Exploring the beauty of retro electronics (Gallery)

[martinot]

(02-23-2018 01:07 AM)Manolo Sobrino Wrote:  

(02-21-2018 11:11 PM)martinot Wrote:  I do not have this, but from a design point it looks fine and OK:

Hum, the HP10s+... that one is funny, because it happens to be a Casio. A cheaply made derivative of the FX-MS series (just shuffling a few keys), with (even) worse keys and worse stability. The thing likes to drift when keying and also rattles if you've slid it into the cover to do so (put some cardboard between, thank me later). I know it's a 10€ calc and YGWYPF, yet still...

I had to buy one to get used to it for a test. Some civil servant thought it was about time to standardize and chose the cheapest one. Good looks and the nice touch of a recessed ON key, but Casios (with a Casio label on the faceplate) are usually better engineered and the original FX-MS have much nicer LCDs.

I do know it is a Casio calc because I'm familiar with them and well... if you press four times MODE to get to the Disp menu, and then press "2" (hidden option) it displays CASIO (Kinpo can be like this).

Yes. I do not own this 10s+ (add just $2 and you get the much more capable HP 300S+ instead), but it's actually a rebranded Casio fx-85MS.

Exactly the same components and software. Just way better looking (not as ugly design as all current Casio calculators).

Compare with this ugly bastard design: https://www.conrad-electronic.co.uk/ce/e...Calculator



Terrbile!

FYI: Also the HP 300s+ is an OEM Casio calculator (with OK and fine keys, at least my daughters sample, but the display contrast is not the best).

[martinot]

(02-23-2018 02:13 AM)Eddie W. Shore Wrote:  Here's what I don't understand: why doesn't HP have a basic more "entry level" RPN (possibly both RPN/algebraic) calculator, like an updated HP 25S or even an (solar-powered) HP 21?

I fully agree!

For me personally it's either RPN/RPL, or nothing.

[Eddie W. Shore]

From time to time, I like to make calculator designs.

Attached to this post is my design for a entry level RPN calculator, named the Key Coder 34RPN.

Features:
20 Memory Registers (00-19)
20 Program Areas (00-19), each with 100 steps (00-99)
Modes leads to angle measure and display settings
Stats allow for linear regression

The program edit mode shows the key code and the function, with the up and down arrows taking the place of SST and BST, respectively. Subroutines are ran by having the RUN command in the program during editing (implied return in the end).

[cruff]

Real geeks use binary switches and lights.
   

[toml_12953]

(02-23-2018 01:07 AM)Manolo Sobrino Wrote:  

(02-21-2018 11:11 PM)martinot Wrote:  I do not have this, but from a design point it looks fine and OK:

Hum, the HP10s+... that one is funny, because it happens to be a Casio. A cheaply made derivative of the FX-MS series (just shuffling a few keys), with (even) worse keys and worse stability. The thing likes to drift when keying and also rattles if you've slid it into the cover to do so (put some cardboard between, thank me later). I know it's a 10€ calc and YGWYPF, yet still...

I had to buy one to get used to it for a test. Some civil servant thought it was about time to standardize and chose the cheapest one. Good looks and the nice touch of a recessed ON key, but Casios (with a Casio label on the faceplate) are usually better engineered and the original FX-MS have much nicer LCDs.

I do know it is a Casio calc because I'm familiar with them and well... if you press four times MODE to get to the Disp menu, and then press "2" (hidden option) it displays CASIO (Kinpo can be like this).

What's that strange-looking key in the lower right corner used for?

[mfleming]

(02-24-2018 02:35 AM)Eddie W. Shore Wrote:  From time to time, I like to make calculator designs.

Don't you have the +-×÷ keys on the wrong side?

~Mark

[Massimo Gnerucci]

(02-24-2018 06:48 AM)mfleming Wrote:  

(02-24-2018 02:35 AM)Eddie W. Shore Wrote:  From time to time, I like to make calculator designs.

Don't you have the +-×÷ keys on the wrong side?

~Mark

And ENTER too.

[martinot]

(02-24-2018 06:48 AM)mfleming Wrote:  

(02-24-2018 02:35 AM)Eddie W. Shore Wrote:  From time to time, I like to make calculator designs.

Don't you have the +-×÷ keys on the wrong side?

~Mark

I actually prefer the operators and enter on the right side (as I am right handed).

[Massimo Gnerucci]

(02-24-2018 09:53 AM)martinot Wrote:  

(02-24-2018 06:48 AM)mfleming Wrote:  Don't you have the +-×÷ keys on the wrong side?

~Mark

I actually prefer the operators and enter on the right side (as I am right handed).

For the same reason I prefer digits there.

[Thomas Okken]

(02-24-2018 12:35 PM)Massimo Gnerucci Wrote:  

(02-24-2018 09:53 AM)martinot Wrote:  I actually prefer the operators and enter on the right side (as I am right handed).

For the same reason I prefer digits there.

Funny... I don't care whether the operators are to the left of the digits or to the right... as long as i can reach all of those keys with my thumb while operating the calculator one-handed.

[Massimo Gnerucci]

(02-24-2018 12:42 PM)Thomas Okken Wrote:  

(02-24-2018 12:35 PM)Massimo Gnerucci Wrote:  For the same reason I prefer digits there.

Funny... I don't care whether the operators are to the left of the digits or to the right... as long as i can reach all of those keys with my thumb while operating the calculator one-handed.

This reminds me of spam from years ago: "enlarge your... THUMB!" :D

[martinot]

(02-24-2018 12:35 PM)Massimo Gnerucci Wrote:  

(02-24-2018 09:53 AM)martinot Wrote:  I actually prefer the operators and enter on the right side (as I am right handed).

For the same reason I prefer digits there.

Ahh. You want less keys, and prefers calculators with just 4 key columns instead of 5 in the keypad area?

That's OK. Each to his own.

[rprosperi]

(02-24-2018 02:49 AM)cruff Wrote:  Real geeks use binary switches and lights.

The text says "Gizmos", but the colors say DEC.

Coincidence?

[grsbanks]

(02-24-2018 02:12 PM)rprosperi Wrote:  The text says "Gizmos", but the colors say DEC.

Coincidence?

Not a coincidence at all.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/spa...p8-replica

[rprosperi]

(02-24-2018 02:15 PM)grsbanks Wrote:  

(02-24-2018 02:12 PM)rprosperi Wrote:  The text says "Gizmos", but the colors say DEC.

Coincidence?

Not a coincidence at all.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/spa...p8-replica

Not even close to coincidence, thanks for the link. I learned programming on a PDP-8 in the early 70's, using the FOCAL programming language. One of our earliest program goals was to make the teletype machine wait enough time that the next class began and then it would start beeping randomly.

[mfleming]

(02-24-2018 02:15 PM)grsbanks Wrote:  

(02-24-2018 02:12 PM)rprosperi Wrote:  The text says "Gizmos", but the colors say DEC.

Coincidence?

Not a coincidence at all.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/spa...p8-replica

What you really want is one of these! Neat logging in via WiFi or USB.
http://obsolescence.wixsite.com/obsolescence/pidp-8

~Mark

[Gene]

(02-24-2018 02:30 PM)rprosperi Wrote:  One of our earliest program goals was to make the teletype machine wait enough time that the next class began and then it would start beeping randomly.

Ah, pranks in the good old days.

We used to take the dumb terminals offline into local mode and put blinking attributes on areas of the screen and then take them back "live".

Logging in remotely to the host would have freshmen complaining that areas of the screen were broken.


Then again, sometimes it isn't pranks but stupidity that occurs across the ages. I remember someone at a previous job would PRINT their excel file about once a month to the laser printer. The file they printed? EXCEL.EXE

One row of print per page and then a page advance. Paper was flying everywhere.

[martinot]

I used to create programs on Unix systems with text based terminals to fake the login screen. It was catching all the user names and passwords to a file in my account before returning with "Wrong Password" and invoking the real login shell.

Finally I even got the schools systems admins password and changed it.

He was not too happy about the prank, but I did not get expelled at least!