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John Cadick · 01-24-2018, 10:56 PM

(01-24-2018 09:41 PM)Gerald H Wrote: I remember the 49G as a dream come true - Infinite precision integer arithmetic built in, loads of number theory functions, MetaKernel & futuristic look (compare with 48GX).

Detractions abound but the pluses were enough to shelve the 48GX (Plus MetaKernel, plus memory cards at exorbitant prices).

All (most) User heritage software worked OK.

My story is much the same as yours. I had been using a 48GX for a long time. I saw the 49G and it struck a chord on my "gotta-have-it" ribs. I used it for a long time as my go-to calculator. I replaced it with a 50G when they came out. 50G is still my go-to graphing calculator; although, I am really learning to love the DM42.

I lived through the plethora of comments about the "frozen hamster-butt blue" color. Having never seen any kind of frozen hamster butt, I could never comment on that. ;o}

cyrille de brébisson · 01-25-2018, 06:21 AM

Hello,

The acronyms ERAM, IRAM and the like come from a long ago area where they refered to physical rams associated in various ways with the CPU. They kept beeing used, with the meaning sliding ever more with each calculator and have no real meaning in the later calculators.

The 48SX could had more "working" ram than any other saturn based calcs at 256+32KB. This made is the most memory powerfull calc of the series.
However, it's slow UI and slow CPU worked against it.

48GX was better thanks to a faster CPU (even if it lost 32KB of useable RAM) but the UI was still.... lacking.

The 49G Solved all that (with better software to balance the "bad" CPU), but lost the expandability :-( On the other hand it had a lot of flash storage so few people ever complained. And it had an atrocious keyboard.

The later, emulated series increased greatly on speed and added SD storage. But lost RS232 :-( They were definitely better from a "CPU" standpoint, but used more battery.

Appart from the lack of RS232, the latest 50G is definitely the best (once in RPN mode of course). Fast, with as much ram as the (virtual) Saturn could handle, OK enough keyboard + native programming.
My favorite is the HP 48GII which is the nicest looking of the lot (more professional/subdued than the black or golds). It was my personal color choise BTW :-)

Now, if course, HPPrime solves all these issues :-) but this is another product all together!

Cyrille

grsbanks · 01-25-2018, 07:15 AM

(01-25-2018 06:21 AM)cyrille de brébisson Wrote: Now, if course, HPPrime solves all these issues :-) but this is another product all together!

One issue sadly never solved is that of the non-functional alarms on the emulated models. Quite appalling actually that functions described as working (see, for example, page 3-236 of the HP 50g AUR) simply don't work.

You can't blame it on the emulation layer per se. I have two similarly emulated machines (HP-41CX functional clones) sitting on my desk and the alarms do work on them.

jebem · 01-25-2018, 07:34 AM

(01-25-2018 06:21 AM)cyrille de brébisson Wrote: The acronyms ERAM, IRAM and the like come from a long ago area where they refered to physical rams associated in various ways with the CPU. They kept beeing used, with the meaning sliding ever more with each calculator and have no real meaning in the later calculators.
...

Thank you so much for your explanations on this matter, Cyrille.

jebem · (This post was last modified: 01-25-2018 09:13 AM by jebem.)

(01-24-2018 09:04 PM)rprosperi Wrote: ...
Interestingly, on my 49G (CN148... w/same ROM version as Jose's) after reset, my memory values are slightly different:

Port 0: IRAM 241KB
Port 1: ERAM 255KB
Port 2: FLASH 1085KB (Filer shows 980KB + 49g demo library installed (108133 Bytes, so 980+105 => 1085) )
Home 241KB (default CAS variables after reset present)
...

Strange indeed.
EDIT: I have checked again and I had a typo for Port 0, corrected in my other posts above.
Port 0: IRAM 241KB
Port 1: ERAM 255KB
Port 2: FLASH 1079KB (Filer shows 980KB + 49g demo library installed (108133 Bytes, so 980+105 => 1085) )
Home 241KB

But mine came with Tetris installed in port 2 flash and plenty of easter eggs as well (as listed in hpcalc) and it may have reduced the free memory by a little.

toml_12953 · (This post was last modified: 01-25-2018 02:13 PM by toml_12953.)

(01-25-2018 06:21 AM)cyrille de brébisson Wrote: Appart from the lack of RS232, the latest 50G is definitely the best (once in RPN mode of course). Fast, with as much ram as the (virtual) Saturn could handle, OK enough keyboard + native programming.

Cyrille

The 50g has a serial port. A simple cable makes it compatible with RS-232 levels.

**rprosperi** · 01-25-2018, 03:01 PM

(01-25-2018 02:12 PM)toml_12953 Wrote: The 50g has a serial port. A simple cable makes it compatible with RS-232 levels.

He knows. He's the only person here, who was there, when the 50g was designed.

Massimo Gnerucci · 01-25-2018, 04:21 PM

(01-25-2018 03:01 PM)rprosperi Wrote:
(01-25-2018 02:12 PM)toml_12953 Wrote: The 50g has a serial port. A simple cable makes it compatible with RS-232 levels.

He knows. He's the only person here, who was there, when the 50g was designed.

Eheheh...

jebem · (This post was last modified: 01-26-2018 07:44 AM by jebem.)

(01-25-2018 02:12 PM)toml_12953 Wrote:
(01-25-2018 06:21 AM)cyrille de brébisson Wrote: Appart from the lack of RS232, the latest 50G is definitely the best (once in RPN mode of course). Fast, with as much ram as the (virtual) Saturn could handle, OK enough keyboard + native programming.

Cyrille

The 50g has a serial port. A simple cable makes it compatible with RS-232 levels.

Just to be clear on this subject, that simple cable will have to feature inside one "50G CMOS Digital Serial interface" to "RS232 interface" Converter, besides the cable wires and connectors that an even simpler cable would feature.

I agree it is simple, at least for anyone expert on electronics to build one properly, by converting the voltage and current levels on the Tx an RX lines and smart enough to not deplet the 50G batteries in the process.

I believe that is what Hpcalc have done, according to published information from the developer.
https://www.allenwan.com/hpcalcserialcable/

toml_12953 · 01-27-2018, 05:02 AM

(01-25-2018 03:01 PM)rprosperi Wrote:
(01-25-2018 02:12 PM)toml_12953 Wrote: The 50g has a serial port. A simple cable makes it compatible with RS-232 levels.

He knows. He's the only person here, who was there, when the 50g was designed.

I certainly wasn't trying to correct him! Smile

I was just clarifying his statement that it doesn't have an RS-232 port for some people who didn't know the 50g's serial port could be made to work with RS-232 equipment.

toml_12953 · 01-27-2018, 03:11 PM

(01-26-2018 07:37 AM)jebem Wrote:
(01-25-2018 02:12 PM)toml_12953 Wrote: The 50g has a serial port. A simple cable makes it compatible with RS-232 levels.

Just to be clear on this subject, that simple cable will have to feature inside one "50G CMOS Digital Serial interface" to "RS232 interface" Converter, besides the cable wires and connectors that an even simpler cable would feature.

I agree it is simple, at least for anyone expert on electronics to build one properly, by converting the voltage and current levels on the Tx an RX lines and smart enough to not deplet the 50G batteries in the process.

I believe that is what Hpcalc have done, according to published information from the developer.
https://www.allenwan.com/hpcalcserialcable/

Yes. I'm sorry if I sounded like I was correcting you. I was just trying to expand on your answer. I'm great with machines. It's people I have a hard time communicating with!

jebem · 01-27-2018, 05:59 PM

(01-27-2018 03:11 PM)toml_12953 Wrote:
(01-26-2018 07:37 AM)jebem Wrote: Just to be clear on this subject, that simple cable will have to feature inside one "50G CMOS Digital Serial interface" to "RS232 interface" Converter, besides the cable wires and connectors that an even simpler cable would feature.

I agree it is simple, at least for anyone expert on electronics to build one properly, by converting the voltage and current levels on the Tx an RX lines and smart enough to not deplet the 50G batteries in the process.

I believe that is what Hpcalc have done, according to published information from the developer.
https://www.allenwan.com/hpcalcserialcable/

Yes. I'm sorry if I sounded like I was correcting you. I was just trying to expand on your answer. I'm great with machines. It's people I have a hard time communicating with!

No, it's me, I'm not a native English speaker, so my statements may sometimes sound rough.
Your information seems to be correct; my only intention was just to complete the information of your post.
No corrections or contradictions intended from my side.

Csaba Tizedes · 01-27-2018, 06:33 PM

Currently I'm preparing to travel to commissining an ash handling system and I have a big headache which calculator is suitable on the site.

My preferable unit is a HP32SII, but it has no enough memory.
I have a 35S, but it has idiot P->R / R->P and other stupid bugs, so that is fail.
My 48SX really great, but that LCD...
My 48GX..., yes, that is good, but it has zip-case and if I want to calculate something on the silo top what can I do with the case?
My 48GII, yes, that is really good, but looks like a soap-box.
So, finally I will travel with my 49G.

Csaba