43s status

[Richard Ottosen]

(02-27-2014 08:28 AM)brouhaha Wrote:  And a further clarification.

More status and other comments I sent to the software development team a few days ago.

I have been using a HP42s version of the DIY5 as my daily calculator hoping
(?) to find any subtle flaws in the DIY5. I haven't used my DIY4 or HP41C too
much lately. I really do dislike the HP42s having the arithmetic keys in
wrong place and in the wrong order.

Eric and I have been doing some packaging stuff -- Eric on the future
production version using injection molded parts and me on the prototype
version using LASER-cut parts. Both of these effect the mechanical design
of the printed circuit board.

Eric has been real busy with work so he has not gotten much done on the
software and I have had other projects distracting me so I have not done much
on the hardware. Once Eric gets the software cleaned up I will finish cleaning
up the hardware and we will get new PCB's made. One of our goals is to have
a local company do automated assembly of the next batch of boards.

On another note... The version of software in my DIY5 does not turn itself
off after a few minutes of inactivity. Either I forget to turn it off or it
gets turned on when I put it in my carrying case. This is really not a huge
problem since the DIY5 can stay on for months before the battery runs down.

This did get me thinking, however. I think the way the On key works is
"backwards". I think that the calculator should turn when the Shift and
On keys are pressed and turn off when just the On key is pressed. This would
make accidentally turning on the calculator less likely and more likely that
it would turn off accidentally. What do you think?