Post Reply 
Changed back to my 42S from DM42
11-29-2021, 01:12 AM
Post: #1
Changed back to my 42S from DM42
Well, I love the DM42's everything, EXCEPT the keyboard. Yes I did the whole disassembly and pressing the keys, etc. but it just doesn't cut it.

Now finally after a few years I have finally packed it up and taken out one of my 42Ss. I chose the one with the better tactile feel. Singapore made (both of them).

The screen is not as sharp or as good as the DM42 of course, but... dunno man, the key thing is just irreplaceable...
Find all posts by this user
Quote this message in a reply
11-29-2021, 01:29 AM
Post: #2
RE: Changed back to my 42S from DM42
Did you have a newer model with the second gen keyboard?

HP48GX, HP42s and DM42.
Find all posts by this user
Quote this message in a reply
11-29-2021, 09:09 AM
Post: #3
RE: Changed back to my 42S from DM42
(11-29-2021 01:12 AM)lemontea Wrote:  The screen is not as sharp or as good as the DM42 of course, but... dunno man, the key thing is just irreplaceable...

But you need vacation to key in programs again after every CLALL or accidental Memory Lost. With RAWs on the DM42 it only takes seconds.

My calculators - former: CBM PR100, HP41CV, HP11C, HP28S - current: HP48G, HP35S, Prime, DM41X, DM42, HP12C
Find all posts by this user
Quote this message in a reply
11-29-2021, 09:40 PM
Post: #4
RE: Changed back to my 42S from DM42
(11-29-2021 09:09 AM)Peet Wrote:  
(11-29-2021 01:12 AM)lemontea Wrote:  The screen is not as sharp or as good as the DM42 of course, but... dunno man, the key thing is just irreplaceable...

But you need vacation to key in programs again after every CLALL or accidental Memory Lost. With RAWs on the DM42 it only takes seconds.

Yes I know... haha...
Find all posts by this user
Quote this message in a reply
11-29-2021, 09:41 PM
Post: #5
RE: Changed back to my 42S from DM42
(11-29-2021 01:29 AM)DM48 Wrote:  Did you have a newer model with the second gen keyboard?

Nope. I bought the DM42 right when it came out.

Is the revised keyboard much better?

I actually bought a DM41 but never really used it (haha). Maybe I will take that out and try again.

But REALLY what I want is a DM48GX!!!!!!!!!!

LOL
Find all posts by this user
Quote this message in a reply
11-30-2021, 12:51 AM
Post: #6
RE: Changed back to my 42S from DM42
(11-29-2021 09:41 PM)lemontea Wrote:  
(11-29-2021 01:29 AM)DM48 Wrote:  Did you have a newer model with the second gen keyboard?

Nope. I bought the DM42 right when it came out.

Is the revised keyboard much better?

I actually bought a DM41 but never really used it (haha). Maybe I will take that out and try again.

But REALLY what I want is a DM48GX!!!!!!!!!!

LOL

MUCH !!

Many people compare the revised 41X and 42 keyboard to original 41C key feel, which, while being a bit of an exaggeration, is close enough for everyone commenting here (perhaps 1 or 2 purists have not). The reason DM48 asked (I believe, I'm not speaking for him) is that essentially no one has complained about the feel of the improved keyboard feel. Unfortunately, it does not appear that original keyboards can be updated to the new design, which means buying another DM42, but the improved keyboard, coupled with the other advantages of the DM42 over a genuine 42S makes it worth it for most frequent users.

--Bob Prosperi
Find all posts by this user
Quote this message in a reply
11-30-2021, 01:21 AM
Post: #7
RE: Changed back to my 42S from DM42
(11-30-2021 12:51 AM)rprosperi Wrote:  
(11-29-2021 09:41 PM)lemontea Wrote:  Nope. I bought the DM42 right when it came out.

Is the revised keyboard much better?

I actually bought a DM41 but never really used it (haha). Maybe I will take that out and try again.

But REALLY what I want is a DM48GX!!!!!!!!!!

LOL

MUCH !!

Many people compare the revised 41X and 42 keyboard to original 41C key feel, which, while being a bit of an exaggeration, is close enough for everyone commenting here (perhaps 1 or 2 purists have not). The reason DM48 asked (I believe, I'm not speaking for him) is that essentially no one has complained about the feel of the improved keyboard feel. Unfortunately, it does not appear that original keyboards can be updated to the new design, which means buying another DM42, but the improved keyboard, coupled with the other advantages of the DM42 over a genuine 42S makes it worth it for most frequent users.

Does Swiss Micro sell the keyboard for user upgrades? I will email to ask...
Find all posts by this user
Quote this message in a reply
11-30-2021, 04:09 AM
Post: #8
RE: Changed back to my 42S from DM42
(11-30-2021 01:21 AM)lemontea Wrote:  
(11-30-2021 12:51 AM)rprosperi Wrote:  MUCH !!

Many people compare the revised 41X and 42 keyboard to original 41C key feel, which, while being a bit of an exaggeration, is close enough for everyone commenting here (perhaps 1 or 2 purists have not). The reason DM48 asked (I believe, I'm not speaking for him) is that essentially no one has complained about the feel of the improved keyboard feel. Unfortunately, it does not appear that original keyboards can be updated to the new design, which means buying another DM42, but the improved keyboard, coupled with the other advantages of the DM42 over a genuine 42S makes it worth it for most frequent users.

Does Swiss Micro sell the keyboard for user upgrades? I will email to ask...

No, the problem is the design changed thoroughly and new/old components don't mesh well enough to bring the solid, consistent feel available with the all-new design. There was hope to make upgrade kits available, but the process just doesn't work well enough to justify the cost.

--Bob Prosperi
Find all posts by this user
Quote this message in a reply
11-30-2021, 02:24 PM (This post was last modified: 12-03-2021 09:38 AM by Chr Yoko.)
Post: #9
RE: Changed back to my 42S from DM42
I can confirm that the DM41X keyboard has a nice "clicky" feel that is very different in comparison to the old DM42 one that was hard and not clicky.

The best DM41X feature being the fact that one click = one action done for sure.
While on the old DM42, one button pressed does not warrantee at 100% that its action is taken by the calculator .... missing keys then.
Find all posts by this user
Quote this message in a reply
11-30-2021, 03:00 PM
Post: #10
RE: Changed back to my 42S from DM42
The new keyboard is vastly better than the original design. It's still not quite as good as a real Pioneer keyboard (in my opinion), but it's perfectly fine for daily use. To me it feels more like a substantially upgraded version of something like a TI-59 keyboard than an HP keyboard.
Visit this user's website Find all posts by this user
Quote this message in a reply
12-01-2021, 04:41 AM
Post: #11
RE: Changed back to my 42S from DM42
Would be nice if Swiss Micros offered a substantial discount for DM42 generation 1 customers, or some sort of trade in program where we send in our old DM42 for a new one.

The horrible gen 1 keyboard is the reason my DM42 sits in a drawer now. IMO the whole point of a physical calculator is the keyboard - otherwise I’d use a virtual calculator on my iPhone.
Find all posts by this user
Quote this message in a reply
12-01-2021, 03:01 PM
Post: #12
RE: Changed back to my 42S from DM42
The keyboard on my 11 month old DM42 is very nice. It's a bit more 'clicky' than my HP42S, but I never miss a keypress or get multiple entries. I use my DM42 quite a bit more than my HP42S.

best,
Dave

RPN rules!
Find all posts by this user
Quote this message in a reply
Post Reply 




User(s) browsing this thread: 1 Guest(s)