NEW: HP 15C Collectors Edition

[Johnh]

(10-15-2023 09:35 AM)Voldemar Wrote:  

(10-15-2023 06:00 AM)Joe Horn Wrote:  I did not know this!

Only two contrast positions - max and min

Playing around with mine, I reckon I'm probably seeing 4 contrast settings, 3 of which are currently quite distinct. In the light I have, the highest contrast setting gives a very slight ghosting of 'off' segments when viewed at an angle (as in my photo posted yesterday). One click down is perfect in my case, with no ghosting, and dark characters when viewed both at a slant and straight down. Two clicks down is appearing very similar (but maybe would be more distinct in different light or with older batteries?), and three clicks less contrast starts to give a pale image in a perpendicular view.

I'd expect that this might vary in different light, and maybe over time as the batteries deplete.

[mfleming]

Does this only work with the stock 15C ROM and not the extended 15C ROM? I've a hard time seeing a change.

[Johnh]

(10-15-2023 08:39 PM)mfleming Wrote:  Does this only work with the stock 15C ROM and not the extended 15C ROM? I've a hard time seeing a change.

One thing to note, you have to hold the 'f' down when adjusting with '+' and '-' but the visible contrast change doesn't happen until you release all the buttons.

[Voldemar]

(10-15-2023 07:47 PM)Johnh Wrote:  One click down is perfect in my case, with no ghosting, and dark characters when viewed both at a slant and straight down. Two clicks down is appearing very similar (but maybe would be more distinct in different light or with older batteries?), and three clicks less contrast starts to give a pale image in a perpendicular view.

Indeed. I noticed

[Voldemar]

(10-15-2023 08:52 PM)Johnh Wrote:  One thing to note, you have to hold the 'f' down when adjusting with '+' and '-' but the visible contrast change doesn't happen until you release all the buttons.

To darken the display
1) Press and hold [f] (display contrast is not changed)
2) Press and hold [+] (display contrast is not changed)
3) Release [f] and keep holding [+] (display contrast is not changed)
4) Release [+] (display contrast is changed)
To lighten the display
1) Press and hold [f] (display contrast is not changed)
2) Press and hold [-] (display contrast is not changed)
3) Release [f] and keep holding [-] (display contrast is not changed)
4) Release [-] (display contrast is changed)

[Voldemar]

Resetting the memory with [ON]/[-] does not change the contrast level of the display.
Pressing RESET button under the battery cover sets the display contrast to default level 3 (level 1 is the lightest, level 4 is the darkest).

[Joe Horn]

(10-15-2023 08:39 PM)mfleming Wrote:  Does this only work with the stock 15C ROM and not the extended 15C ROM? I've a hard time seeing a change.

Contrast adjustment works in all three modes (15, 15.2, and 16) on the 15C CE.

[JDW]

I'm rather intrigued by the fact that not only am I the only person to have commented about the greenish LCD of the 15c CE, but not a single person commented on my previous post.

I must interpret that to mean one of the following:

1. It bothers some of you too, but you feel nothing can be done about it, so commenting on it would be moot.

or

2. You couldn't care less

The reason I mentioned it is because future products like the 16c will surely be made, and if their LCD can resemble the old LCDs with a very light gray (almost white) background, that would increase contrast and readability greatly.

[Johnh]

(10-16-2023 01:09 AM)JDW Wrote:  I'm rather intrigued by the fact that not only am I the only person to have commented about the greenish LCD of the 15c CE, but not a single person commented on my previous post.

I must interpret that to mean one of the following:

1. It bothers some of you too, but you feel nothing can be done about it, so commenting on it would be moot.

or

2. You couldn't care less

The reason I mentioned it is because future products like the 16c will surely be made, and if their LCD can resemble the old LCDs with a very light gray (almost white) background, that would increase contrast and readability greatly.

I wonder if anyone has access to both original and new hp15c CE models, and can post a picture with both in one photo, in the same light? Otherwise, such pale grey tones can be easily shifted in the way photos appear on a screen.

[JDW]

(10-16-2023 01:24 AM)Johnh Wrote:  I wonder if anyone has access to both original and new hp15c CE models, and can post a picture with both in one photo, in the same light? Otherwise, such pale grey tones can be easily shifted in the way photos appear on a screen.

There's something better than that. Click the link to go back to my earlier post so you can click on the YOUTUBE link there and see the old and new side-by-side, under the same light.

[Johnh]

(10-16-2023 01:28 AM)JDW Wrote:  

(10-16-2023 01:24 AM)Johnh Wrote:  I wonder if anyone has access to both original and new hp15c CE models, and can post a picture with both in one photo, in the same light? Otherwise, such pale grey tones can be easily shifted in the way photos appear on a screen.

There's something better than that. Click the link to go back to my earlier post so you can click on the YOUTUBE link there and see the old and new side-by-side, under the same light.

OK that's a good idea,

Here is a screen shot from the recent Calculator Culture review, original at left, CE at right.

   

Is there a significant difference? TBH, I'm not seeing it here myself. (but note the lighting on the CE is a bit more central the LCD than it is for the original)

[JDW]

(10-16-2023 01:59 AM)Johnh Wrote:  Is there a significant difference? TBH, I'm not seeing it here myself. (but note the lighting on the CE is a bit more central the LCD than it is for the original)

When you move the two at different angles, the difference becomes more pronounced. But regardless of that, you can clearly see the color difference, which some people may say they either like or dislike.

I've seen a fair number of light gray background LCDs versus greenish background LCDs, and the light gray LCDs always have slight better contrast, and they just look better overall to my eyes than green too.

It's the "little things" that count, which is why I wanted to mention this, so if ever there is a 16c CE that comes out (the one I really want), perhaps the people behind its creation could give thought to the LCD background color. No doubt they used green because that might have been the only one available. But I suspect they didn't really think too much about the background color at all. If they asked for a light gray background LCD for production, they might have been able to source it. Again, this is why I brought up the topic.

[carey]

(10-16-2023 02:05 AM)JDW Wrote:  When you move the two at different angles, the difference becomes more pronounced. But regardless of that, you can clearly see the color difference, which some people may say they either like or dislike.

I do notice what appears to me to be a slightly greenish LCD background tint in the 15CE in front of me, however I happen to be one of those who prefer it for reasons below.

(10-16-2023 02:05 AM)JDW Wrote:  I've seen a fair number of light gray background LCDs versus greenish background LCDs, and the light gray LCDs always have slight better contrast, and they just look better overall to my eyes than green too.

This discussion is reminiscent of the comparison between the slightly greenish 49g+ LCD background to the slightly grayish 50g LCD background, where some have commented that the 49g+ screen appears slightly brighter and easier to read, and is true for me. Holding the 15CE next to the 49g+, the slightly greenish LCD backgrounds appear similar.

There are two reasons that might account for the better readability of slightly greenish LCD background tints: (i) they may be more reflective so appear brighter; (ii) the the retina is most sensitive to the yellow-green portion of the EM spectrum (an evolutionary adaptation to the same region of the spectrum that solar output is greatest) so the contrast is better for the human eye (though bees may disagree with peaks not only in the green but also in blue and UV :)

Bottom line: If there is a slightly greenish LCD background in the 15CE, any slight advantage in readability and contrast may actually favor it over slightly grayish backgrounds, at least for some, especially if reflectivity and human eye spectral sensitivity are taken into account,

[Voldemar]

(10-16-2023 03:16 AM)carey Wrote:  the comparison between the slightly greenish 49g+ LCD background to the slightly grayish 50g LCD background

HP 35s Made in China vs HP 35s Made in Philippines. Greenish LCD and grayish LCD.

[JDW]

(10-16-2023 03:16 AM)carey Wrote:  Bottom line: If there is a slightly greenish LCD background in the 15CE, any slight advantage in readability and contrast may actually favor it over slightly grayish backgrounds, at least for some, especially if reflectivity and human eye spectral sensitivity are taken into account,

I think your eyes simply prefer green. Mine do not prefer green because my brain interprets the light gray background as being higher contrast, not to mention looking more natural versus text on paper.

Consider this photo...

https://www.flickr.com/photos/keithmidso...2/sizes/h/

In the end, we need to make a POLL, I think.

[mfleming]

(10-15-2023 09:08 PM)Voldemar Wrote:  To darken the display
1) Press and hold [f] (display contrast is not changed)
2) Press and hold [+] (display contrast is not changed)
3) Release [f] and keep holding [+] (display contrast is not changed)
4) Release [+] (display contrast is changed)
To lighten the display
1) Press and hold [f] (display contrast is not changed)
2) Press and hold [-] (display contrast is not changed)
3) Release [f] and keep holding [-] (display contrast is not changed)
4) Release [-] (display contrast is changed)

That does work, though afterwards the f indicator remains on and shift-f is active. Press a key after step 4 and you get the yellow shifted function of the key. Perhaps that distraction kept me from noticing the contrast change...

[Thomas Radtke]

The LCD of the LE is slightly pinkish, the one from the original 15C is greyish, and the CE LCD is green. At least, that's how I perceive them.

[carey]

(10-16-2023 07:52 AM)JDW Wrote:  Consider this photo...

https://www.flickr.com/photos/keithmidso...2/sizes/h/

In the end, we need to make a POLL, I think.

I agree a poll is best since, as mentioned and proven often in this forum for many calculator color comparisons (displays, keys, cases) photos are not a reliable guide, even in side-by-side comparisons, for a number reasons, e.g., light intensity isn’t uniform over a table and the different angles from the light source in side-by-side comparisons matter.

[Didier Lachieze]

(10-16-2023 01:24 AM)Johnh Wrote:  I wonder if anyone has access to both original and new hp15c CE models, and can post a picture with both in one photo, in the same light? Otherwise, such pale grey tones can be easily shifted in the way photos appear on a screen.

The 15C CE LCD has effectively a greenish aspect while the original 15C is greyish but I don’t think this is significant enough to bother me.

[johnb]

(10-16-2023 07:29 PM)Didier Lachieze Wrote:  The 15C CE LCD has effectively a greenish aspect while the original 15C is greyish but I don’t think this is significant enough to bother me.

I noticed as well, when I first received my new 15c/CE and compared it my original 15c. The green bugged the stew out of me.

Then I put away my 15c and 11c for a while and was just using the new CE in my typical rotation. And in most lighting conditions, I could not tell it had a greenish tint unless I compared it to my other Voyagers. (Once I acclimated to it, I even doubted it had actually been greenish until I confirmed.)

So, would I prefer it to match the color of the original Voyagers? YES.

Do I notice it in actual practice so that it's a bother? NO.

[ And which machine am I using in my daily drivers set now? The 15c/CE. IT'S SO CLICKY! ]