Keep which HP-48

[Christoph Giesselink]

(03-04-2014 07:09 AM)HP67 Wrote:  

(03-04-2014 01:22 AM)Raymond Del Tondo Wrote:  The optical difference between molded and painted keys can clearly be seen.

Not to these eyes!

Compare the N's in SIN and ENTER in Raymond's pictures please. They show the typical difference.

[HP67]

(03-04-2014 08:07 AM)Christoph Giesselink Wrote:  Compare the N's in SIN and ENTER in Raymond's pictures please. They show the typical difference.

I see the difference in the pics. The verbiage on the molded keys is sharper. But I can not match that to the keys on my calcs.

If I can get some pictures uploaded then it will probably be easier for me (and certainly you guys) to see at larger magnification.

Thanks for trying to help. To my sorrow my eyes aren't cooperating.

[HP67]

Ok, here are three pics. I have the originals but they're around 2M or so each so I cropped to the same sections Raymond posted. Please let me know what you see.

[Thomas Ritschel]

(03-04-2014 10:22 AM)HP67 Wrote:  Please let me know what you see.

The first (GX1) and the third (SX1) have molded keys, the second one (GX2) has painted keys. As Christoph already mentioned: Compare the N's in SIN and ENTER.

[HP67]

(03-04-2014 11:24 AM)Thomas Ritschel Wrote:  

(03-04-2014 10:22 AM)HP67 Wrote:  Please let me know what you see.

The first (GX1) and the third (SX1) have molded keys, the second one (GX2) has painted keys.

Thank you, this was my conclusion also.

(03-04-2014 11:24 AM)Thomas Ritschel Wrote:  As Christoph already mentioned: Compare the N's in SIN and ENTER.

It is not that I can't read what Raymond or Christoph wrote, it is that I can't see well enough to make the comparison.

[Han]

In general, the Indonesian units do not have molded keys. The Singapore and USA models all have molded keys from what I have seen. If you see otherwise, it is likely that your HP48 was modified.

There was an old HP48SX article on how these calculators were made, but I cannot seem to find it. It was archived somewhere on HP's site...

[HP67]

(03-04-2014 04:07 PM)Han Wrote:  In general, the Indonesian units do not have molded keys. The Singapore and USA models all have molded keys from what I have seen. If you see otherwise, it is likely that your HP48 was modified.

Indeed, my Singapore and American versions appear to have molded keys (based on Thomas' statement) and my Indonesian one painted keys.

(03-04-2014 04:07 PM)Han Wrote:  There was an old HP48SX article on how these calculators were made, but I cannot seem to find it. It was archived somewhere on HP's site...

Hewlett-Packard Journal, June 1991. I have it open right now.

[Massimo Gnerucci]

(03-04-2014 04:21 PM)HP67 Wrote:  Hewlett-Packard Journal, June 1991. I have it open right now.

And here it is.

[Han]

(03-04-2014 05:00 PM)Massimo Gnerucci Wrote:  

(03-04-2014 04:21 PM)HP67 Wrote:  Hewlett-Packard Journal, June 1991. I have it open right now.

And here it is.

Thank you for helping me find it again. I really should save this gem of a journal.

[Han]

(03-04-2014 07:09 AM)HP67 Wrote:  

(03-04-2014 01:22 AM)Raymond Del Tondo Wrote:  The optical difference between molded and painted keys can clearly be seen.

Not to these eyes!

Thanks a lot for posting the pics. I am still not sure I can tell the difference. With known molded and painted pics side by side I do see the legends are sharper on the molded keys. But on my calcs I can't tell.

I'll try to get some pics uploaded but I'm having a little problem with that at the moment.

Are you able to notice any difference in the "glossiness" ? The painted keys have a much glossier look to them whereas the molded keys generally have a "matte" look to them. The fonts of the molded keys generally have a tapered look. If you look at the N, for example, the vertical strokes for the legs of the N appear thinner about mid-height than at the top or bottom (for the molded keys). The painted N has legs which appear to have uniform width from top to bottom. The corners are sharper on the molded keys (as opposed to being more rounded with the painted keys).

[HP67]

(03-04-2014 05:11 PM)Han Wrote:  

(03-04-2014 05:00 PM)Massimo Gnerucci Wrote:  And here it is.

Thank you for helping me find it again. I really should save this gem of a journal.

I saved them all. Who knows when HP will decide they're no longer "relevant." All their HP 48 stuff is already gone from their ftp server so it's probably only a matter of time.

(03-04-2014 05:11 PM)Han Wrote:  Are you able to notice any difference in the "glossiness" ? The painted keys have a much glossier look to them whereas the molded keys generally have a "matte" look to them. The fonts of the molded keys generally have a tapered look. If you look at the N, for example, the vertical strokes for the legs of the N appear thinner about mid-height than at the top or bottom (for the molded keys). The painted N has legs which appear to have uniform width from top to bottom. The corners are sharper on the molded keys (as opposed to being more rounded with the painted keys).

Thanks. I'll look into this. I definitely noticed the sharper lettering after taking several looks. Thomas' suggestion to feel the enter key helped. Even before I posted the pics I suspected the younger of my 2 Gs was painted.

[edryer]

SX is 1992 week 48.
G is 1994 week 11.

Both have moulded keys, the G also seems to have an excellent display, SX display is obviously not great.

However the SX subjectively seems to be of superior build to the G.

[HP67]

(04-05-2014 01:17 AM)edryer Wrote:  However the SX subjectively seems to be of superior build to the G.

Yes. I can tell them apart by picking them up in the case without looking. The SX is like a brick, the G feels like a calculator!

[Raymond Del Tondo]

(04-22-2014 08:16 AM)HP67 Wrote:  

(04-05-2014 01:17 AM)edryer Wrote:  However the SX subjectively seems to be of superior build to the G.

Yes. I can tell them apart by picking them up in the case without looking. The SX is like a brick, the G feels like a calculator!

At least for calculating, I prefer the calculator over the brick;-)

[HP67]

True enough. The SX display must be the least legible LCD ever produced. It can barely be called a display at all. I remember I avoided LCDs for decades when they first came out and looking back I wonder if this was why.

Still, nice to have something that is otherwise very well made. And the color scheme! They got that one right and it lasted a couple of models unlike today's pallete du jour!

[Han]

This one is a much better SX:

[Raymond Del Tondo]

(04-22-2014 05:50 PM)Han Wrote:  This one is a much better SX

Indeed!
Unfortunately it's still somewhat slow;-)

Slightly OT: I wonder how snappy the SpeedUI stack replacement component would be on an SX, if it existed.

[HP67]

(04-22-2014 05:50 PM)Han Wrote:  This one is a much better SX:

How much brighter is the infamous black LCD than the "regular" one on the SX?

From the picture it looks really good.

[walter b]

Hmmh, never seen a black LCD in that sledgehammer. :-?

Within a 48Gx, a black and a regular blue LCD are two different ballparks IMHO. The black one is better by far.

d:-)

(Edit: Added one sentence for sake of clarity.)

[rprosperi]

(04-23-2014 05:09 AM)HP67 Wrote:  

(04-22-2014 05:50 PM)Han Wrote:  This one is a much better SX:

How much brighter is the infamous black LCD than the "regular" one on the SX?

From the picture it looks really good.

The Black LCD on a GX (or very 'special' SX) is dramatically better than even the very late Blue LCDs. The Blue LCD evolved over the production run and there are likely 3 (or more?) different versions, each better than previous.

If you are a 48GX user (not just collecting) I recommend getting a Black LCD unit, it is well worth the extra price they command at TAS or other sites.