Hp-39GII OS version

[matalog]

How do you check the current ROM/OS version on a 39GII? I was trying HELP, like on the HP Prime, but there doesn't seem to be an About section that says the current version.

Does anyone have one and can still connect the calculator to any version of 39GII Connectivity kit?

I am having trouble getting the connectivity kit I have to see the calculator, although Windows 8.1 does tell me that a 39GII is connected.

Lastly, is there a way to upgrade the calculator to the latest version that doesn't require the 39GII connectivity kit?

[lrdheat]

I believe that the HP 39gii software was given up on after it was transferred out of HP’s software development team, which was shrinking by that time. The remaining focus went over to the Prime. It was an interesting, but unfinished calculator, left with quite a few bugs. The graphics engine was quite nice.

Maybe somebody can chime in as I do not know more about this…

[Joe Horn]

You can see the firmware version of an HP 39gII by pressing ON and holding it down, then pressing the F4 key and then releasing both keys. The version is displayed at the top of the screen.

EDIT -- The 8 key exits the diagnostics screen.

I have two 39gII's. Their firmware versions are listed here so you can compare them with yours:

Ver: 27/Aug/2011 ... 21MHz
Ver: 19/Jan/2012 ... 80MHz

[ijabbott]

(09-06-2022 04:25 AM)Joe Horn Wrote:  I have two 39gII's. Their firmware versions are listed here so you can compare them with yours:

Ver: 27/Aug/2011 ... 21MHz
Ver: 19/Jan/2012 ... 80MHz

Mine is Ver: 30/Oct/2013 Rev: 19148 ... 66MHz

(I wonder why there are so many different speeds?)

It used to belong to a girls' school in Bromley, Greater London. It has the school name and postcode engraved on the back!

[Maximilian Hohmann]

Hello!

(09-10-2022 03:59 PM)ijabbott Wrote:  It used to belong to a girls' school in Bromley, Greater London. It has the school name and postcode engraved on the back!

I have one of these as well. Someone one eBay was selling part of the schools belongings some (3?) years ago. Just looked it up in my eMails: The price was 10GBP plus shipping. And no tax as this was before brexit.

Regards
Max

[Stefan_Titan2944A]

(09-10-2022 03:59 PM)ijabbott Wrote:  (I wonder why there are so many different speeds?)

my Ver: 04/Sep/1012 Rev: 17818 66MHz

2: Power -> 1: Full ... sets to 80MHz


Best
Stefan

[Johnh]

I got one of these NOS recently, given away as a freebie by Calculator World in Australia when I bought my HP15C CE.

I did the On+F4-release test noted above and it showed:

Ver: 04/Sep/2012 Rev:17818 80MHz

TBH, I've gotten nowhere figuring out this machine, it seems very powerful, lots of features to explore, but the screen is so dull, dark-greyish background with lots of very small text in slightly darker grey. I simply can't see it at all.

[BruceH]

(12-29-2023 08:50 PM)Johnh Wrote:  TBH, I've gotten nowhere figuring out this machine, it seems very powerful, lots of features to explore, but the screen is so dull, dark-greyish background with lots of very small text in slightly darker grey. I simply can't see it at all.

Just in case you hadn't realised, the contrast can be adjusted by holding down the ON key and pressing plus or minus.

[Johnh]

Thanks Bruce, yes i tried that on Day 1. I can adjust the full range from all darkish grey with no text at all, to all darker grey with no text. In between, the text appears out of the fog but is too small and gloomy for me to see, even though it is actually sharp.

Is this typical of other of the later LCD screens on HP's, such as 32, 48, 49, 50 etc? My 15 is really great and my 35S is good enough too.

[nickapos]

I have a hp 39gs and a couple 50g and the display is fine

[BruceH]

(12-29-2023 11:00 PM)Johnh Wrote:  Is this typical of other of the later LCD screens on HP's, such as 32, 48, 49, 50 etc? My 15 is really great and my 35S is good enough too.

The 48/49/50 have pretty similar screens - lower resolution but bigger (blockier) pixels than the 39gII so I think you'll find all of them easier to read than the 39gII. The 32 (i.e. 32S or 32SII) has a segmented display so very similar to the 15.

[Nigel (UK)]

(12-30-2023 02:12 PM)BruceH Wrote:  

(12-29-2023 11:00 PM)Johnh Wrote:  Is this typical of other of the later LCD screens on HP's, such as 32, 48, 49, 50 etc? My 15 is really great and my 35S is good enough too.

The 48/49/50 have pretty similar screens - lower resolution but bigger (blockier) pixels than the 39gII so I think you'll find all of them easier to read than the 39gII. The 32 (i.e. 32S or 32SII) has a segmented display so very similar to the 15.

32S and 32SII are actually dot matrix displays (with lots of annunciators), but very clear.

Nigel (UK)