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Ryles · 09-24-2018, 05:11 PM

Hello,

I'm an embedded software engineer. I'm often converting between hex, decimal and IEEE 754 floats. My work also crosses over into electronics though, so I sometimes need to work with complex numbers.

A couple of years ago I started using the RPN mode of the calculator app on my android phone (RealCalc). It didn't take long before my brain got used to it and I was getting frustrated with windows calculator. I also wanted a dedicated physical calculator. So, I got an HP-35s. In theory it ticked the boxes of a physical RPN calculator, but it feels too plastic and doesn't cope with complex numbers or different bases very well.

So I did some research, tried some simulators and decided to go for two calculators: a Swissmicros DM42 (bought direct) and an HP-16C (from TAS and sent by the dreaded GSP from the USA to the UK).

It's early days, but so far I'm very happy with both.

The DM42 is a very capable machine with lots of customisation possibilities. I've written a few little programs inspired by the Casio fx-61f to perform impedance calculations.

I took a bit of a gamble on the 16C, as the listing didn't have a load of information. I'm perfectly happy with the unit I received though. After a careful clean my work colleagues don't believe it isn't brand new. There was evidence of a battery leak, but only on the pin side, so it was easy enough to scrape off. The worst cosmetic defect is a minor scratch on the brushed metal face plate, but it's on the very top where it wraps around, so not visible in normal usage. Nothing matches the 16C for base conversions and bit manipulation. I will be using it regularly, but I'll also be looking after it. It's lovely to have a piece of history (that you'd find in a few museums) sat on my desk. Serial number is 2447A14389, which makes it 3 years younger than me!

brickviking · 09-24-2018, 11:12 PM

(09-24-2018 05:11 PM)Ryles Wrote: Hello,
...
So I did some research, tried some simulators and decided to go for two calculators: a Swissmicros DM42 (bought direct) and an HP-16C (from TAS and sent by the dreaded GSP from the USA to the UK).

The poor DM42 looks like it's had its screen smashed in, though I suspect that's really a reflection of some marketing logo in the background. Welcome along to the club, anyhow.

(Post 289)

toml_12953 · 09-25-2018, 01:03 AM

(09-24-2018 11:12 PM)brickviking Wrote: The poor DM42 looks like it's had its screen smashed in, though I suspect that's really a reflection of some marketing logo in the background. Welcome along to the club, anyhow.

(Post 289)

Thar "smashed screen" screen is one of many power-off screens. The DM-42 can display a user-selected picture when the power is off. The screen uses e-ink which is very low power.

Thomas Okken · 09-25-2018, 04:47 AM

(09-25-2018 01:03 AM)toml_12953 Wrote:
(09-24-2018 11:12 PM)brickviking Wrote: The poor DM42 looks like it's had its screen smashed in, though I suspect that's really a reflection of some marketing logo in the background. Welcome along to the club, anyhow.

(Post 289)

Thar "smashed screen" screen is one of many power-off screens. The DM-42 can display a user-selected picture when the power is off. The screen uses e-ink which is very low power.

And there is a reflection of the Samsung logo in the screen. Big Grin

grsbanks · 09-25-2018, 07:11 AM

(09-25-2018 01:03 AM)toml_12953 Wrote: The "smashed screen" screen is one of many power-off screens. The DM-42 can display a user-selected picture when the power is off. The screen uses e-ink which is very low power.

You have me to curse for that one. I put together the content of the OFFIMG/ directory that's shipped with new units Smile

The LCD is actually a Sharp "Memory LCD", not eInk: https://www.sharpsma.com/products?sharpC...mory%20LCD

Ryles · 09-25-2018, 12:14 PM

(09-25-2018 04:47 AM)Thomas Okken Wrote:
(09-25-2018 01:03 AM)toml_12953 Wrote: Thar "smashed screen" screen is one of many power-off screens. The DM-42 can display a user-selected picture when the power is off. The screen uses e-ink which is very low power.

And there is a reflection of the Samsung logo in the screen.

Yup - that's the logo off one of my monitors.

I'd like to say thanks for all your work, Thomas. The DM42 wouldn't exist without Free42, and I wouldn't have bought it without the GPL issue being resolved.

Thomas Okken · 09-25-2018, 02:49 PM

(09-25-2018 12:14 PM)Ryles Wrote: I'd like to say thanks for all your work, Thomas. The DM42 wouldn't exist without Free42, and I wouldn't have bought it without the GPL issue being resolved.

Thanks! My pleasure.

Dave Britten · 09-26-2018, 04:36 PM

(09-25-2018 07:11 AM)grsbanks Wrote:
(09-25-2018 01:03 AM)toml_12953 Wrote: The "smashed screen" screen is one of many power-off screens. The DM-42 can display a user-selected picture when the power is off. The screen uses e-ink which is very low power.

You have me to curse for that one. I put together the content of the OFFIMG/ directory that's shipped with new units

The LCD is actually a Sharp "Memory LCD", not eInk: https://www.sharpsma.com/products?sharpC...mory%20LCD

You should add more troll images. Maybe a Casio logo, or an HP 38G home screen.

brickviking · 09-27-2018, 12:22 AM

(09-26-2018 04:36 PM)Dave Britten Wrote:
(09-25-2018 07:11 AM)grsbanks Wrote: You have me to curse for that one. I put together the content of the OFFIMG/ directory that's shipped with new units

The LCD is actually a Sharp "Memory LCD", not eInk: https://www.sharpsma.com/products?sharpC...mory%20LCD

You should add more troll images. Maybe a Casio logo, or an HP 38G home screen.

Can't do the Casio logo without treading on legal toes, more's the pity. How about a padlock and "Touch Screen to Unlock"?

(Post 290)

**rprosperi** · 09-30-2018, 08:53 PM

(09-26-2018 04:36 PM)Dave Britten Wrote: You should add more troll images. Maybe a Casio logo, or an HP 38G home screen.

My initial reaction was 'why, no need to waste time on stuff like this?' ...

(09-27-2018 12:22 AM)brickviking Wrote: How about a padlock and "Touch Screen to Unlock"?

...and almost as quickly changed my mind.

brickviking · 10-04-2018, 05:56 AM

(09-30-2018 08:53 PM)rprosperi Wrote:
(09-26-2018 04:36 PM)Dave Britten Wrote: You should add more troll images. Maybe a Casio logo, or an HP 38G home screen.
My initial reaction was 'why, no need to waste time on stuff like this?' ...

(09-27-2018 12:22 AM)brickviking Wrote: How about a padlock and "Touch Screen to Unlock"?

...and almost as quickly changed my mind.

I like that reaction... Big Grin

(Post 296)

grsbanks · 10-04-2018, 07:38 AM

(09-27-2018 12:22 AM)brickviking Wrote: Can't do the Casio logo without treading on legal toes, more's the pity. How about a padlock and "Touch Screen to Unlock"?

How's this? Smile

DA74254 · 10-04-2018, 08:00 AM

Thank you grsbanks.
Immediately implemented Big Grin

toml_12953 · 10-07-2018, 01:34 AM

(09-27-2018 12:22 AM)brickviking Wrote:
(09-26-2018 04:36 PM)Dave Britten Wrote: You should add more troll images. Maybe a Casio logo, or an HP 38G home screen.

Can't do the Casio logo without treading on legal toes, more's the pity. How about a padlock and "Touch Screen to Unlock"?

(Post 290)

While SwissMicros can't distribute it, there's no stopping an individual from putting one on his/her own calculator. If you put a padlock on the screen and lend out the calculator, people might spend a lot of time trying to touch the screen to activate the machine even though it's off! I keep a picture of Jan Łukasiewicz on mine as a tribute to the man who was the inspiration for RPN.