What would your ideal HP calc look like now?

[Manolo Sobrino]

(03-23-2014 04:03 PM)walter b Wrote:  Back to the original question: My personal dream calculator would be one featuring

• RPN for obvious reasons,
• the function set of the WP 34S (or a little bit more),
• a sturdy, reliable keyboard with tactle feedback and durable keys (like the one of e.g. an HP-67, IIRC),
• at least the display resolution of the HP-42S (primarily for allowing sofkeys),
• six keys more than the HP-42S (for softkeys not overwriting regular functions),
• a standard communication interface (like USB) or a standard medium for data exchange (like SD) with a PC (so I may use a PC for program editing if I want to),
• a reasonable amount of user-accessible memory for data and programs,
• flash memory for on-device backup, library storage, etc.,
• a power consumption like a Voyager or a Pioneer,
• all that within the size of a Pioneer and as properly packed.
  

At the bottom line, that's just a little bit more than an HP-41Cx, an HP-42S, or a WP 34S could offer (for different reasons). I don't see a pressing need for on-device graphics - that can be done better on a PC (based on calculator data if a standard format can be supported). Also you may note I didn't state any speed requirements - I simply presume sufficient speed for solving real world problems is for granted nowadays. No bells and whistles like color screens, stereo output, shiny surfaces, or backlighting - just solid quality. Period.

Just my 20m€ based on 3.5 decades of professional work in science and various industries.

d:-)

More or less the same for me, plus a screen big enough to see 4/5 lines of stack, a standard programming language (possibly Lua), everything running on a modern low power MCU with maybe an integrated FPU and ADC as a perk.

Standard AAA batteries/rechargeables (through the USB port).

Support for CSV data would be nice. Also the capability to export the history of calculations.

I don't care if it is algebraic, but it has to be properly implemented (separated keys for both parentheses, STO/RCL and possibly unshifted Ans keys).