Advice to buy an HP

[jebem]

(04-15-2015 09:25 PM)Cancuino Wrote:  (...) and own a HP48G+ since 1997 (...) I find it sort of slow nowadays that I'm used to use mobile phones and this kind of things (...)

Welcome to the forums!

IMHO, we should not opt for a single calculator model and stick to it.
I mean, get the HP-50G and the PRIME, for double fun!

I like my HP-48G+ and my HP-50G as well, both are great machines.
If you want to stay in the same programming paradigm (RPL) and get more of the same but at a faster pace, get a HP-50G.

(04-15-2015 09:25 PM)Cancuino Wrote:  I use to buy the latest thing but I've read not very good things about the prime (...)

I see that the PRIME needs a push here, so here it goes

The HP Prime is a different modern comprehensive machine, and really, really fast when compared with any other calculator, HP or not.
For most of the complex math calculations taking seconds on the HP-50G, the Prime gives you instantaneous (good) answers.

On top of that, the programming paradigm uses a modern friendly structured high level language, similar to PASCAL with a touch of BASIC (although, without GOTO instructions).

Does it have issues? Sure, as anyone eventually will discover soon or later.
But this is normal for a new, evolving, complex environment, where at least three different environments coexist (and to some extent, interact):
- The HOME mode for non-symbolic operations;
- The CAS mode based on XCAS for symbolic calculus;
- Then we have the Apps (built in and it's a matter of time until additional Apps comes out from 3rd parties);
- And let's not forget the RPN entry mode available from HOME mode.

HP have been releasing new firmware updates at a steady pace since 2013 to fix issues and releasing additional features.
I don't see how is this different from what HP did in the past, for instance with the 48 series.

However, a big difference now on the PRIME relates to the increased complexity offered, when comparing it with the good old days of RPL machines.
With the PRIME, more components are interacting, more teams are working on the different calculator environments, increased work is needed to do quality control and debug to the last bug if possible.