Considering 35s acquisition

[robert rozee]

(02-10-2014 07:55 AM)Thomas Radtke Wrote:  

(02-10-2014 05:11 AM)robert rozee Wrote:  so there may be some hope, but not for a retrofit.

According to their initial webpages, a fullsize clone was their original idea until the plans for a 15C LE were unveiled. It was a very unlucky coincidence.

and yet the 15C LE is a rather poor product as a 'collectable'. the software issues are quite minor when compared to mechanical and materials considerations. it is very unlikely that even a fraction of the 15C LE calculators made will still be functional in 10 years time, due to failure of the flexible conductive plastic cable between PCB and LCD, and also because of the use of lead-free solder in the construction. there will be nobody who buys a 15C LE at the beginning of their career and still has the same calculator operating at the end.

the materials in the cable decompose over time, leading to the ends detaching, while lead-free solder grows dendrils (long tin crystals), which eventually produce shorts between adjacent pads. these are both well known issues in the electronics industry.

a swiss-micro effort could, on the other hand, produce a 15C clone that would have a lifespan approaching that of the original 15C. however, it would require careful selection of materials and components. a good design would also allow for replacement of parts that fail.

rob :-)