HP calculators that never were

[Giuseppe Donnini]

Another example would be the HP-12R REAL ESTATE CONSULTANT, a Pioneer model for real estate agents. Given its model number, it was obviously meant to replace the HP-12C.



Here is some more information on it:

“The HP-12R Real Estate Consultant was another attempt at designing a replacement – for at least part of the HP-12C market – namely real estate agents (“realtors”) in the US who all seem to have an HP-12C on their desks to calculate loan financing. The line art on this issue’s cover is derived from a prototype HP-12R unit that I [Włodek Mier-Jędrzejowicz] have – but this was only a mockup – probably made to show to real estate agents and ask their opinions. The opinions seem to have been not all that favourable, since the HP-12C continued in production and the HP-12R was never seen on the market.”

(Source: “More HP-12C” by Włodek Mier-Jędrzejowicz, in: DATAFILE V21 N2, p.16)