Returning to the HP fold

[rprosperi]

(03-19-2015 02:02 AM)TASP Wrote:  I finagled a 41C, thinking it would be my take it with me and use machine, but the one that turned up is really nice looking. Really nice looking.

Do it, you won't regret it! This is then the new flagship. In fact, once you use it, it will be hard to go back to the 'normal' and slow 41C machines (even the 2X will seem to crawl).

[TASP]

LOL, Think about it though.

The HP41CL is the new kid on the block, it is the 21st century equivalent of the HP41C.

{GASP!}


So it isn't really a 'flagship'. I'm expecting a tricked out, uprated, dial turned to 11 version to be worked out in the time to come.

So a 'flagship' CL is going to be something we see in several years down the road.

We should be brainstorming mods and features !!!

[TASP]

Another machine for my collection will be a CV configured the way I had mine (before it fried) on the job back in the 80s.

I've found some old work related magnetic cards, and they confirm my recollection my CV had EXFun, PPCRom, Time, and since I have magnetic cards that are work related, a card reader.

I think I would have bought the Extended Functions module, and 2 subsequent Extended Memory modules as funds permitted. Also, after getting all 3, I had them tripled into one module, which I still have. That module I would not give up until it is pried from my cold dead fingers. I have found some materials from David White/SOS, including a partially incorrectly filled out order sheet, so my recollection SOS converted my 3 modules into one is correct. It still works just fine, I've had it in the 41C and 41CV recently (I'm aware to not plug it into my CX) and they show 600 registers. I've also recently ran a program from Extended Memory on the CV, and that worked fine to, until a long forgotten feature of that program locked my CV. Took a while to figure out it was a SF11, OFF sequence, and how to get out of it.

I've googled HP41CZ, and it seems that designation to date is a tease of a hypothetical model.

I'm thinking, with concurrence here, anyone with an especially well tricked out HP41C(whatever) and therefore their 'flagship' HP41 to refer to their machine as their HP41CZ, it's easier to type, and since everyone who has a different take on how to configure a' flagship' it can be a fun topic for comparison.

I'm also thinking 41s with extensive aftermarket upgrading, like an AME Port Extender, Clonix, HEPAX, switched internal ROMs, those card readers I've seen full of RAM, etc. might want to refere to as HP41A (and 'A' stands for Alphabet soup)

Let's reserve HP41M, and HP41N for more goodies in the HP41CL line.

Any other varieties anyone can think of I'd appreciate hearing about.

[/b]

[Dave Frederickson]

There's the HP-41 CY. Incidentally, the "L" in CL is Roman for fifty, as in 50x Turbo mode.

41CL. "CL" means...

[TASP]

Well, the HP41CM would be 1000X faster then.

A worthy upgrade !!

[Massimo Gnerucci]

(03-19-2015 01:32 PM)TASP Wrote:  The HP41CL (...) isn't really a 'flagship'.

You're kidding, right?

[TASP]

It won't seem like a flagship after whatever comes out next!

I know everyone thought back in 79 the 41C was the cats pajamas, but isn't it kinda fun to look at the CL now the way we look at a 'mere' 41C now?

I'm looking at the CL (which I don't have one of yet) as a new start instead of a culmination of the 41 series, IOW.

And I do want a CL, I just want to get back up to speed in the CX world first before jumping ahead that far.

Had another funny thought, and probably impossible, but a 41 motherboard in a Ti-58 (or whatever) would be quite a conversation piece at a conference!

Or maybe keep it in the family and doctor up an HP67 housing that way.


I've seen so much adulation for the HEPAX and CLONIX items, I'm getting an itch to go there too.

For some reason, an HP41 emulator on my wonky cell phone doesn't have any appeal to me. Just having my cell phone being able to send and receive phone calls somedays is a struggle for it.

I'm wanting to try out my HPIL video interface on a panel TV too. I've only ever seen it work with a CRT, and that last happened back in the early 90s.

[Massimo Gnerucci]

(03-19-2015 07:12 PM)TASP Wrote:  I'm looking at the CL (which I don't have one of yet)

The basics first, then: go and buy one. Then we can talk about it.

(03-19-2015 07:12 PM)TASP Wrote:  as a new start instead of a culmination of the 41 series, IOW.

Wow! Why not? I really hope so, but Monte took several years in order to have the finished product. I don't know how many others are keen to do so.

Listen to me, go and buy one. It's the best thing in the 41 world you can have.

[TASP]

Had another piece of my CL project arrive in the mail today.

At some point, I need to get brave, and open up my HP41C and make sure it's a good donor cadaver.

I have plan B for a different cadaver, but I'm not ready to seriously think about it yet. Plenty of time for that if the 41C isn't suitable.

I'm even entertaining the idea of having 2 HP41CLs. Seems like jumping thru all the hoops to acquire just one, and then display casing it with my reconstituted defense contractor 41CV and my CX flagship, it might be handy to actually have a second one to take with me and USE.

[gasp]

I really would like to get the flagship project wrapped up before jumping onto the CL project. I'm just lacking an XMem (soon to be rectified) and a little more confidence building research through the archives on internalizing modules and I might get going on a rainy day here.

The flagship project might be a little more complicated too, I've glommed onto another CX, and it is more pristine than mine, but it's not a 2X. Not sure where that is headed . . . .

[rprosperi]

(03-21-2015 04:13 AM)TASP Wrote:  I really would like to get the flagship project wrapped up before jumping onto the CL project. I'm just lacking an XMem (soon to be rectified) and a little more confidence building research through the archives on internalizing modules and I might get going on a rainy day here.

For combining modules, Diego has commented several times in posts that he is willing to do that for folks if he can retain the extra module casing to repurpose for other use. This is typical of the clever and generous attitiude of many members here; it's low-risk, almost no-cost and win-win for both parties.

[TASP]

Good to know. I might inquire of him about the Extended I/O into an HPIL.

As for the XMems for the flagship, I want them internal to the calculator housing. I've seen a picture of modules wedged in along the gaps besides the battery area.

The XMems don't use ROM addresses, so if they are internal, all 4 ports are still open for goodies. Just not any more XMems.

Might also put inside my ZenROM, it is a 4K module, but it's configured as the 'upper' 4K of an 8K. This means it can be wired inside the calculator body and appear to the calculator circuitry as though it is physically in port 4. Port 4 is still available for all the 'conventional' lower 4K ROMs, or the card reader.

[TASP]

I've scored the XMems, should be able to start the blood and gore aspects of the flagship project.

[TASP]

Retrieved my HP2225B and got out the alcohol swabs and managed to clean out the ink residue.

I chucked the cartridge, It was nasty.

Steeled myself for calamity, and inserted the battery pack and



nothing.


And this was a few days ago. Was fussing with the battery pack, and noticed when I turned on the printer the yellow indicator light was on dimly, then it flickered.

Well, that's interesting. I've been turning it off and on once in a while, and this morning the cartridge holder centered itself, and the red power light came on.

Then nothing.

Maybe it will come around, maybe it won't. I brought in the sheaf of gin-u-whine HP printer paper, if I see more reaction from it, I might try to load some paper in it.

I found an ink cartridge, new and sealed in the can. Might get brave and open it and see what's inside.

Looks like they still make them new, so if the printer comes all the way back I might order one.


Decided to connect one of the HPIL video interfaces to the 'flagship' and then connected it to a modest Samsung panel TV (via it's only analog video input jack) and lo and behold, powered right up and works fine. Wrote a quick little program sprinkled with 'PRA' commands and watched it do it its thing.

Another piece of history is up and running.

[Thomas Klemm]

(03-23-2015 06:10 PM)TASP Wrote:  Wrote a quick little program sprinkled with 'PRA' commands and watched it do it its thing.

This book might provide some inspirations: 10 PRINT.

Cheers
Thomas

[TASP]

Ewwww.

Opened the 30 (?) year old NIB ink cartridge for my 2225B.


It isn't pretty. Blech !

[TASP]

Loaded the 2225B with paper and it runs it thru fine. Also, my cleaning job was not as good as I thought, the first 2 sheets came out blotchy with ink.

LF and FF work. Yellow light even goes out now with red light on (I think that is what is supposed to happen)

I connected flagship via HPIL and tried the program I used on the video interface yesterday.

I saw a LF but then I got an error message. Either the escape codes for the video confused the printer, or the absence of an ink cartridge (or both) messed it up.

Looks like I need to get an ink cartridge.

Yea !!

[TASP]

Haven't updated this for a while:

2225 has corroded traces, so req'd another one and it works fine.

Have acquired:

35
45
55
80

and a donor tallkeys for a CL conversion.

I am really enjoying looking through the Museum records and the info on the thumbdrive.

You've done an amazing thing here.

Big surprise to me is just how many freaking different calculator models HP has released over the years. I have really been out of the loop.

[bshoring]

(04-27-2015 02:18 AM)TASP Wrote:  Haven't updated this for a while:

Have acquired:

35
45
55
80

Of the four classics you've acquired, do you have a favorite?
Bob

[TASP]

The 80. Can't explain it, but it stands out in the herd.

I coveted a 55 in the 70s, and now that I have one, I am seriously wondering what the big deal was.

[bshoring]

How effective is the timer in the 55?
Bob

P.S. I think I would really like the 80. An amazing machine.