Questions on HP Prime and its features

[grsbanks]

The Prime is a huge departure from the 49g+. In some areas the Prime is so far ahead of the 49g+ (sheer speed, memory capacity...) but in others, the HP 49/50 family is way ahead of the Prime (the solver and units come straight to mind).

If you are set in your ways with RPN and RPL and make extensive use of the equation library then I would advise you to look for another 49g+ or a 50g second hand on the well-known auction site. I have bought several such units that way and they've all even been cheaper than a new Prime.

If, however, you're not worried about working in a completely different manner then by all means try out the HP Prime. Just bear in mind that the Prime is NOT an RPL machine, it is programmed in a language called HP-PPL, which is similar to Pascal. There is an RPN mode for the Prime but it is really something bolted on as an after-thought and is not really integrated into the system. There is a CAS on the Prime but, unlike the 49/50 family, it is not so well integrated into the working environment. There's a "Home" mode and a "CAS" mode and ne'er the twain shall meet.

Don't get me wrong, I think the Prime is a great machine, especially the latest incarnation of it (G2), but it really is completely different from the 48/49/50 families of calculators. I wouldn't want you to buy one thinking you were going to get an updated, super-fast RPL monster.