How do you like the HP 34C?

[BobVA]

(11-28-2017 04:12 AM)Trond Wrote:  Are there any differences between the LED calculators in this regard?

Perhaps it's just the examples I own, but my HP-67 seems to have the best display of all my LED HP's. It's certainly brighter / higher contrast compared to the rest of the Classics I have, and it has a wider viewing angle than the Woodstocks (HP-2x series LED's)

The 67 is extremely well built (but you'll probably need to replace the friction roller in the card reader) and can be handier for arbitrary quick calculations than the 41C since all the functions are accessible directly from the keys. It's also fun to program and supports some nice features like indirect addressing, reading/writing cards, etc.

The 41 has a lot more programming "depth" so, if you're interested in really wringing out a machine, between the factory functions and the extensions developed by the 41 community, it could keep you busy for years. It's also highly customizable, has a large assortment of native expansion devices and the ability to access the even larger set of HP-IL peripherals when equipped with the HP-IL interface module. I don't think I even scratched the surface of mine back in the 80's and certainly don't with the HP-41CL I own now.

I replaced my original 41 with a 15C for graduate school and found it a lot handier for general use, particularly the native ability to handle complex numbers and root-finding / integration from the keyboard. All that could have been handled with programming and keyboard customization on the 41, but I didn't have the gumption to sort that out at the time. Of the stock HP calculators the 15C is certainly my favorite.

The Woodstocks are very nice calculators, just bear in mine the cautions about not using the charger. My HP-29C with a "New ACT" chip from Panamatik is my favorite calculator for general use now (likely to be replaced by an LP version). It's handy to carry, has a nice keyboard and is very quick to use / program.

If you really like the 34C firmware, another option is to pick up an inexpensive Woodstock (21 or 25) and install Panamatik's ACT or upcoming LP options then load the 34C firmware (or the 67 firmware) in it and add an appropriate keyboard overlay.