Revolutionary HP Prime 2.1.14541 update with Python!

[jonmoore]

(04-20-2021 09:56 PM)compsystems Wrote:  The Hpprime may be the best calculator in the world, you just have to accept the help of the user community.

1: Create a bug tracker on this website or similar place.
2: A system for posting suggestions and ideas.
3: Collaboration to improve and complete the user and programming manuals.
4: A very good program editor for PC.
5: Complete the rest of the CAS functions that have yet to be incorporated. (version 1.6))
6: Connecting the calculator with microprogrammable or microcontrollable devices with python.

Agree with all your points here. And funnily enough, considering that the HP Prime has limited development manpower resources in terms of software development, in comparison to TI and Casio. Taking a more 'Open Source' route with regard to micro-programmable/micro-controllable devices could be a real competitive advantage.

The reality of the competitive landscape is that Casio and TI now pitch their high-end calculator hardware as part of an integrated Calculator/Desktop(and tablet) offering. TI now sell the CX CAS II (and non-CAS variety) as a bundle which includes the desktop software for approximately the same price as the HP Prime, and CASIO centres their high-end offering around classpad.net coupled with their iOS/Android apps (combined subscription $25 per annum). HP can't compete with these offerings with current manpower resources.

The HP Prime's superior hardware is obviously a real advantage as evidenced in Critor's wonderfully detailed benchmarks. Pitch this against TI and their TI-Innovator platform (which is great but a closed proprietary system and relatively expensive). I'd love to see the HP Prime integrating with open embedded computing platforms such as Arduino, Micro:bit, Raspberry Pi etc. etc. The European STEM space has a preference for open technologies if they're available; so if the HP Prime worked with open tech it would be a real win.

Whilst I wouldn't expect HP to offer the equivalent of TI's Teacher and Student desktop software, some form of desktop tool, over and above the emulator is sorely needed. Particularly with regards to Python, but it would also be great if the graphing capabilities of the calculator could offer the ability to render the graphs at a higher resolution on the desktop. Yet again, thinking laterally here, why reinvent the wheel when integration with e.g. Desmos or GeoGebra were made possible. Sure you can just enter the same functions into said graphing software, but smart integration would be a superior experience.