Another Forum Suggestion

[Matt Agajanian]

(10-22-2024 05:01 PM)Sylvain Cote Wrote:  

(10-22-2024 12:06 AM)Matt Agajanian Wrote:  Okay. Educate me. In what way does the functions/commands/programming does the 42 have in common with the 41?

The fundamental difference is that the HP-41 is an open system while the HP-42S is a closed system.

The HP-42S is a partial simulation of the HP-41CV done is System RPL.
Out of the box, the HP-42S has a lot more functionality than the HP-41CV but what you buy is what you will ever have.

With the HP-41, you get less when naked but it can be expanded in every possible direction after that.
The HP-41 is really an extendable computer in the form of a calculator.

In the 1980s, I used the HP-41 to control surveying equipment to collect data on the field, then transfer those data to a PC running AutoCAD (with custom AutoLisp programs that I wrote).
Hardware: 41CV+T+XFM/41CX, HP-IL, Ext-I/O, IL/RS232/RAM-drive, Custom Surveying module (FOCAL and MCODE), etc.

In the same time, I did a lot of custom programs to control data acquisition equipment with the HP-41.
Hardware: 41CV+T+XFM/41CX, HP-IL, Ext-I/O, IL/HP-IB, HP-IB Instruments, etc.

This was on top of the possibility of saving/reading programs from external storage (card reader, tape drive, floppy drive, etc) and printing on multiple printer/plotter (thermal, impact, pen plotter, etc.).

edit: typos

I see your points. Now that I read about your application of the 41 as the base for a complete computer system, my impression of the 41 is significantly altered.