[50G] Question

[Tugdual]

On the 48G, one issue I have is the blur screen (I have the blue one). I quickly found that it was not so blur if I watched the screen straight but this is not a very natural position when I have it on my desk. Can somebody tell me if there is the same phenomena on a 50G?

[Massimo Gnerucci]

(03-09-2015 06:49 AM)Tugdual Wrote:  On the 48G, one issue I have is the blur screen (I have the blue one). I quickly found that it was not so blur if I watched the screen straight but this is not a very natural position when I have it on my desk. Can somebody tell me if there is the same phenomena on a 50G?

No, the black screen on the 50G is very good, contrast is high.
Can't even be compared to the ones in the 48 series.

[Tugdual]

(03-09-2015 07:09 AM)Massimo Gnerucci Wrote:  [quote='Tugdual' pid='30028' dateline='1425883771']No, the black screen on the 50G is very good, contrast is high.
Can't even be compared to the ones in the 48 series.

Thank you Massimo, got one in the order pipe...

[Tugdual]

Just found that the 50G was actually an emulated Saturn on ARM.
I really thought it would be ARM native assembly. What's the benefit of emulating Saturn?
I think the Prime is native ARM now, isn't it?

[Marcus von Cube]

(03-09-2015 09:36 PM)Tugdual Wrote:  Just found that the 50G was actually an emulated Saturn on ARM.
I really thought it would be ARM native assembly. What's the benefit of emulating Saturn?

The existing code base. It's not the first time in computer history that new hardware was used to emulate older designs just to preserve the investment in software. (Tandem Computers' NonStop architecture comes to my mind here.)

(03-09-2015 09:36 PM)Tugdual Wrote:  I think the Prime is native ARM now, isn't it?

Yes and that's a two fold experience: We can see tremendous advantages in performance and usability, but on the other hand, the system leaves a lot to improve on.

[Tugdual]

(03-09-2015 09:50 PM)Marcus von Cube Wrote:  The existing code base. It's not the first time in computer history that new hardware was used to emulate older designs just to preserve the investment in software. (Tandem Computers' NonStop architecture comes to my mind here.)

Thanks Marcus. So a 50g = ardruino ($20) + x48 ($0) + case and LCD.
This is from far the most expensive case I purchased...

[Tugdual]

Quote:An HP 50g is now in hand. Here in late 2011 I’d expect HP’s top-of-the-line RPN calculator to sport a crisp high-resolution display, but noooo the low-contrast 131×80 LCD seems teleported directly from the latter part of the last millennium.

Source: http://softsolder.com/2011/10/10/hp-48gx...se-rivets/

[Massimo Gnerucci]

For something better you need a 39gII...

[matthiaspaul]

(03-11-2015 09:24 PM)Tugdual Wrote:  

Quote:An HP 50g is now in hand. Here in late 2011 I’d expect HP’s top-of-the-line RPN calculator to sport a crisp high-resolution display, but noooo the low-contrast 131×80 LCD seems teleported directly from the latter part of the last millennium.

Source: http://softsolder.com/2011/10/10/hp-48gx...se-rivets/

Don't worry. Compared to the 48GX's display, the 50g's display is crisp. There might be even better displays now, but the 50g came out nine years ago...

Greetings,

Matthias

[BartDB]

(03-11-2015 09:54 PM)Massimo Gnerucci Wrote:  For something better you need a 39gII...

Unfortunately I cannot recommend that calculator at all. It has buggy firmware that was last updated more than a year ago. It seems to be forgotten since the Prime was released (probably because it is not for sale in the US but the Prime is).

http://h30499.www3.hp.com/t5/Calculators...701#M14103

http://h30499.www3.hp.com/t5/Calculators...70/#M14651

Best regards.

[BartDB]

(03-09-2015 07:09 AM)Massimo Gnerucci Wrote:  No, the black screen on the 50G is very good, contrast is high.
Can't even be compared to the ones in the 48 series.

I agree. I have a 50g for my daily needs and find it easy to read the screen.

Best regards.

Edit: the new position of the Enter key on the 50g is probably the most difficult thing to get used to.

[Massimo Gnerucci]

(03-12-2015 09:34 AM)BartDB Wrote:  

(03-11-2015 09:54 PM)Massimo Gnerucci Wrote:  For something better you need a 39gII...

Unfortunately I cannot recommend that calculator at all. It has buggy firmware that was last updated more than a year ago. It seems to be forgotten since the Prime was released (probably because it is not for sale in the US but the Prime is).

I was referring only to the screen (which, undoubtly, is superior).
Other than that I never got used to the 38/39/40 paradigm, so I simply don't use any of mine. :)

[MarkMason]

(03-12-2015 09:38 AM)BartDB Wrote:  Edit: the new position of the Enter key on the 50g is probably the most difficult thing to get used to.

Amen !!!!

[BartDB]

(03-12-2015 12:58 PM)Massimo Gnerucci Wrote:  I was referring only to the screen (which, undoubtly, is superior).

Yes, it is a nice screen - higher resulotion and good greyscale. The hardware is generally nice, a good click on the keys. Unfortunately the firmware lets it down.

(03-12-2015 12:58 PM)Massimo Gnerucci Wrote:  Other than that I never got used to the 38/39/40 paradigm, so I simply don't use any of mine.

I do have problems when going between RPN and algebraic . I am sticking to the 50g in RPN mostly.

[Tugdual]

Received the 50g I ordered today, and I'm discovering it. What a monster. I am under the impression it has more features than the prime. On the other hand it seems totally disorganized I really have a much harder time to find functions than on the 48G. I also see the appearance of these list menu I didn't like on the prime to the detriment of a better use of Fn keys.
Screen is better than the 48g for sure but I'm not impressed, I suspect that it could be the same as the 48g when it is 20 years old. Keyboard is surprisingly better than I expected though it does an ugly sticky noise like scotch tape, and of course this ridiculous tiny ENTER key but I'm not going to reopen this chapter.

Just first impressions...

[Marcio]

I mean no offense to you or anyone who thinks that way, but honestly, I can't see why the location of a key can affect one's opinion as to choose an inferior machine over a superior one.

The 50g is indeed a 7-head beast, but the Prime is will get there as well.

[Tugdual]

(03-12-2015 09:04 PM)Marcio Wrote:  I mean no offense to you or anyone who thinks that way, but honestly, I can't see why the location of a key can affect one's opinion as to choose an inferior machine over a superior one.

The 50g is indeed a 7-head beast, but the Prime is will get there as well.

It is less the location than the number of key strokes and the time you spend searching for a feature. This doesn't actually govern a choice considering that there are only two machines that somehow compare (and soon only one since the 50g's life cycle has apparently reached an end).
I think it is still worth being mentioned providing that this forum is also "customer feedback".

[Marcus von Cube]

(03-12-2015 08:28 PM)Tugdual Wrote:  I also see the appearance of these list menu I didn't like on the prime to the detriment of a better use of Fn keys.

There is a system flag to switch between dialogs and function key menus.

[Marcio]

(03-12-2015 09:44 PM)Tugdual Wrote:  It is less the location than the number of key strokes and the time you spend searching for a feature. This doesn't actually govern a choice considering that there are only two machines that somehow compare (and soon only one since the 50g's life cycle has apparently reached an end).

After some time playing with it, you'll get more fluent finding features you need and realize what a powerful machine the 50g is. If only the Prime had as many commands and full RPN integration.

[Tugdual]

(03-12-2015 09:47 PM)Marcus von Cube Wrote:  

(03-12-2015 08:28 PM)Tugdual Wrote:  I also see the appearance of these list menu I didn't like on the prime to the detriment of a better use of Fn keys.

There is a system flag to switch between dialogs and function key menus.

Found it #117! Thank you for the tip Marcus.

Edit: but then you also lose the Help menu on F1. Certainly a mode for more expert users.