HP-35S: Got another one - Year 2012?

[jebem]

Today I have received yet another HP-35S to join my other one that I own since some years ago.
I love this machine. It is very well built, using screws to fix the components (no heat stakes here like the ones used in the Pioneers series) to give high structural integrity and easy access to the hardware internals. Add powerful features and very good documentation including comprehensive learning modules. Buggy firmware? Yes, as any other calculator will show in more or less degree.

Now, to the point:
I'm not sure about on how to interpret the serial numbers of these machines.
My first unit has s/n: CNA 72800051
The second one s/n is: CNA 21200BH

If the 1st unit has a date of 2007 week 28, does it mean that the 2nd unit should be 2012 week 12?
And while the remaining sequence of "00051" seems ok to me, what about "00BH"?

Anyone has some clue about this (probably Chinese) coding?




Both shows the same Firmware revision code number "0".

[rprosperi]

(12-11-2014 09:51 PM)jebem Wrote:  And while the remaining sequence of "00051" seems ok to me, what about "00BH"?

Anyone has some clue about this (probably Chinese) coding?

Perhaps they decided to show the weekly production count in Hex, thus this is the 11th (B) unit made during that week... though 3 digits may not be enough for some weeks' production lots...

[Blendama]

Have you noticed any other differences in build quality between the units?

[jebem]

(12-12-2014 12:00 AM)rprosperi Wrote:  

(12-11-2014 09:51 PM)jebem Wrote:  And while the remaining sequence of "00051" seems ok to me, what about "00BH"?

Anyone has some clue about this (probably Chinese) coding?

Perhaps they decided to show the weekly production count in Hex, thus this is the 11th (B) unit made during that week... though 3 digits may not be enough for some weeks' production lots...

Yap, 4000 units per week is not a lot... this is Chinese to me (ok, that's an Portuguese expression used when we do not have an hint on a subject).

[toml_12953]

(12-12-2014 10:31 AM)jebem Wrote:  Yap, 4000 units per week is not a lot... this is Chinese to me (ok, that's an Portuguese expression used when we do not have an hint on a subject).

In the US we say it's Greek to me. I wonder what the Chinese and Greeks say!LOL

[jebem]

(12-12-2014 02:30 AM)Blendama Wrote:  Have you noticed any other differences in build quality between the units?

Both looks identical in every aspect.
But the back label (in the pictures) shows a different prefix reference number.

[MarkPalmer]

I got my 35S for my birthday a few years ago, it is dated 2009. I have been using it daily at work since I got it, and have no complaints at all with the model. The build quality of these I would rate as nearly perfect, and it has been 100% reliable and still running on original batteries. I remember being disappointed when I got my USA made 11C in 1985 and there were small white particles under the LCD lens. Nothing like that with the 35S- I think Kinpo does a good job building these for HP.

-Mark-

[walter b]

(12-12-2014 10:58 AM)toml_12953 Wrote:  

(12-12-2014 10:31 AM)jebem Wrote:  Yap, 4000 units per week is not a lot... this is Chinese to me (ok, that's an Portuguese expression used when we do not have an hint on a subject).

In the US we say it's Greek to me. I wonder what the Chinese and Greeks say!LOL

In Germany we say "looks Spanish to me". So different countries have different favorites.

d;-)

[walter b]

I dare guessing you're one of few people rating the build quality of the HP-35S higher than the one of a vintage Voyager.

d;-)

[Gerald H]

(12-12-2014 03:33 PM)walter b Wrote:  I dare guessing you're one of few people rating the build quality of the HP-35S higher than the one of a vintage Voyager.

d;-)

Time will tell - let's wait 20 years.

My well used 35S received two new Panasonic CR2032s on 29/12/2013 & they're still going strong.

[MarkPalmer]

The 35S lacks the double-molded keys of the voyager series, but I have yet to see any top key legend wear on my 35S. IMHO the 35S is styled the way the Voyager series should have been- I never liked the landscape “credit card,” arrangement of the Voyagers, it just wasn’t a good fit for HP calculators and I definitely grew to hate that chrome at the top over time. If I could make the 35S better, I would make its keys a little taller and give them a little more travel, but that’s really nit-picking. Although the old saying will stand true comparing the 35S to the old HP LED models that they don’t make them like they used to, the 35S does show that decent things can be made in China if they are specified to be that way.

-Mark-

[Marcus von Cube]

(12-12-2014 10:58 AM)toml_12953 Wrote:  

(12-12-2014 10:31 AM)jebem Wrote:  Yap, 4000 units per week is not a lot... this is Chinese to me (ok, that's an Portuguese expression used when we do not have an hint on a subject).

In the US we say it's Greek to me. I wonder what the Chinese and Greeks say!LOL

The German saying is "Das kommt mir spanisch vor" ("This appears spanish to me").

[Massimo Gnerucci]

(12-12-2014 03:30 PM)walter b Wrote:  

(12-12-2014 10:58 AM)toml_12953 Wrote:  In the US we say it's Greek to me. I wonder what the Chinese and Greeks say!LOL

In Germany we say "looks Spanish to me". So different countries have different favorites.

d;-)

In Italy the saying is "looks arabic to me". ;)

[Thomas Klemm]

(12-12-2014 10:58 AM)toml_12953 Wrote:  In the US we say it's Greek to me. I wonder what the Chinese and Greeks say!LOL

"Greek to me" in other languages

Cheers
Thomas