the size
>>> of the 32S.  There are so many functions crammed into the WP-34s that
>>> it boggles the mind (over 600!) but the use of catalogs and the
>>> upper-line alphanumeric display really helps in accessing them.  You
>>> can also quick-jump in the catalog by typing the first letter of the
>>> function you wish to access.  I really appreciate the 8 level stack but
>>> for those of us set in their ways, you can toggle it to 4 levels as
>>> well.
>>> 
>>> It internally uses IEEE754's decimal64 format which is really nice for
>>> accuracy.
>>> 
>>> As the firmware is open source, people have developed a number of mods
>>> for it so far.  However, the original firmware authors have really made
>>> an effort to cram as much into the firmware as possible, so added
>>> functionality is not possible with firmware mods without stealing away
>>> register memory, program storage, or already existing functions.
>>> 
>>> Seeing as how this device is a massive superset of the 41/42s series
>>> already, I really can't imagine that there would be much lacking that
>>> couldn't be tackled with a user program.  Of course there is no input
>>> except by the keyboard, and no output except by the screen, or with a
>>> mod, an LED, so if you are using your 41 series calc for process
>>> control and whatnot it might be better to consider the other calculator
>>> mod I mentioned, the HP-41CL which, while being 50 times faster and
>>> with hundreds of times the memory of any 41, is still port-compatible
>>> with all modules made for the original calculators.
>>> 
>>> All in all, I'm really happy with the WP-34s.  The authors have been at
>>> work for a couple years on its successor, the WP-43s, which will be a
>>> graphing calculator on all-new hardware, probably with full RS-232 and
>>> IR IO and SD card storage.  I'm guessing they'll want at least $500 for
>>> it but they will likely sell every one they make.
>>> 
>>> I'm sure it'll take me some time to really get deeply enough into the
>>> 34s to give a more comprehensive review but I'd say if you're an RPN
>>> fan that you have very little to lose by getting or making one
>>> yourself.  Neat stuff.
>>> 
>> 
>> Thanks for the follow-up. Where did you order the WP-34S? Did you get
>> the manuals as well as the device? How can I place an order?
> 
> I ordered one. $13 shipping is a little steep unless I get it tomorrow.

I would strongly suggest getting the manual as well.  Every bit of the 
effort that went into the calculator went into the manual, too.  It's 
probably the best product manual I have seen since I bought my Alesis 
QS6.1 many years ago.

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#7555

On 2015-04-24 18:07:58 +0000, root said:

> I ordered one. $13 shipping is a little steep unless I get it tomorrow.

So did you get your WP-34s yet?

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#7560

On Friday, May 1, 2015 at 3:19:53 PM UTC-7, Oregonian Haruspex wrote:
> On 2015-04-24 18:07:58 +0000, root said:
> 
> > I ordered one. $13 shipping is a little steep unless I get it tomorrow.
> 
> So did you get your WP-34s yet?

My husband (root) got his WP-34S on Friday and responded to your inquiry with a long glowing review which was somehow lost.  The offshoot is that anyone with even a passing interest in an RPN scientific calculator should get a WP-34S. 

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#7561

On 2015-05-04 15:36:04 +0000, bashley@gmail.com said:

> On Friday, May 1, 2015 at 3:19:53 PM UTC-7, Oregonian Haruspex wrote:
>> On 2015-04-24 18:07:58 +0000, root said:
>> 
>>> I ordered one. $13 shipping is a little steep unless I get it tomorrow.
>> 
>> So did you get your WP-34s yet?
> 
> My husband (root) got his WP-34S on Friday and responded to your 
> inquiry with a long glowing review which was somehow lost.  The 
> offshoot is that anyone with even a passing interest in an RPN 
> scientific calculator should get a WP-34S.

I'm happy with mine, too.  I just hope he got the printer manual, too - 
it's one of the best manuals I have ever seen.

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#7769

On 04/05/15 22:53, Oregonian Haruspex wrote:
> On 2015-05-04 15:36:04 +0000, bashley@gmail.com said:
> 
>> On Friday, May 1, 2015 at 3:19:53 PM UTC-7, Oregonian Haruspex wrote:
>>> On 2015-04-24 18:07:58 +0000, root said:
>>>
>>>> I ordered one. $13 shipping is a little steep unless I get it tomorrow.
>>>
>>> So did you get your WP-34s yet?
>>
>> My husband (root) got his WP-34S on Friday and responded to your
>> inquiry with a long glowing review which was somehow lost.  The
>> offshoot is that anyone with even a passing interest in an RPN
>> scientific calculator should get a WP-34S.
> 
> I'm happy with mine, too.  I just hope he got the printer manual, too -
> it's one of the best manuals I have ever seen.

They look beautiful.

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#7401

On 2015-04-14, Oregonian Haruspex <bob_davis_retired@yahoo.com> wrote:
> ["http://sourceforge.net/projects/wp34s/"]
>
> Note:  I have no connection whatsoever with this project.  I just find 
> it really, really cool.
 ...
> Anyway I'm sure there are plenty of folks here who grew up using 67s, 
> 41s, and 48s, and maybe 10s, 11s, 15s, and 16s, so this project might 
> be of interest.

It's cool, alright.  

//--clip
Description

This project has created scientific firmware for the HP-20b and HP-30b
business calculators.

The WP 34S turns either of these business calculators into a powerful
keystroke programmable scientific device.

The WP 34S has been alive and stable since 2011. We have succeeded in
satisfying the most picky users - read about their experiences on the
http://www.hpmuseum.org/forum.

In 2014, we've updated the WP 34S to version 3.3. The documentation for
the WP 34S is excellent and comprehensive (see customer feedback); a
print version is available from: https://www.createspace.com/5304580

We have also produced produced the WP 31S which is derived from the WP
34S source code. This is an entry-level scientific calculator. The
printed manual for this calculator is available from:
https://www.createspace.com/4773370
//--clip


It's not a great time to be in the hardware business, though, no matter
how cool this project is.  I carried my 15C around from 1988 until last
year, when it finally gave up the ghost, the victim surely of decades of
abuse in tropical climates.  The same week it kicked the bucket though,
I found an app for Android that replicates the device exactly.  On my
Samsung Note 3 it's even approximately the same size!  Not sure even I
would go out and by a stand-alone device anymore.  The only thing the
app doesn't replicate is the awesome tactile feel of those raised
buttons.  Instead, the phone vibrates - slightly annoying.

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#7407

On 2015-04-15 12:16:19 +0000, RS Wood said:

> It's not a great time to be in the hardware business, though, no matter
> how cool this project is.  I carried my 15C around from 1988 until last
> year, when it finally gave up the ghost, the victim surely of decades of
> abuse in tropical climates.  The same week it kicked the bucket though,
> I found an app for Android that replicates the device exactly.  On my
> Samsung Note 3 it's even approximately the same size!  Not sure even I
> would go out and by a stand-alone device anymore.  The only thing the
> app doesn't replicate is the awesome tactile feel of those raised
> buttons.  Instead, the phone vibrates - slightly annoying.

Sorry to hear about your 15C.  HP made a limited run of 15c's a couple 
years back but those calcs regularly go for $300-$400 on TAS.  While 
the WP-34S is of course vastly more powerful than the 15C, it doesn't 
have the near-infinite battery life of the older machine.

I too have the 15C app (on my iPad), but it's just not the same as a 
real calculator.  I do understand that once one carries a smartphone it 
makes sense to try to get the function of other gadgets one might carry 
in there too.

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#7408

Oregonian Haruspex wrote:

> On 2015-04-15 12:16:19 +0000, RS Wood said:
> 
>> It's not a great time to be in the hardware business,
>> though, no matter
>> how cool this project is.  I carried my 15C around from
>> 1988 until last year, when it finally gave up the ghost,
>> the victim surely of decades of
>> abuse in tropical climates.  The same week it kicked the
>> bucket though,
>> I found an app for Android that replicates the device
>> exactly.  On my
>> Samsung Note 3 it's even approximately the same size! 
>> Not sure even I
>> would go out and by a stand-alone device anymore.  The
>> only thing the app doesn't replicate is the awesome
>> tactile feel of those raised
>> buttons.  Instead, the phone vibrates - slightly
>> annoying.
> 
> Sorry to hear about your 15C.  HP made a limited run of
> 15c's a couple
> years back but those calcs regularly go for $300-$400 on
> TAS.  While the WP-34S is of course vastly more powerful
> than the 15C, it doesn't have the near-infinite battery
> life of the older machine.
> 
> I too have the 15C app (on my iPad), but it's just not the
> same as a
> real calculator.  I do understand that once one carries a
> smartphone it makes sense to try to get the function of
> other gadgets one might carry in there too.
> 
All this chatter about the old HP calculators made me 
curious enough to pull out the box containing my HP 16C
calculator.

After not taking it out of the box and nice leather cover
I had bought for it for at least 15 years, doggone if the
display didn't light up when I pressed the ON button. 

It's still got the original batteries in it too. I bought in
in 1986 IIRC.

Hmm I just might see about some fresh batteries (just in case)
and giving it a workout this weekend.

Thanks for the information on the new stuff and a walk down
memory lane.

Nyssa, who wonders if she can find the original receipt for the
thing somewhere in the archives

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#7413

On 4/15/2015 14:10, Nyssa wrote:

> After not taking it out of the box and nice leather cover
> I had bought for it for at least 15 years, doggone if the
> display didn't light up when I pressed the ON button.
>
> It's still got the original batteries in it too. I bought in
> in 1986 IIRC.
>
> Hmm I just might see about some fresh batteries (just in case)
> and giving it a workout this weekend.

About 10 years ago I ran across my two (16C and 12C-I-think) and powered 
them up and they played after 30 years or more. (I think I was looking 
for my Versalog slide rule at the time!)

As I recall, I bought them new batteries because one showed a little 
leakage (I think).

> Thanks for the information on the new stuff and a walk down
> memory lane.

Indeed.

> Nyssa, who wonders if she can find the original receipt for the
> thing somewhere in the archives

My wife would have them but a lot of stuff got pitched in the Great 
Downsizing.

I do have the manuals and some Handy Guides somewhere--I'm going to see 
if I can find them and maybe the missing number plate for the 
"Financial" machine.



-- 
The unique Characteristics of System Administrators:

The fact that they are infallible; and,

The fact that they learn from their mistakes.


Quis custodiet ipsos custodes

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#7416

RS Wood <rsw@therandymon.com> wrote:
> On 2015-04-14, Oregonian Haruspex <bob_davis_retired@yahoo.com> wrote:
> > ["http://sourceforge.net/projects/wp34s/"]
> >
>  ...
> > Anyway I'm sure there are plenty of folks here who grew up using 67s, 
> > 41s, and 48s, and maybe 10s, 11s, 15s, and 16s, so this project might 
> > be of interest.

> It's cool, alright.  

> //--clip
> Description

> This project has created scientific firmware for the HP-20b and HP-30b
> business calculators.

> ...
> //--clip


> It's not a great time to be in the hardware business, though, no
> matter how cool this project is.  I carried my 15C around from 1988
> until last year, when it finally gave up the ghost, the victim surely
> of decades of abuse in tropical climates.  The same week it kicked
> the bucket though, I found an app for Android that replicates the
> device exactly.  On my Samsung Note 3 it's even approximately the
> same size!  Not sure even I would go out and by a stand-alone device
> anymore.  The only thing the app doesn't replicate is the awesome
> tactile feel of those raised buttons.  Instead, the phone vibrates -
> slightly annoying.

What you are reporting is what smartphones have been doing to many
hardware industries.

Palm Pilots no longer exist as marketable items - smart phones took
over their category of "use" with good enough tools no one needed a
second Palm Pilot to carry with them.

Compact digital cameras are also feeling the squeeze, smart phone
cameras are often good enough now for what most used compact digital
cameras for in the past that many no longer feel the need to carry a
separate camera.

I'm sure there are others that I can't think of right now.



PS - If you'd like a 15C simulator for your PC, there is one here:
http://hp-15c.homepage.t-online.de/content_web.htm

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#7417

On Thu, 16 Apr 2015, Rich wrote:

> RS Wood <rsw@therandymon.com> wrote:
>> On 2015-04-14, Oregonian Haruspex <bob_davis_retired@yahoo.com> wrote:
>>> ["http://sourceforge.net/projects/wp34s/"]
>>>
>>  ...
>>> Anyway I'm sure there are plenty of folks here who grew up using 67s,
>>> 41s, and 48s, and maybe 10s, 11s, 15s, and 16s, so this project might
>>> be of interest.
>
>> It's cool, alright.
>
>> //--clip
>> Description
>
>> This project has created scientific firmware for the HP-20b and HP-30b
>> business calculators.
>
>> ...
>> //--clip
>
>
>> It's not a great time to be in the hardware business, though, no
>> matter how cool this project is.  I carried my 15C around from 1988
>> until last year, when it finally gave up the ghost, the victim surely
>> of decades of abuse in tropical climates.  The same week it kicked
>> the bucket though, I found an app for Android that replicates the
>> device exactly.  On my Samsung Note 3 it's even approximately the
>> same size!  Not sure even I would go out and by a stand-alone device
>> anymore.  The only thing the app doesn't replicate is the awesome
>> tactile feel of those raised buttons.  Instead, the phone vibrates -
>> slightly annoying.
>
> What you are reporting is what smartphones have been doing to many
> hardware industries.
>
> Palm Pilots no longer exist as marketable items - smart phones took
> over their category of "use" with good enough tools no one needed a
> second Palm Pilot to carry with them.
>
I remember being all set to buy a PDA, and noticing they were either low 
end junk, or very expensive.  That was 2009, I bought a netbook instead, 
which wsa cheaper than the good PDAs, and had more capability.

But, tablets are really PDAs with a bigger screen.  Odd how they 
disappeared, only to reappear a few years later as a more capable device. 
I'd have thought they'd just progress, like other things do.

> Compact digital cameras are also feeling the squeeze, smart phone
> cameras are often good enough now for what most used compact digital
> cameras for in the past that many no longer feel the need to carry a
> separate camera.
>
> I'm sure there are others that I can't think of right now.
>
Mp3 players seem to be fading.  Again low end ones, and then there are 
still iPods.   But when I got my Sansa Fuze (deliberately because it 
wasn't Apple) there were more options available.

I even saw a few weeks ago the suggestion that looking for old smartphones 
cheap is a good thing, since you can use them for lots of things besides 
phones.  Which makes sense.

On the other hand, I have two GPS (bought used) and a digital camera (plus 
some I've bought used) and I use them.  Of course, I don't have a 
cellphone of any kind.  I suppose one of my tablets could replace the GPS 
and camera, but I still like having the camera.  Certainly I don't want to 
use space to keep my MP3 collection on the tablets.

And of course, I still have a watch.

   Michael

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