41: Worth getting a card reader?

[Dave Frederickson]

(02-19-2021 08:11 PM)Dave Britten Wrote:  Any opinions on whether it's worth getting a rebuilt/refurbished card reader for my 41CX, or are there better options available for about the same price point? I know you can save and load programs or storage registers, but there's no direct integration with Extended Memory. Also not sure if there's a simple method of backing up and restoring the user key assignments or alarm catalog, which would be extremely useful.

Can you use the printer at the same time for full support of 97 programs (which I have quite a few of)?

Also, how hard is it on the alkaline N batteries? Do you find that the number of blank cards required to make it useful is far greater than with a 65/67/97? For comparison, my 65 has about 30-40 cards written, as well as about 5 of the HP Application Pacs.

Just trying to decide if it's worth hunting for one on ebay, or if I should get something more exotic - i.e. expensive. And I have a DM41X already, but I'm also a sucker for the "real thing", and I can't plug my 82143A into the DM41X!

Consider HP-IL with virtual storage and access to the files in the LIF disc archive.