Little comparison DM15L vs. HP15 CE

[rawi]

I did a little comparison between the SwissMicros DM15L and the new HP15 Collector's Edition concerning some aspects. It would be interesting as well to compare to the original HP15C but mine passed away decades ago.

a) Speed
I used the following program in RAD mode:

f LBL A
STO 2
0
STO 0
STO 1
f LBL 1
SIN
e^x
STO+0
STO+1
RCL 2
RCL 1
g TEST 8
GTO 1
RCL 0
g RTN

For use you but in the number of the loops and press GSB A.

With the input of 600 loops, the result is 761,689.

The time used is
DM15: 55.2 sec. HP15CE: 9.0 sec.
So the new HP15CE is about 6 times faster.

b) Memory
I put in 8 ENTER 8

DM15L:
f DIM A
f DIM B
f DIM C
works. So you can use three 8X8 matrices.
Trying to put in f DIM D results in Error 10.

HP 15CE:
f DIM A
works.
Trying to put in f DIM B results in Error 10
So you can use only one 8X8 matrix.
But you can put in e.g. another 8X1 matrix. The maximum number of matrix elements is 100, not 64 as the manual states at page 140.

So this is a clear point for the DM15L.

c) Keyboard
The DM15L keyboard is good, but the HP15CE keyboard is better, easier to press, very clear click point, slanted. This is a clear winning point for the HP15CE.

d) Display
Both are very clear and easy to read. The display of the DM15L is bigger (7cm * 1.2 cm vs. 6 cm * 1.2 cm) and the font can be selected from several alternatives whereas the font of the HP15CE is fixed. On the other hand, the status information (e.g. RAD, PGM) looks rather clumsy at the DM15L compared to the HP15CE.

e) Easiness to repair
I'm by no means an expert about this but the rear cover of the DM15 can be unscrewed quite easily whereas this seems not possible with the HP15CE. Here only the lid for the exchange of the batteries can be unscrewed.

f) Overall robustness
Again I'm no expert about this. But the DM15L seems to be more robust with a metal back, whereas the back of the HP15CE is plastic.

g) Documentation
The HP15CE has a very nice manual whereas the DM15L relies on material available in the internet.

Wrapping up the HP15CE is faster and has a better keyboard and a nice manual whereas the DM15L has more memory and seems to be more robust.