HP Prime: The Logic of Purchasing

[dbbotkin]

(04-01-2015 07:05 PM)Han Wrote:  

(04-01-2015 01:44 PM)toml_12953 Wrote:  It doesn't rule out the target group at all. Just because they don't require an easily mastered OS, that doesn't mean they wouldn't use one if it were available.

Tom L

That's a big "if" -- how many complex systems do you know of can be easily mastered? Wouldn't you agree that "complex systems that can be easily mastered" is an oxymoron?

That depends on what is meant by "mastered". Take sex, for example . . ..
Like iOs, an intuitive user interface that is both beautiful and functional, and while easy to use, can support applications that in themselves, are complex systems.

My point is that, like in a great game, "mastery" should be managed in levels and not require much of anything to play at level one. Having owned (and mastered) most of HP's calculators from HP67 through HP48, I did not find the Prime either intuitive or easily mastered. The reason being that unlike the '67 where computational complexity was available only by adding a program on a card, the Prime comes packed with programs and at least two possible user interfaces (RPN & CAS) and with the Android, two visual configurations. It is the Swiss Army Knife of calculators.