build qaulity of HP30B

[winston65]

Like many I'm interested in the WP34, but I would like to ask for some input on the build quality of the 30B. I've already exchanged one 30b because of a dead key. Can anyone comment on the durability of the 30b? Thanks to all.

[MarkHaysHarris777]

(03-19-2015 05:48 PM)winston65 Wrote:  Like many I'm interested in the WP34, but I would like to ask for some input on the build quality of the 30B. I've already exchanged one 30b because of a dead key. Can anyone comment on the durability of the 30b? Thanks to all.

I have repurposed five(5) of these furry animals (20b, 30b, think gerbil) and made them successfully into cheetahs (think powerful; fast, even deadly).

You should ask Eric Rechlin... I think he has repurposed (and sold) more than 500 of them! Anyway, he has a box full of calculators with bad keyboards.

Of the four 30b units (my two, my daughter's, my son's) one of mine has a crappy keyboard (all the keys work, but I get double key presses and skipped key presses on that one unit)... but, I still use it, and I still love it; she was my first, and well we have some sentiment together. :-}

If you want a keyboard that will work reliably for many years to come, then repurpose the 20b (seriously). Yes, the keyboard is mushy silicone rubber mat... that is why it works! Plus the 20b is a classy glossy black finish... think cheetah in a black panthera suit with yellow green eyes... oh, man.

I really love my 20b (WP34s)... it is the one I placed into the silk cushioned lined zippered case. Just saying.

Cheers,
marcus

[Dwight Sturrock]

I have a 20b and a 30b. The 20b's keyboard is mushy but responsive. The 30b has the old style "click" but there is one key on the top row that occasionally needs extra pressure.

While on this subject, my early 80's 34C had a very pronounced click, but my 80's 15C always has had a very subtle click. SN USA 2729A03919. So even in the heyday there were differences in the feel of the keyclicks.

[emece67]

I do have only one 30B (converted to 34S). Approximately 1/3 of the keys do not click, and 3 of them must be pushed really hard to work.

Really bad quality IMHO, I do have 40+ years old, used and abused, HP calculators with perfectly working keyboards.

[Gerald H]

I have bought a total of 23 30bs of which 6 had defective keyboards.

HP however replaced each of the units within 2 weeks no questions asked.

Quality control? Build quality? What a joke.

[John Galt]

It's about as good as every other new HP calculator... which is to say, not very good.

I bought 3 HP 50g and one of them had a bad key.

The good news I suppose is that if they're working OK out of the box, they'll probably work OK forever.

[Marcus von Cube]

(03-20-2015 12:59 PM)emece67 Wrote:  I do have only one 30B (converted to 34S). Approximately 1/3 of the keys do not click, and 3 of them must be pushed really hard to work.

You can hamper the keyboard click if you are a bit sloppy fixing the overlay. A sharp knife may help to improve the keyboard feel if that's the case.

[Gerald H]

(03-20-2015 04:39 PM)John Galt Wrote:  It's about as good as every other new HP calculator... which is to say, not very good.

I bought 3 HP 50g and one of them had a bad key.

The good news I suppose is that if they're working OK out of the box, they'll probably work OK forever.

No problems with 50G keyboards - refreshing, after the 49G+ experience: if the keyboard was good to start, after c 3months it was erratic, if the keys hadn't actually fallen off the machine.

[emece67]

(03-20-2015 06:54 PM)Marcus von Cube Wrote:  You can hamper the keyboard click if you are a bit sloppy fixing the overlay. A sharp knife may help to improve the keyboard feel if that's the case.

Thanks for the trick, but the keyboard was bad even before sticking the overlay. I'll try lo locate a 20B to have a try with it.

[Tugdual]

(03-19-2015 05:48 PM)winston65 Wrote:  Like many I'm interested in the WP34, but I would like to ask for some input on the build quality of the 30B. I've already exchanged one 30b because of a dead key. Can anyone comment on the durability of the 30b? Thanks to all.

The 34s is a very good calculator but I don't use it on a daily base because of stickers. This is terribly DIY and fragile. So I kept (and like )it as a curiosity but a 35s for everyday calculation and a 50g (for RPL and better than a freezing Prime) for serious stuff are better options. Depends on your needs...

[pito]

(03-19-2015 05:48 PM)winston65 Wrote:  Like many I'm interested in the WP34, but I would like to ask for some input on the build quality of the 30B. I've already exchanged one 30b because of a dead key. Can anyone comment on the durability of the 30b? Thanks to all.

You may see below how the 30b keys are designed - they could be repaired sometimes. You may easily bend the pin inside when pressing too hard (ie when "ironing" the sticker on it).

How we did it in past:
http://www.hpmuseum.org/forum/thread-1647.html