HP 48G+ over 50G?

[bhtooefr]

The problem with the 48-series platform, in 2013, is that it's so limited for what you pay for.

Drawbacks to the 50g:

• Build quality isn't what it used to be (it's still better than TI)
• IIRC battery life can be a bit mediocre under heavy use
• If you want to get really nitpicky, the keyboard isn't quite as responsive as it could be (although KEYTIME tuning is always an option)
• If you want to get really REALLY nitpicky, the way the real time clock is handled allows some inaccuracies to slip in
  

Drawbacks to the 48GX:

• The display isn't anywhere near as good except for the later revisions (and even then, it's still 131x64 instead of 131x80)
• Can't update the OS, so if you get an old one, you're stuck with what's on there
• MetaKernel not in ROM, so you HAVE to use an expansion card
• Price - I think they're overpriced right now, really
• Expense of expansion - the 50g can be expanded with a $2 SD card, the 48GX costs an arm and a leg to expand and then you're still capacity-constrained
• Connectivity - the 48GX is serial-only, which in 2013 is a pain to deal with, and you have to use Kermit (or in later ROMs, Xmodem) linking, you can't bypass it all by just sticking files on a card like you can on the 50g
  

The 48G+ is like a 48GX that you can't expand. So, you have even less options available to you. You can't even run MetaKernel if you wanted, for instance.

Honestly, if I were getting a calculator to use primarily, I'd go 50g, every time. If I were collecting primarily, then I'd go 48GX over the 48G+.