SwissMicros Announces DM41X Launch

[Harald]

Does anyone know if new DM42s come with the new keyboard already, or if units with the old keyboard are still delivered?

Cheers,
Harald

[Dave Frederickson]

(10-07-2020 04:45 PM)Harald Wrote:  Does anyone know if new DM42s come with the new keyboard already, or if units with the old keyboard are still delivered?

(09-25-2020 03:25 PM)rprosperi Wrote:  Note that the production DM41X (and new DM42) have a much improved new keyboard design, addressing user comments about pressure needed to click keys, feel/response, possibly missed keys, etc.

[Frido Bohn]

(10-07-2020 03:59 PM)Dave Britten Wrote:  Question: is there any easy way to take a bundle of exported .raw program files and convert them into a custom ROM module image?

I made a ROM a couple of years ago using the HEPAX route. In principle, you can add FOCAL progs (.raw) to the HEPAX filesystem, and later handle that filesystem as a ROM and save it. From there, I made a .mod file of the ROM, and that's what the DM41X can deal with.

There might be other routes of course. Would be happy to know as well.

Cheers!
Frido

[Harald]

(10-07-2020 04:52 PM)Dave Frederickson Wrote:  

(10-07-2020 04:45 PM)Harald Wrote:  Does anyone know if new DM42s come with the new keyboard already, or if units with the old keyboard are still delivered?

(09-25-2020 03:25 PM)rprosperi Wrote:  Note that the production DM41X (and new DM42) have a much improved new keyboard design, addressing user comments about pressure needed to click keys, feel/response, possibly missed keys, etc.

Yes, I got that. But if you order a DM42 now, do you get a "new", improved one, or an "old" one?

[grsbanks]

(10-07-2020 07:24 PM)Harald Wrote:  Yes, I got that. But if you order a DM42 now, do you get a "new", improved one, or an "old" one?

You get a new one.

[Egan Ford]

(10-07-2020 03:59 PM)Dave Britten Wrote:  The keys have a very audible "click"

Yes, very. Some keys more than others. Perhaps a break in thing. Time will tell.

If I press "ENTER" in the center slowly it'll register twice with two audible clicks. Fine if you press on either side.

Minor issues. Build and size are great. My new desk calc.

[Dave Britten]

I took a few keyboard force measurements with my wife's electronic measuring cup. This is from a selection of 8 assorted keys.

Mean: 218 g (7.69 oz)
Std Dev: 24.4 g (0.861 oz)


Compare with measurements from a few other calculators that I did recently, including a 2017 DM42 from the first batch:

DM41L
Mean: 240 g (8.50 oz)
Std Dev: 13.4 g (0.473 oz)

DM42:
Mean: 265 g (9.33 oz)
Std Dev: 27.8 g (0.982 oz)

15C (2337A)
Mean: 142 g (5.01 oz)
Std Dev: 7.18 g (0.253 oz)

11C (2706A)
Mean: 142 g (5.01 oz)
Std Dev: 8.78 g (0.310 oz)

42S (3134S)
Mean: 133 g (4.69 oz)
Std Dev: 8.72 g (0.308 oz)


So it's still firmer than a Voyager's keyboard, but a very noticeable improvement over the original DM42, both in feel and responsiveness.

EDIT: I should also mention that the measurements for my DM42 and DM41L were taken after opening them up and flexing the keys to soften them a bit, whereas the DM41X measurements are from a fresh, unmodified unit. So the difference between them is probably greater than the numbers suggest.

[tcab]

(10-07-2020 07:32 PM)grsbanks Wrote:  

(10-07-2020 07:24 PM)Harald Wrote:  Yes, I got that. But if you order a DM42 now, do you get a "new", improved one, or an "old" one?

You get a new one.

Has anyone looked under the hood of the new DM41X (or new DM42) and the original DM42 to judge whether the new keyboard on either? is transplantable?

If so, then we have a better chance lobbying Swiss Micros to release a DM42 keyboard upgrade kit, as all they need to do is send out existing components and some surgery instructions.

[rprosperi]

(10-07-2020 09:56 PM)tcab Wrote:  Has anyone looked under the hood of the new DM41X (or new DM42) and the original DM42 to judge whether the new keyboard on either? is transplantable?

If so, then we have a better chance lobbying Swiss Micros to release a DM42 keyboard upgrade kit, as all they need to do is send out existing components and some surgery instructions.

The front half of the DM41x (and DM42) is really all one plastic piece, there is no separate keyboard assembly, plus the domes are on the board, so it's not a simple parts swap no matter what. Michael is aware of customer interest and is exploring possibilities that are easily installed (without technician-level skills), reliable and economical, and will announce something when it's ready.

There is no need to lobby, individually or en masse; if/when a general solution is available, it will be announced on the SM Forum, so please give it a little time.

[Dave Britten]

(10-07-2020 10:53 PM)rprosperi Wrote:  

(10-07-2020 09:56 PM)tcab Wrote:  Has anyone looked under the hood of the new DM41X (or new DM42) and the original DM42 to judge whether the new keyboard on either? is transplantable?

If so, then we have a better chance lobbying Swiss Micros to release a DM42 keyboard upgrade kit, as all they need to do is send out existing components and some surgery instructions.

The front half of the DM41x (and DM42) is really all one plastic piece, there is no separate keyboard assembly, plus the domes are on the board, so it's not a simple parts swap no matter what. Michael is aware of customer interest and is exploring possibilities that are easily installed (without technician-level skills), reliable and economical, and will announce something when it's ready.

There is no need to lobby, individually or en masse; if/when a general solution is available, it will be announced on the SM Forum, so please give it a little time.

I'm impatient, so I'll probably just end up ordering another DM42 before the year is out.

And then if there's some kind of upgrade and/or trade-in program for the older ones, I'll probably take advantage of that too.

[trojdor]

Got my DM41X today...

It's brilliant. The speed is great. The display is best-in-class. Like the DM42.

But, it's the new keyboard that makes it everything I'd hoped the original DM42 would have been. The 41X is awesome.
I've used it all afternoon, and haven't seen it miss one keypress yet.

I added the Advantage rom in the module options, and now I'm ready to do some real work with it.

Now, it's not totally perfect. There's some tiny silk-screen misalignment on a couple of buttons, the metal case dimension is perhaps slightly off, and the keypress on the yellow shift key is slightly stiffer than the others.

But that's no big deal. Those tiny niggles quickly fade into the background when you actually start to use it.

The only potential issue I can even imagine, is that people who started out on an HP like the 32/42 or 48 MIGHT have some issues -initially- adapting to the math keys being on the left .... just like a real 41 and every earlier HP calculator model.
(I started out on the 45, so I love it, lol.)

Overall, it looks like a winner.
A big "thumbs-up" from me.

mike

[grsbanks]

(10-08-2020 10:01 AM)trojdor Wrote:  The only potential issue I can even imagine, is that people who started out on an HP like the 32/42 or 48 MIGHT have some issues -initially- adapting to the math keys being on the left .... just like a real 41 and every earlier HP calculator model.

Quoting Massimo's signature: "Left is right and right is wrong"

[Dave Britten]

(10-08-2020 10:01 AM)trojdor Wrote:  The only potential issue I can even imagine, is that people who started out on an HP like the 32/42 or 48 MIGHT have some issues -initially- adapting to the math keys being on the left .... just like a real 41 and every earlier HP calculator model.
(I started out on the 45, so I love it, lol.)

Can confirm, my first was a 48, and the pre-Voyager operator key layout always throws me off a little. The layout makes sense, it's just different.

[Massimo Gnerucci]

(10-08-2020 10:32 AM)grsbanks Wrote:  

(10-08-2020 10:01 AM)trojdor Wrote:  The only potential issue I can even imagine, is that people who started out on an HP like the 32/42 or 48 MIGHT have some issues -initially- adapting to the math keys being on the left .... just like a real 41 and every earlier HP calculator model.

Quoting Massimo's signature: "Left is right and right is wrong"

Just to iterate...

[Eddie W. Shore]

I just received my DM41X a couple of days ago - every bit as good as advertised.

[Gene]

Still waiting on mine in Tennessee.

[lmcelhiney]

(09-30-2020 07:03 PM)Frido Bohn Wrote:  Just want to brag a bit and advertise this great machine. Got my copy today (SN: 00589). Works like a marvel. Great achievement! Thanks to the folks who made this possible!
Loading modules (MCODE) and programs (FOCAL) is easy and almost self-explanatory. Put SANDMATH into work (thanks Ángel). Let the DMX41 print over IR to an HP82240B.

That's only the first things I did. Many more to be expected.

Thanks again SwissMicros!

How did I get SN: 101? This is the best handheld that I have ever used.
(From HP-35 forward)

[grsbanks]

(10-09-2020 02:23 AM)lmcelhiney Wrote:  

(09-30-2020 07:03 PM)Frido Bohn Wrote:  Just want to brag a bit and advertise this great machine. Got my copy today (SN: 00589).

How did I get SN: 101? This is the best handheld that I have ever used.

The units are not sent out in sequential order of serial number.

[lmcelhiney]

(10-09-2020 02:10 PM)grsbanks Wrote:  

(10-09-2020 02:23 AM)lmcelhiney Wrote:  How did I get SN: 101? This is the best handheld that I have ever used.

The units are not sent out in sequential order of serial number.

Ok, that makes sense, but I am still very pleased!

I ordered within 15 minutes after the email was sent out. Took <8 days to arrive in Indiana.

(So to use the information in your tagline, I really have Number 5?)

[Harald]

Is the hardware identical for the 42 and 41? I.e. can I flash a 41 to become a 42 and vice versa?
I considered my collection complete and didn't want to buy any more calculators. But I am very tempted now...