TI-58/59 Modules Curiosity

[Paul Berger (Canada)]

Why didn't the HP41? I would suspect that the designers did not think the R/W non-volatile memory technology available at that time was a viable solution so both opted for using magnetic cards for storage. Another factor that might have tipped the scale towards cards would be cost, the cost per byte of storage at the time would have been much less for the cards. They do not say what sort of memory was used in the 7100 modules, previously it was suggested it may have been EEPROM but at the time this calculator was scheduled to be released, EEPROM technology may not have been available. In my 1977 NS Memory data book they do list an electrically programmable ROM but it was not erasable and required a -50V programming pulse. The write up in the catalog that Katie linked does not say that the modules are rewritable, only that you can store program steps into it. I guess battery back RAM might have been a possibility but given memory and battery technology of the time that would have likely been problematic.

edit:
With the information just made available it seems the memory is indeed some early form of EEPROM even though in several places an Intel engineer is credited with developing EEPROM technology in 1978. It seems that the release was delayed a few times before it was cancelled, which would suggest there where significant problems with it, and that coupled with TI delivering the 58/59 probably doomed it.

BTW I read in one place that TI beat NS to market with the58/59 and that killed the 7100. The NS people probably saw what TI was releasing and threw in the towel it seems they exited from the business completely after this, and now National Semiconductor is owned by TI. The base 59 had more program steps in the base unit than the 7100 plus a "File cartridge" not to mention the more cost effective program storage and the extra routines that would be available in the plug in modules. Even the 58C had as many program steps available, but of course no way to save the other than in the calculator's continuous memory. It would probably be at least a couple years later before people began to find out how bad the keyboard of the 58/59 was, just in time for HP to release the 41.