News from Swiss Micros

[Garth Wilson]

(06-03-2021 05:58 PM)Peet Wrote:  The IL came a long time after the HP-41C and 41CV were already successful.

I have not been able to find exact dates; but a web search tells me the cv was introduced sometime in 1980, and the date on my 82160A HPIL module is Feb '81, not much later. The idea to develop HPIL began in 1976.

Quote:The more relevant features was the alphanumeric display and external data carrier (magnet cards and modules) which the DM41X compensates with the USB-port.

I'm sure glad the 41 has the four ports in the end. The TI-58c & 59 only had one, and it could only hold user-language ROM routines, no I/O, no added RAM, and no machine-language routines. I do not consider USB to be a suitable substitute for HPIL though. The USB spec precludes a hand-held device from being a controller, and normally one port goes to only one device. I've had my HPIL connected to a half-dozen devices at once. A MicroSD card slot would sure be a welcome addition though.

Quote:The HP41 was the first mobile, alphanumeric programmable handheld. Practically the grandfather of all the devices taken for granted today like the iPhone.

I still use mine for some of the functions some people use their smartphones for (and I don't use a smartphone at all).