An ode to the 49G

[Lithium]

I recently received a nice 49G (to cover the frustration of the dead 28S), and I have to say I am really pleasantly surprised !

I have read so many criticism about it that I was expecting a filmsy thing with a TI 30-like keyboard and a rainbow mirror instead of a screen...but really it isn't.

The feeling is good, it's heavy, it looks like a blue TI 83+ silver edition when closed, and when you open it, surprise, it looks good too. The screen cover is not that bad, the scren itself is well contrasted, and you know what, I actually like the keyboard a lot! The rubber buttons plus the tactile feedback are a good combination, softer than the 48's keyboards, the tactile feedback is smoother than the one on the 50G (which feels and sounds a bit clumsy to me), and I haven't missed a key yet
I haven't tried Speed UI or Metakernel on my 48 (my 48G is on it's way to become a 48G+, and my 48GX is waiting for a memory card or something), but the 49G feels faster, better, really a tweaked or overclocked 48, with a better screen.

On the negative side, mine came with 1.18 OS installed, and since the serial cable is different than the one for the 48 (why HP, why???), it will stay like this for the moment. The Enter key is, well, I don't want to talk about it. Why not a small "=" key at the bottom right of the calculator, and a double Enter key where it used to be (like the 17BII for example, best of both worlds)?
We could also talk about the lack of IR, so I can't transfer things between calcs easily, and can't print (grrr, I love printing things). It can also be considered a bit disappointing, possibility-wise after the 48GX. Maybe it's more a 48GX on steroid than a real 49. A 48GX+ ?

Sorry for the long post, I just wanted to talk high of the 49G. Did I mention that since nobody want them, they are very cheap (an that I have a second on the way)? I have to admit mine is a Indonesian made unit, maybe better quality control, but I am very happy I decided to try this one, after years of contempt.