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JSS · (This post was last modified: 02-21-2019 07:17 PM by JSS.)

Dear all,

I have been using 48G for 25 years. I just got a new 35S which is OK for very simple calculations but don't have the advanced capabilities of 48G (RPL, object oriented variables, unlimited stack etc.)

I need a better calculator w advanced programming capabilities, EE and physics libraries and good keyboard/display. Possibilities are 1) to find a used or new 50G or 2) to buy the Prime. Can you recommend Prime and how different is it compared to 48G?

I thank you in advance for you kind answers.

BR JSS

BartDB · (This post was last modified: 02-21-2019 06:12 PM by BartDB.)

Hi,

Having used the 28 & 48 series of calculators myself, I would say go for a 50g. Unfortunately they are out of production now, so are getting quite expensive.

EIDT
The Prime does have an RPN entry mode, but does not have RPL and the programs cannot interact with the stack.
The programming language is ALGOL-like and more suited for QWERTY keyboard entry than on-calculator programming.
It does have many functions, but the interface is more reminiscent of Casio calculators with various apps.
.

mfleming · 02-22-2019, 02:35 AM

If you are comfortable with the hp48 and can find the tools and libraries you need on hpcalc.org, then look for an hp48g+ on auction sites. It has 128K of memory like the 48gx, it is not expandable, but is usually much cheaper than the gx. It can be scarce though.

An alternative to the ever more expensive hp50 would be the 48gii or the 49+ (NOT 49, cheesy keyboard). Either one are reasonable substitutes if cost is an issue.

~Mark

Massimo Gnerucci · 02-22-2019, 07:30 AM

(02-22-2019 02:35 AM)mfleming Wrote: An alternative to the ever more expensive hp50 would be the 48gii or the 49+ (NOT 49, cheesy keyboard). Either one are reasonable substitutes if cost is an issue.

It could be cheesy but, at least, it doesn't break as in the 49+ (or try your luck finding one of the latest produced).
As time goes by I think the 49g is underestimated.

JSS · 02-22-2019, 08:21 AM

Thank you so much BartDB and mfleming for replying.

Well, I can't accept Prime if it doesn't support RPL. Just don't want to start from scratch, spending too much time on programming and learning completely new practices. It is a pity since a new Prime G2 costs just around 130+ EUR while prices for a new 50G are considerably higher, up to 300 EUR. The price for a pre-owned 48GX, G+ and 50G in good condition seems to be around 100 - 200+ EUR. The GX memory is very expensive (if you can find any.)

50G has the memory card, USB interface and better display. But what about he keyboard quality, is it comparable w 48G?

Any significant speed difference (of RPL programs) between 48G and 50G? And can I transfer most RPL programs from 48G to 50G w/o excess work?

Thanks again.

BR JSS

ijabbott · (This post was last modified: 02-22-2019 08:26 AM by ijabbott.)

(02-21-2019 05:53 PM)BartDB Wrote: Having used the 28 & 48 series of calculators myself, I would say go for a 50g. Unfortunately they are out of production now, so are getting quite expensive.

There are the "refurbished" (actually new, but unboxed) ones still for sale at https://commerce.hpcalc.org/50grefurb.php for $120.

grsbanks · 02-22-2019, 09:22 AM

They sometimes pop up on TAS as well. I just found and snapped up another frozen hamster butt 50g over there.

Gerald H · 02-22-2019, 10:21 AM

(02-22-2019 07:30 AM)Massimo Gnerucci Wrote:
(02-22-2019 02:35 AM)mfleming Wrote: An alternative to the ever more expensive hp50 would be the 48gii or the 49+ (NOT 49, cheesy keyboard). Either one are reasonable substitutes if cost is an issue.

It could be cheesy but, at least, it doesn't break as in the 49+ (or try your luck finding one of the latest produced).
As time goes by I think the 49g is underestimated.

Yes, but I felt like that at its introduction & still do.

My preferred calculator.

Nigel (UK) · 02-22-2019, 02:32 PM

(02-21-2019 08:52 AM)JSS Wrote: ...
I need a better calculator w advanced programming capabilities, EE and physics libraries and good keyboard/display. Possibilities are 1) to find a used or new 50G or 2) to buy the Prime. Can you recommend Prime and how different is it compared to 48G?
...
BR JSS

I really like the Prime. I think that to get the most out of it (e.g., programming) you would need to move on from RPN/RPL, but you might be surprised at how natural algebraic entry is when you can watch the expression building up on the screen in front of you. The speed and graphics of this machine are superb, and the touch screen integrates well with the built-in apps - for example, you can move around on a plot and zoom in/out all with your fingers! The CAS is more powerful and usable than the CAS on the HP50g. The hardware quality is high, and the Prime is much lighter.

However, I think that you might be happier with the HP50g because of your stated need for "EE and physics libraries". There is an excellent Prime app called SolvSys that acts as a solver and equation library, but if it doesn't do what you want there may not be many alternatives. The HP50g has a lot of third-party applications available; the Prime does not, at least not yet. (Of course, you can write your own!)

Nigel (UK)

JSS · 02-22-2019, 06:28 PM

(02-22-2019 02:32 PM)Nigel (UK) Wrote: I really like the Prime. I think that to get the most out of it (e.g., programming) you would need to move on from RPN/RPL, but you might be surprised at how natural algebraic entry is when you can watch the expression building up on the screen in front of you. The speed and graphics of this machine are superb, and the touch screen integrates well with the built-in apps - for example, you can move around on a plot and zoom in/out all with your fingers! The CAS is more powerful and usable than the CAS on the HP50g. The hardware quality is high, and the Prime is much lighter.

Nigel (UK)

Thanks Nigel. I loaded the Prime app on my Android phone just to understand how it works.

BR JSS

ijabbott · 02-23-2019, 07:35 AM

(02-22-2019 09:22 AM)grsbanks Wrote: They sometimes pop up on TAS as well. I just found and snapped up another frozen hamster butt 50g over there.

Don't you have enough already? Smile

For the benefit of JSS, we should explain that "TAS" is a running joke here for "eBay". ("TAS" = "The Auction Site").

grsbanks · 02-23-2019, 09:29 AM

(02-23-2019 07:35 AM)ijabbott Wrote: Don't you have enough already?

There's no such thing as "enough" 50g units Smile

(02-23-2019 07:35 AM)ijabbott Wrote: For the benefit of JSS, we should explain that "TAS" is a running joke here for "eBay". ("TAS" = "The Auction Site").

And the "frozen hamster butt" refers to the comparatively rare blue version of the HP 50g. It's fugly but it's rare Smile

Thomas Klemm · 02-23-2019, 09:50 AM

(02-22-2019 09:22 AM)grsbanks Wrote: I just found and snapped up another frozen hamster butt 50g over there.

From My Favorite HP Calculator Bugs by Joe Horn:

Quote:HP-49G
…
(c) Color so offensively cute (metallic glittery-powder-blue) that it was dubbed "Frozen Hamster Butt".

Who came up with that?

Cheers
Thomas

grsbanks · 02-23-2019, 09:53 AM

THAT is definitely more deserving of the term!

I've also seen the colour scheme of the 48G/GX described as FHB and I've also seen the blue 50g referred to as the "Clown Vomit" edition.

Thomas Klemm · 02-23-2019, 10:08 AM

(02-23-2019 09:53 AM)grsbanks Wrote: THAT is definitely more deserving of the term!

It appears that TranslucentAmoebae had a pronounced imagination in naming colours:

Quote:when it comes to north america, i hope they change the 2nd & 3rd tier
buttons to something brighter than pee snow white and dead blood
red...!!!

ijabbott · 02-23-2019, 02:01 PM

(02-23-2019 09:50 AM)Thomas Klemm Wrote: From My Favorite HP Calculator Bugs by Joe Horn:

Quote:HP-49G
…
(c) Color so offensively cute (metallic glittery-powder-blue) that it was dubbed "Frozen Hamster Butt".

Who came up with that?

Cheers
Thomas

I'm surprised they didn't do one in glittery-powder-pink ("Normal Hamster Butt"?) for the girls.

Joe Horn · 02-23-2019, 04:22 PM

(02-23-2019 02:01 PM)ijabbott Wrote: I'm surprised they didn't do one in glittery-powder-pink ("Normal Hamster Butt"?) for the girls.

FWIW, the very first person I showed a 49G to was a female high school student. Her eyes bugged out and she said, "Wow, that looks COOL! If my calculator looked like that, I'd LIKE math!" My 49G never got anywhere near that kind of reaction from any of my male students.

(02-23-2019 09:50 AM)Thomas Klemm Wrote: Who came up with that ["Frozen Hamster Butt"]?

I'm 99% sure that the author of the infamous phrase "Frozen Hamster Butt" (to describe the color of the HP 49G) was Chris Campbell, a great HP 48 programmer and prolific contributor to comp.sys.hp48 under multiple pseudonyms. I *think* that he first used his hilarious FHB description in a posting under the name Tiny Wanda, but I haven't been successful in finding that posting.

Thomas Klemm · 02-23-2019, 04:46 PM

(02-23-2019 04:22 PM)Joe Horn Wrote: My 49G never got anywhere near that kind of reaction from any of my male students.

Obviously, they would have preferred the glittery-powder-pink "Thawed Hamster Butt".
HP marketing, do you hear us?

ijabbott · (This post was last modified: 02-23-2019 07:06 PM by ijabbott.)

(02-23-2019 04:22 PM)Joe Horn Wrote:
(02-23-2019 09:50 AM)Thomas Klemm Wrote: Who came up with that ["Frozen Hamster Butt"]?

I'm 99% sure that the author of the infamous phrase "Frozen Hamster Butt" (to describe the color of the HP 49G) was Chris Campbell, a great HP 48 programmer and prolific contributor to comp.sys.hp48 under multiple pseudonyms. I *think* that he first used his hilarious FHB description in a posting under the name Tiny Wanda, but I haven't been successful in finding that posting.

The earliest reference I can find from The Almighty Google is this post from 1999-05-23: https://groups.google.com/forum/#!msg/co...Q_KMo5vP8J

EDIT: Also this from 1999-05-24 which seems to be a transcript from an IRC (or maybe a bulletin board) conversation or something: https://groups.google.com/d/msg/comp.sys...SXFA16AmkJ

ijabbott · 02-23-2019, 07:10 PM

(02-23-2019 04:22 PM)Joe Horn Wrote:
(02-23-2019 02:01 PM)ijabbott Wrote: I'm surprised they didn't do one in glittery-powder-pink ("Normal Hamster Butt"?) for the girls.

FWIW, the very first person I showed a 49G to was a female high school student. Her eyes bugged out and she said, "Wow, that looks COOL! If my calculator looked like that, I'd LIKE math!" My 49G never got anywhere near that kind of reaction from any of my male students.

Just think how she would have reacted if it was pink! Smile