WIP: 16C firmware hack for more memory

[Garry Lancaster]

(01-31-2023 03:02 AM)brouhaha Wrote:  I'm leaning toward option 3, requiring LBL, GTO, and GSB to always be followed by two hex digits.

I've been thinking about this some more. I really like the consistency, but am somewhat loathe to give up my quick 2-keystroke access to my most frequently used programs.

However, as you're taking inspiration from the 41C, how about adding some form of key redefinability? Whilst I don't think a toggle-able USER mode would be ideal, something simpler would be nice. Could ON be pressed into service as a 3rd shift key, perhaps? I concede this may be tricky/impossible if it is handled as a special case by the hardware or firmware, but I'll assume for now it's feasible.

Option (1):
ON followed by keys A-F or 0-9 acts as GSB to those 16 labels. ON followed by ON turns the calculator off. ON followed by anything else is ignored.

Option (2):
ON is treated as a third shift key, followed by any other key (except ON, which turns the calculator off) to perform a user-defined action.
f-ON followed by any other key starts redefining that key. The definition is just the 2-digit label id.
g-ON followed by any other key clears the definition for that key.
This option is perhaps a bit OTT

Option (3):
If ON isn't usable in this way, you could perhaps still give quick access to a few programs.
In float mode, pressing A-F could do a GSB to one of those labels.
In integer mode, pressing . followed by A-F would do the same.
This option is perhaps slightly inconsistent but pretty easy to remember, and very similar to the quick-access capability of many other HPs. In fact, I think I like this one best