Some questions regarding the "HP12C+" model

[MountainMantologist]

Hi everyone - brand new to the forums!

I have a handful of vintage made in the USA HP12Cs that I use on a daily basis both at home and at work. I love their build quality but I wanted something faster for longer amortization calculations where the original takes quite a while.

I learned about the model colloquially known as the HP12C+ on these boards and just ordered two of them off eBay. Or at least I hope I did. I now realize I should've come here for answers before purchasing anything!

My understanding is that all of the gold HP12Cs with the dual-CR2032 batteries are the faster models with the ARM processor. Is this the case?

And, if so, do we know what years they made this model? When I go to the "HP12C English" page on the HP website the tech specs indicate they take a single CR2032 battery. Does this mean the 12C+ was a limited run from 2009ish(?) to ____? And does that mean the brand new calculators you can buy today are slower than the older ones with the dual batteries?

Thanks in advance!

[rprosperi]

There are a LOT of threads here on the 12C, but this one may answer most of your initial questions:

https://www.hpmuseum.org/forum/thread-51...hlight=12c

[ctrclckws]

(05-15-2024 01:44 AM)rprosperi Wrote:  There are a LOT of threads here on the 12C, but this one may answer most of your initial questions:

https://www.hpmuseum.org/forum/thread-51...hlight=12c

Agree on the information in the thread provided.

Most of the modern version could be considered a 12C+ as far as I am concerned.
I have examples of several generations of the 12C, and the newer ones are MANY times faster than the Original Issue models.

Recently purchased a home and ran the loan amortization through the 12C and got similar numbers as reported on the finance documents.
Originals took a noticable amount of time. Modern was done almost as fast as I could lift my fingers from the keyboard.

[MountainMantologist]

(05-15-2024 01:44 AM)rprosperi Wrote:  There are a LOT of threads here on the 12C, but this one may answer most of your initial questions:

https://www.hpmuseum.org/forum/thread-51...hlight=12c

Thank you - this is very helpful.

According to this document the latest 12C(+) from May 2015-Current takes 2xCR2032 batteries. But the "HP 12C English Calculator" on HP's website (link) still shows a model with a single CR2032 door and under specs says it's powered by "1 CR20232 battery".

I'm wondering where this discrepancy comes from. Hard to imagine HP just hasn't updated their website in nine years - so is the "HP 12C English Calculator" some other variant of the 12C I haven't heard of? The same 1x CR2032 information is found on the hpofficesupply website.

[rprosperi]

(05-15-2024 05:40 PM)MountainMantologist Wrote:  

(05-15-2024 01:44 AM)rprosperi Wrote:  There are a LOT of threads here on the 12C, but this one may answer most of your initial questions:

https://www.hpmuseum.org/forum/thread-51...hlight=12c

Thank you - this is very helpful.

According to this document the latest 12C(+) from May 2015-Current takes 2xCR2032 batteries. But the "HP 12C English Calculator" on HP's website (link) still shows a model with a single CR2032 door and under specs says it's powered by "1 CR20232 battery".

I'm wondering where this discrepancy comes from. Hard to imagine HP just hasn't updated their website in nine years - so is the "HP 12C English Calculator" some other variant of the 12C I haven't heard of? The same 1x CR2032 information is found on the hpofficesupply website.

Believe it, it's as simple as that.

All dual-battery models are literally hundreds of times faster than the original, though actual speeds vary a tiny bit as exact chips/builds had small variation. 1-battery machines have not been made in about 10 years.

The LATEST 12C's were manufactured by Moravia, under License from HP, in the same factory in Philippines that HP used, still have 2 batteries, while the battery door has a small retention screw and the words "Hewlett Packard" no longer appear on front face, as prescribed by the License.

And all 12Cs function identically, varying only in speed. (This does not include the various 12C Paltinum models, they have different features, however these all have "Platinum" or "Prestige" printed on the bezel.

[MountainMantologist]

(05-15-2024 06:09 PM)rprosperi Wrote:  

(05-15-2024 05:40 PM)MountainMantologist Wrote:  Thank you - this is very helpful.

According to this document the latest 12C(+) from May 2015-Current takes 2xCR2032 batteries. But the "HP 12C English Calculator" on HP's website (link) still shows a model with a single CR2032 door and under specs says it's powered by "1 CR20232 battery".

I'm wondering where this discrepancy comes from. Hard to imagine HP just hasn't updated their website in nine years - so is the "HP 12C English Calculator" some other variant of the 12C I haven't heard of? The same 1x CR2032 information is found on the hpofficesupply website.

Believe it, it's as simple as that.

All dual-battery models are literally hundreds of times faster than the original, though actual speeds vary a tiny bit as exact chips/builds had small variation. 1-battery machines have not been made in about 10 years.

The LATEST 12C's were manufactured by Moravia, under License from HP, in the same factory in Philippines that HP used, still have 2 batteries, while the battery door has a small retention screw and the words "Hewlett Packard" no longer appear on front face, as prescribed by the License.

And all 12Cs function identically, varying only in speed. (This does not include the various 12C Paltinum models, they have different features, however these all have "Platinum" or "Prestige" printed on the bezel.

Oh wow, ok. That's funny regarding the website.

I just looked at the listings for the two I bought off eBay (haven't arrived yet) and they appear to be the newest ones. No "Hewlett Packard" on the front and serial numbers that start with 9CJ. Looking forward to testing them out when they arrive!

[rprosperi]

(05-15-2024 06:37 PM)MountainMantologist Wrote:  Oh wow, ok. That's funny regarding the website.

I just looked at the listings for the two I bought off eBay (haven't arrived yet) and they appear to be the newest ones. No "Hewlett Packard" on the front and serial numbers that start with 9CJ. Looking forward to testing them out when they arrive!

That's not funny, that's tragic.. which is kinda what HP has become of late...

The numbers on stickers beginning with 9CJ are manufacturing LOT numbers, not serial numbers; with the exception of the new 15c Collector's Edition, new units don't have unique serial numbers.

[MountainMantologist]

(05-15-2024 09:12 PM)rprosperi Wrote:  

(05-15-2024 06:37 PM)MountainMantologist Wrote:  Oh wow, ok. That's funny regarding the website.

I just looked at the listings for the two I bought off eBay (haven't arrived yet) and they appear to be the newest ones. No "Hewlett Packard" on the front and serial numbers that start with 9CJ. Looking forward to testing them out when they arrive!

That's not funny, that's tragic.. which is kinda what HP has become of late...

The numbers on stickers beginning with 9CJ are manufacturing LOT numbers, not serial numbers; with the exception of the new 15c Collector's Edition, new units don't have unique serial numbers.

That is a shame re: HP.

Has anyone successfully made a franken-HP12C with the vintage double injected keys and a 60x speed ARM processor inside? I'm thinking that would be the dream calculator with the feel of the original but the speed of the newer models.