Opinion on HP41C for CL conversion

[TASP]

I have an HP41C, tall keys, I have set aside for an eventual CL upgrade. I found an old PPC article with a program for determining which 'bugs' are present in a given machine.

I've entered the program and run it and only have 'bug' 7. (seemingly identical looking alpha strings may not test identical)

There is nothing special about a tall keys 41C, serial # 1944A----- is there ??

I'd hate to donor body the only tall keys with only bug 7 left in the world, but if they are copiously plentiful, no problem.

(I'll remove the circuit board and store it in a static free bag, forever I suppose)

I'm also going to take the bushing between the two halves of the calculator and paint it silver too.

This 41C is in really good condition overall, the rubber feet seem to be original and aren't worn, no corrosion in battery pack or contacts, and the keyboard is tight, clean, and actually looks new.

Figure this is the best choice of 'the fleet' here to turn into a CL. I just really don't want to zorch a rare one though. I've got through tax season, and it's time to start moving towards getting a CL.

At long last.

[rprosperi]

(03-03-2016 03:15 AM)TASP Wrote:  I have an HP41C, tall keys, I have set aside for an eventual CL upgrade...

I'm also going to take the bushing between the two halves of the calculator and paint it silver too.

Jump on in, the water is fine, and you will love your new CL. If it turns out to be the only 'bug-7 only' machine, you could always put the original board back in to save, sell, or whatever; the CL upgrade does not harm any of the original components. But you won't go back...

In the 80's, someone in the SoCal area attending PPC meetings used this same idea of painting the divider separating upper and lower case halves, though I don't recall the color. Since the bushing is a bit wider than any other portion of the case, it takes all the edge-wear, and scratches quickly revealed the darker base color. I suggest you use multiple coats and/or cover the paint with some form of clear coat protective layer, etc.

[TASP]

Yeah, I figured model train paint and some clear poly over it.

I was hoping for a 3D printed silver one to be available, but I have an extra bushing, the keyboard has the silver trim around the edge, and I have some black/silver P-Touch label tape so it will look really nice when it's all done.

Appreciate the advice on the donor. 37 year old HP calculator, I just want to proceed carefully. It really is a nice looking tall keys. To my untrained eye, it looks unused.

My 'flagship' isn't as nice, it had daily use when I was at the defense contractor, and it had already been modded with the 2 speed, either as bought or I sent it in. So flagship is a little less pristine.

I do have a Time Module for the CL too.

Funny, my dearly bought AME Port Extender is maximally useful with my HP41C, and now with the CL, it is obviated that much more. Of course, I could get another 41C I suppose . . . .

yeah, I ordered a Port Extender, and really with 'flagship' already having full internal memory, I really can't plug it in to that one.

I do have a CV, and 2 tripled Xfun modules, so the Port Extender isn't 'useless' but the Tall Keys was the best unit for it.

Why is collecting so complicated?

[Paul Dale]

I used a tall keys 41C for my CL. I didn't check for any of the bugs -- the original processor board can be put back in unharmed.

In other words: go for it, you are unlikely to regret the 41CL upgrade.


- Pauli

[4ster]

TASP,

Do you have a link or something for that PPC article and the bug reporter? That would be interesting to run on my 41s.

I'll be interested to hear how your upgrade goes.

Steve

[TASP]

page 25, PPC Journal V6 N8 Nov-Dec 1979


I suppose I should run it on my apps, LOL !!

[jebem]

(03-03-2016 03:05 PM)TASP Wrote:  page 25, PPC Journal V6 N8 Nov-Dec 1979


I suppose I should run it on my apps, LOL !!

Is this one?

[TASP]

Noticed this too and it's amazing:

HP41C was announced in the July 1979 PPC Journal, V6 N4

The next issue had the hex table !! And on page 27, a proposal for a PPC Custom ROM !!!!!

In the next issue, a circuit diagram and internal pictures were published !!

Considering this was all decades before the internet, pretty impressive how fast they were moving.

LOL, who in their right mind would have taken a new and expensive HP41C apart just for some pictures, and possibly risked losing the machine to not being able to put it back together again ?? Brave, way braver than me, that's for sure !

And remember, back then pictures involved film and a trip to the drug store to get them developed, not instant like today.

[TASP]

(03-03-2016 03:08 PM)jebem Wrote:  

(03-03-2016 03:05 PM)TASP Wrote:  page 25, PPC Journal V6 N8 Nov-Dec 1979


I suppose I should run it on my apps, LOL !!

Is this one?

That be it. You even have barcode, I didn't find (OK, look for) barcode and entered it the hard way.

[4ster]

Thanks to you both!

[Brad Barton]

I'm in the same boat as you. I've got my old faithful CV, and picked up a really nice CX last year. I didn't plan on converting either one to CL because I just didn't have the money to purchase the CL package.

Then, darn the luck (heehee), I won the CL board at HHC2015. I haven't wanted to lose either of my current machines to the upgrade, so I thought I'd buy a 41 off of TAS.

Well after watching the crazy prices (attached graphic shows average TAS prices for 41's over a one month span) for a few months, I think I'm going to have to sacrifice one of my 41's. I'm leaning towards the CV, but still have mixed feelings.

Good luck with your tall key conversion.
Brad

[TASP]

I don't know the reasons, but tall keys seem to be the popular machine for CL conversion, other than joining the herd, I don't have any specific reason for donating my tall keys either.

I only have one CV, and the one C, and using a CX just seems wasteful.

I even have a reason to not use my TK (the AME Port Extender being maximally useful on a 41C) but I'm headed there anyhow.

[Geoff Quickfall]

Hi Tasp,

Check out this:

http://www.hpmuseum.org/cgi-sys/cgiwrap/...ead=186130

And these:

http://www.hpmuseum.org/cgi-sys/cgiwrap/...ead=187168

http://www.hpmuseum.org/cgi-sys/cgiwrap/...ead=186300

http://www.hpmuseum.org/cgi-sys/cgiwrap/...ead=186687

Geoff

[rprosperi]

(03-03-2016 03:22 PM)TASP Wrote:  Noticed this too and it's amazing:

HP41C was announced in the July 1979 PPC Journal, V6 N4

The next issue had the hex table !! And on page 27, a proposal for a PPC Custom ROM !!!!!

In the next issue, a circuit diagram and internal pictures were published !!

Considering this was all decades before the internet, pretty impressive how fast they were moving.

Though PPC members were really, really good, and worked really hard to uncover and document this stuff, keep a couple things in mind.

1. HP pre-released some beta units to PPC of almost every model prior to introduction (beta testing, etc.)
2. The Date printed on the cover of a PPC Journal frequently had little to do with real time. An issue marked June may have actually been mailed in August, along with the July and August issues also mailed in August.
3. Food, water and shelter had only secondary meaning if a new bug was being characterized and tested. I specifically recall Jeremy Smith vowing to not sleep until he could figure out how some weird bug behaved. And he stuck to the vow.

After moving out of SoCal, I remember being insanely frustrated at having to wait for the next Journal issue to arrive in the mail; seemed to be many months between each monthly issue. Wonderful times, never to be repeated.

[TASP]

LOL, never took the charger port cover off my TK till just now.

It's a gold ball unit !!

Didn't even suspect.

[Gene]

(03-03-2016 03:33 PM)Brad Barton Wrote:  Then, darn the luck (heehee), I won the CL board at HHC2015. I haven't wanted to lose either of my current machines to the upgrade ... [ but ] ... I think I'm going to have to sacrifice one of my 41's. I'm leaning towards the CV, but still have mixed feelings.
Brad

Gene: Brad, you won't ever regret it. The 41CL is so much more useful than any vanilla HP 41.

I had a tall keys converted and a later unit. I didn't like the display refresh on the tall unit upgraded to the 41CL, so I use the later unit.

[Guenter Schink]

(03-03-2016 03:33 PM)Brad Barton Wrote:  Then, darn the luck (heehee), I won the CL board at HHC2015. I haven't wanted to lose either of my current machines to the upgrade, so I thought I'd buy a 41 off of TAS.

Monte gave me a special deal on acquiring this board. Thus we provided this marvel as a door price at the last HHC. Watch out for what I'm going to bring to the next conference.

Günter

[TASP]

Was pawing through 'the box' this afternoon and found a second 41C. Damn, how much stuff do I have ??

Anyhow;


YIPPY !!!

My Port Extender has a home now !!

Also noted the TK yellow keyboard labels are in a much thinner script than the other 41C (and the rest too). Also, the yellow shift key seems a shade and 1/3 lighter in color than the other ones.

The display contrast on the TK isn't quite as good as the other 41C either.

Other 41C s/n is 2424S-----.

[Brad Barton]

(03-03-2016 11:41 PM)Guenter Schink Wrote:  Monte gave me a special deal on acquiring this board. Thus we provided this marvel as a door price at the last HHC. Watch out for what I'm going to bring to the next conference.

Günter

Gunter,

I re-watched Gene's 41CL presentation last night, where he thanked you for providing such a tremendous door prize. Now I thank you as well. Even with a discount, it was an incredibly generous gesture, and it was one of many, many contributions that made HHC 2015 so enjoyable for me personally.

Everyone I met was friendly and eager to talk about our shared obsession. There were many nice prizes and interesting presentations, which I know took a lot of personal time to generate, and I'd recommend HHC 2016 to anyone who's out there lurking but hasn't yet decided to come. Thank you all for putting on such a great conference. I might have a few contributions of my own to add to this one.

Brad