why is the HP 17bII+ so heavy ?

[david sanz]

It can not be because of the case or the batteries. So, what makes it so heavy ?

Was it made heavy on purpose to justify the price ?
Does anybody know what is inside ?

[rprosperi]

Which one, the 17BII+ Gold, or the later (and still current) 17BII+ Silver? I presume the latter, but just checking.

If the latter, then I'd agree with your speculation, though I'd characterize it as heftier feels like better quality, though I don't know that's the reason for certain.

[ijabbott]

The HP-17BII is heavier (with the batteries).

[cyrille de brébisson]

Hello,

Yes, some finance calcs are made to feel dense on purpose as it "gives a feeling of quality".

It also, in some cases makes the device nicer to use. A heavier device will be more stable, less rately... which is an advantage.

Cyrille

[rprosperi]

(09-21-2020 07:51 PM)ijabbott Wrote:  The HP-17BII is heavier (with the batteries).

Mine is not, though they are close (both w/batteries)!

17BII (Late type w/Black bezel): 141.7g

17BII+ (Silver): 142.4g

[ijabbott]

(09-22-2020 06:09 PM)rprosperi Wrote:  

(09-21-2020 07:51 PM)ijabbott Wrote:  The HP-17BII is heavier (with the batteries).

Mine is not, though they are close (both w/batteries)!

17BII (Late type w/Black bezel): 141.7g

17BII+ (Silver): 142.4g

I measured 144g for the 17BII (with taupe bezel), and 140g for the silver 17BII+, both with batteries. A black and gold 17BII+ measured 131g with batteries.

I do have a couple of grams of variation between my three HP-17BIIs: a black bezel and a taupe bezel with about the same mass, and another black bezel a couple of grams lighter.

[rprosperi]

(09-22-2020 09:49 PM)ijabbott Wrote:  

(09-22-2020 06:09 PM)rprosperi Wrote:  Mine is not, though they are close (both w/batteries)!

17BII (Late type w/Black bezel): 141.7g

17BII+ (Silver): 142.4g

I measured 144g for the 17BII (with taupe bezel), and 140g for the silver 17BII+, both with batteries. A black and gold 17BII+ measured 131g with batteries.

I do have a couple of grams of variation between my three HP-17BIIs: a black bezel and a taupe bezel with about the same mass, and another black bezel a couple of grams lighter.

Thanks. Interesting, there's more variation than I would have guessed. Perhaps it's different types of batteries?

[Hlib]

(09-22-2020 05:07 AM)cyrille de brébisson Wrote:  Hello,

Yes, some finance calcs are made to feel dense on purpose as it "gives a feeling of quality".

It also, in some cases makes the device nicer to use. A heavier device will be more stable, less rately... which is an advantage.

Cyrille

Several recent crises in 1998, 09.112001, 2008 and 2019 showed that the effective mass of the financial calculators for effective managers and successful businessmen did not matter in those far distant days. I understand that.
But I don`t understand why, at the time of release, the HP-9g calculator for engineers was much heavier than its srp-325g clone?

Quote: A heavier device will be more stable, less rately... which is an advantage.

This is a recognition of the fact that HP has not been an independent entity for about 20 years. I tried to find real confirmation for your joke.
In 2007, the Russian manufactory developed the heaviest RPN calculator mk-152. At 11.17 / 2015, the heaviest Tu-160 supersonic bomber was used for the first time in a real combat mission in Syria, after which Russia established its superiority in the heaviest intercontinental weapons.
The size, weight and quality of some hp-calcs and its hardware is my nightmare. :-((

[ijabbott]

(09-22-2020 10:01 PM)rprosperi Wrote:  

(09-22-2020 09:49 PM)ijabbott Wrote:  I measured 144g for the 17BII (with taupe bezel), and 140g for the silver 17BII+, both with batteries. A black and gold 17BII+ measured 131g with batteries.

I do have a couple of grams of variation between my three HP-17BIIs: a black bezel and a taupe bezel with about the same mass, and another black bezel a couple of grams lighter.

Thanks. Interesting, there's more variation than I would have guessed. Perhaps it's different types of batteries?

The 17BIIs didn't actually have batteries in them when I weighed them. I just plonked some spent LR44 or SR44 type batteries on top, but the same batteries for all three calcs.

I just found another 17BII with taupe bezel that measured 142g (with different set of batteries).