HP 35s for you RPN engineers
HP 35s for you RPN engineers
(OP)
Check out HPs new scientific calculator...
h ttp://h100 10.www1.hp .com/wwpc/ us/en/sm/W F05a/21534 8-215348-6 4232-20037 -215351-34 42983.html
I don't want to get a big discussion about how they don't build them like they used to but I bought one because I smoke through a HP 33s about once a year. I never have had one of the older 32s or any of their bigger graphing calcs. I bought the 33s when I was taking the PE exam and got stuck on the RPN. I just opened the box this morning but it appears that it has a much more "classic" feel to it and the buttons seem much better. It seems to follow the same designs as the little RPN financial calculator they sell. I didn't know if others who use RPN had seen this latest offering so I thought I would post it on here.
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I don't want to get a big discussion about how they don't build them like they used to but I bought one because I smoke through a HP 33s about once a year. I never have had one of the older 32s or any of their bigger graphing calcs. I bought the 33s when I was taking the PE exam and got stuck on the RPN. I just opened the box this morning but it appears that it has a much more "classic" feel to it and the buttons seem much better. It seems to follow the same designs as the little RPN financial calculator they sell. I didn't know if others who use RPN had seen this latest offering so I thought I would post it on here.






RE: HP 35s for you RPN engineers
I have a 33s and really don't like it. Keys are very hard and there's the weird layout.
How do the 35s keys compare to other models? The 48g keys are perfect IMO.
RE: HP 35s for you RPN engineers
RE: HP 35s for you RPN engineers
I won't buy another HP, I will try TI next time I decide to buy a graphing calculator.
RE: HP 35s for you RPN engineers
I had used HPs for over 20 years but in the late 90s got sick of the keys playing up.
I've bought two cheap ones since 2000 and they are both still going strong. Still miss the RPN though.
RE: HP 35s for you RPN engineers
TI for better keys?! Now there's a funny one!!
RE: HP 35s for you RPN engineers
haynewp - I'm shocked at you. Man you are like one of the engineering mainstays here and you suggest that you'd use a TI? (just ribbing you a little!)
RE: HP 35s for you RPN engineers
I really wanted another HP but I had such bad luck with those 49g+'s... Isn't the 50g supposed to be a replacement for the 49g+?
For anybody that has the 50g; besides tough keys, any other problems?
RE: HP 35s for you RPN engineers
It seems reasonably tough. It took a severe drop on concrete with minimal damage. A small piece of plastic came off, but popped back on.
Some don't like the Enter key location, but I think it might even be a little faster for me.
They've included tremendous functionality and the processor seems very fast.
In the end, I still do mainly punching of equations, not programming, etc., so the hard keys just about cancel out everything else.
RE: HP 35s for you RPN engineers
Construction is very good, and getting closer to the old workhorses. The keys feel very good, and have the sloped front face like the 41. Screen contrast is excellent, but the theta symbol in complex numbers looks a lot like an 8. Fortunately, I don't use complex numbers in my work. Overall, I consider the 35s to be a big step in the right direction.
However, the 35s won't replace my day-to-day calculator, which is a 19-year-old HP-42S. The 42s has vastly more power in terms of functions (about 600 vs about 100) and programming. The 35s has more memory (32k vs 8k), but for me the difference is not important. I have a bunch of programs for the 42S that I use all the time--some originating with the 41--that can't be easily ported to the 35s (or even my 48G+ for that matter), so the 42S will remain my calculator of choice. To guard against the day when the 42S finally gives up the ghost, I have Thomas Okken's excellent Free42 emulator on both my PC and my Palm TX (http://
Fred
(HP-35/HP-55/HP-34C/HP-41C/HP-41CX/HP-42S/HP48G/HP48G+/HP32Sii/HP10B/HP35s)
RE: HP 35s for you RPN engineers
RE: HP 35s for you RPN engineers
The keys on the 35s are less stiff than the 48G+ and seem to have slightly less travel. The key action on the 35s most resembles the 41 series, which many acknowledge as HP's best. However, there have been a few reports of missed keystrokes on the 35s, though I have not experienced any. I'm guessing the text messaging folks are trying to key too fast
Fred
RE: HP 35s for you RPN engineers
RE: HP 35s for you RPN engineers
RE: HP 35s for you RPN engineers
Thank You for posting!!
We had not seen this come out, and a few guys in this office are definately interested.
There is something about the 'old' HP calculators that you just can't find anywhere else.
Have a 25 year old HP-15c that I still use as my 'all day, every day' calculator. Will have to consider this new one and save the 15c for 'special' occasions.
RE: HP 35s for you RPN engineers
After it died (sniff, sniff) I bought a 33s (http://h10
Is there any better calculator than a HP?
RE: HP 35s for you RPN engineers
In what context? For a bloated toy, one could look at the TI Nspire.
The 33s and 49g are the two poor models. The 48g, 50g, and 35s seem to be liked by most who buy them.
The other day, I had to use one of my pal's TI-86 and I really hated the keystrokes. About like mush, with no tactile feel at all.
I have a funny story. I taught Steel I last fall and gave the students an equation that took a whole line to write (AISC Lr equation). I think 3 of 37 made it through that one without a calculator error. Every single person used a TI-whatever. I knew I'd catch grief over this, so I timed myself with my HP48g. It took me an average of 27 sec. with zero errors using RPN! Some ribbing ensued during the next class!
That's the bottom line for me--RPN vs algebraic sea of parentheses nonsense. FWIW, it takes me 30 sec. with my HP50g because the keys are harder. Also takes 30 sec. with my 33s also because the keys are harder.
RE: HP 35s for you RPN engineers
RE: HP 35s for you RPN engineers
If only HP could come up with a calculator that has a PDA built-in, I'd buy in a nanosecond. I've got a PDA with an RPN-clone, but it's not even remotely comparable to my beloved 15C
TTFN
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RE: HP 35s for you RPN engineers
I'd guess that I'm fairly average punching these things through my calculator. If somebody here can beat 20 sec., then they should get some kind of prize!
RE: HP 35s for you RPN engineers
I'll keep it in case my main HP (48GX) and its little son (32SII) break.
RE: HP 35s for you RPN engineers
This thread overcame my discipline, so I ordered a 35s this afternoon. I'll have a museum at some point.
HP28S, HP33s, HP48G, HP50g, and Tuesday I'll have a HP35s!
RE: HP 35s for you RPN engineers
http://www.hpmuseum.org/
RE: HP 35s for you RPN engineers
Has anyone try to self rebuild the battery pack for HP41CV?
I'm still using it in my work for 27 years!!!
And now I have to use external Battery Duracell LR1 MN9100
thanks
joemcgal
1976 HP25, 1981 HP41CV, 1993 HP48G, 1995 HP 42 and .....2007 hp35????
RE: HP 35s for you RPN engineers
If you are looking for repairs to an HP calculator, try
FIX THAT CALC. Know a couple of engineers who have sent their old HP calculators to this place for repairs, and they have been pleased with the results. Unfortunately, the wait to get the calculator back can be quite lengthy. The web site is:
http://www.fixthatcalc.com/news.htm
RE: HP 35s for you RPN engineers
With that said, I'll never give up my HP11c, 32sii, and the mighty 42s. They are built to be durable, and the numbers on the keys are molded into the key, not just painted on. If this means that I'm a geek (my wife says it does), then I'm ok with that.
RE: HP 35s for you RPN engineers
HP 11C link
RE: HP 35s for you RPN engineers
My 35s should be here tomorrow! :)
I'd love to have one of those 1980-82 models like 11c or 15c.
RE: HP 35s for you RPN engineers
Thanks for the website! Before I plunk down $60 to buy a new 35s I might give these guys a try. I have a 32s and a 32sii that both seem to function intermittantly and need a rest after long hours of calculating. I bought a 33s to take some of the strain off of them but I have never been happy with it. If I could get either or both of 32's working I would be a happy man.
RE: HP 35s for you RPN engineers
How come nobody's taken me up on the Lr equation challenge? F2-6 of the 13th Ed. Spec. I used a W24x55, but any section should be about the same.
Here's what I got:
Using 33s: 30 sec.
Using 50g: btwn 24 & 25 sec. (yep, got it down)
Using 48G: btwn 21 & 22 sec. (just a minute ago)
I'd be interested to see if any of the other models have superior keyboard layout and feel, allowing faster times.
I'd be VERY interested to see the max speed anybody can muster with a non-RPN calculator.
Yeah, I know I'm weird...
RE: HP 35s for you RPN engineers
uh...we're just sitting here in awe.
RE: HP 35s for you RPN engineers
I think somebody around here is bound to be able to beat 20 sec.
On the other hand, my TI-wielding students last year couldn't get it at all, much less in a reasonable timeframe, LOL. Gotta taunt the TI folks into giving it a shot!!
RE: HP 35s for you RPN engineers
Your good! Best I could get was about 40 seconds on an HP-15c.
I need some serious practice!
RE: HP 35s for you RPN engineers
Thanks for taking a shot at it! I guess it would make a difference if you hadn't done that equation in a while or very much. I do a lot of Chapter F manual calcs, verifying programs and making example problems. I use that equation as a benchmark, but perhaps using one equation over and over again isn't a fair way to do that.
RE: HP 35s for you RPN engineers
Sorry, I tossed my 2 rechargable battery packs for my 41. Both refused to charge and I didn't know where to take them. I buy Duracells or Radio Shack size N now, and keep 4 spares in my desk.
I will cry when that calculator gives up the ghost. Even HP doesn't make a better one.
RE: HP 35s for you RPN engineers
After 5 min. prying it out of the blister pack, I was able to try it out. I really like the keyboard feel and layout. It's sure tiny compared to my 48G and 50g. I was able to do a 23 sec. calc on my benchmark, which I can only exceed with my 48G that I've been using for 10 years. I think it's going to be a winner.
The screen glare is a bit too much, but the hpmuseum forum folks have a recommendation for that, although I forgot what it is.
RE: HP 35s for you RPN engineers
RE: HP 35s for you RPN engineers
Part of the 35s' elegance is its size. Adding a USB port and/or SD card slot would be add un-needed bulk. Besides, what could one hope to pipe to/from a PC? It does not have extensive RPL programming capabilities.
The 50g is an unbelievably powerful calculator. I just don't have any reason to program a calculator; that's what my computer is for, but that's just my application. I've written lots of programs for my 48G, but never really used them for anything, with my interpolation program being the only real exception.
RE: HP 35s for you RPN engineers
I admit, I don't use it everyday, but it does come in handy sometimes.
Here's a snap of it:
RE: HP 35s for you RPN engineers
The 35s battery life appears way too short - 1 hour per day for 9 months - I could use that up in a couple of months... And it has no printer - don't like that.
Even with the accessories, the batteries for the 41CX last over a year under constant use.
I will have to erect a memorial when my 41CX dies - there will never be another.
Mike McCann
McCann Engineering
RE: HP 35s for you RPN engineers
RE: HP 35s for you RPN engineers
Dinosaur, the 35s allows fractional input also, but I'm not sure it would be to your exact specifications.
RE: HP 35s for you RPN engineers
RE: HP 35s for you RPN engineers
RE: HP 35s for you RPN engineers
We also laughed about how nerdy it was that we were challenging each other and trash talking about how fast we could do calculations on these machines...
If you "heard" it on the internet, it's guilty until proven innocent. - DCS
RE: HP 35s for you RPN engineers
RE: HP 35s for you RPN engineers
TTFN
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RE: HP 35s for you RPN engineers
A car was coming down the street and tried to stop at the light but began sliding on the packed snow/ice which was on the road. I saw the car in time to run out of the way but my friend didn't see it until it was on him.
He quickly jumped straight up in the air and was hit by the car, rolled over the hood and windshield into a snow drift there on the side of the street.
The driver got out screeming and I was running over to him. He jumped up out of the pile of snow, grabbed his HP calculator out of his "holster" and began punching numbers.
He breathed a big sigh and said, "Thank goodness...it still works", and smiled. We thought he'd be injured or something but his only concern was the coveted HP.
HP calculators were about $400 back then and in today's dollars that's a bunch.
RE: HP 35s for you RPN engineers
If I get a 50G I will see if I they make a holster for it. That way I can feel like Dirty Harry since the 50G is supposed to be HP's magnum. (just kidding)
RE: HP 35s for you RPN engineers
RE: HP 35s for you RPN engineers
RE: HP 35s for you RPN engineers
RE: HP 35s for you RPN engineers
I actually inquired recently about vibration analyzers built to use the HP50g for the interface and calculations. It does FFT, IIFTs, etc. and has the USB interface, so surely that could work. Currently, it's almost impossible to find any analyzers under $4k and most are over $10k.
That kind of application is about the only thing I can personally envision using such a powerful calculator for. I'm totally sold on my 35s now after using it a week.
RE: HP 35s for you RPN engineers
RE: HP 35s for you RPN engineers
RE: HP 35s for you RPN engineers
Without RPN I feel stupid. It is the way to go.
Regards,
Lutfi
RE: HP 35s for you RPN engineers
And those of you with TI or Casio calculators--don't even try a shootout against those of us with HP's!!!
DaveAtkins
RE: HP 35s for you RPN engineers
When the early HP's came out you could leave it out with your books and no one would steal it or your books. It only took a couple of years after that, before anything left ungaurded was likely to get stolen.
RE: HP 35s for you RPN engineers
I think I could get used to the enter key in the corner, but I wonder how the keys feel.
RE: HP 35s for you RPN engineers
RE: HP 35s for you RPN engineers
The leather case idea was actually taken from the slide rules. I recall having my slide rule case attached to my belts. This brings good memories for those of us who used slide rules.
Correct me if I am wrong, didn’t manufactures in early calculator days, call them slide rules!!
Regards,
Lutfi
RE: HP 35s for you RPN engineers
RE: HP 35s for you RPN engineers
The mention of so many "old" HPs still in use is a testament to the quality of these little wonders. How many other manufacturers of calculators can provide a list of owners that have been using one of theirs for the past 25 years or more?
RE: HP 35s for you RPN engineers
I did have a problem with the #4 key sticking. I called up HP, they sent a new one out immediately, I had the new one in hand in just a few days, I sent the broken one in and haven't had a problem since. You can't ask for better service than that.
I think more than anything, the 33s is the unwitting victim of the pent up frustrations of militant HP enthusiasts, disgruntled at HP for not reintroducing their personal favorite HP calculator, and worse still, for introducing the new calculator in silver.
The 35s has gotten a much warmer reception than the 33s for two main reasons: the big enter key, located where it's supposed to be and...it's brown. That's pretty much it. The 35s carries over several of the faults of the 33s. The one that I'd like to see fixed the most is an improved screen; more pixels for better characters and less glare.
I'll get a 35s just because of the cool, classic HP look and because it's essentially a dressed up 33s, which I already like. I will miss the X^2 key of the 33s. I'll just have to put up with the extra workload of pressing a shift key before pressing the X^2 button.
RE: HP 35s for you RPN engineers
As for losing x^2, I just hit Enter then multiply and that takes care of it.
RE: HP 35s for you RPN engineers
RE: HP 35s for you RPN engineers
RE: HP 35s for you RPN engineers
Over 2 months with my 35s and I'm still loving it. I've been told that I'm about the pickiest calculator user in existence, so that says something! I only have one teeny, tiny little gripe and that's RPN vs RPL. With RPL, there's no need to consider the order of operation due to the infinite stack. With RPN, one really needs to consider the order as to not run out of stack. That's fine in general, but is a slight problem for one particular case: back-solving for a variable in a many term, relatively complicated equation. I've been using RPL so long, I can back out a single variable of 99.999% of equations that I see. With RPN, one must go from inside->out. If the back-solution is complicated enough, I can't visualize where will be the inside! I have to write out an equation every now and then taht I could punch through using RPL. This is seldom enough that I'm willing to live with it.
RE: HP 35s for you RPN engineers
DaveAtkins
RE: HP 35s for you RPN engineers
I've been using the 35s since the beginning of August, and am so far very pleased with it. My daily use calculator used to be the HP42s, but I actually like using the 35s more. My only gripes are that I don't like the "STO" function being shifted, and for me, the key dedicated to complex numbers is a waste.
What I really like are its programming abilities, the ability to store equations, and the return to the chamfered keys of the 11c and 15c. I have the direct equation for area of steel (from CRSI)in my equation list, and use it all the time. I also have a nice library of programs for steel, masonry, and wood design.
RE: HP 35s for you RPN engineers
Does the 50g have the keytime command? I've looked and can't seem to find it, but I would love to change it if I can. I'm constantly missing repeating numbers because it doesn't register fast enough.
RE: HP 35s for you RPN engineers
I sold my 50g because I'm too much of a wimp to deal with those stiff, long traveling keys. I REALLY like the 50g other than its keys. That's one amazingly powerful machine! I went from my 48G, which I used for 10 years or more to the 50g and immediately had many times the errors. After 2 months, setting keytime, etc., I still stunk using it, so I bought a 35s.
RE: HP 35s for you RPN engineers
I like the imaginary number, though, because one can do rect->polar very fast using it with abs and arg. The only other way (besides trig, LOL) to do that is to change display options, which stinks IMO.
I wish they would have made room for x^2 and sto by shifting (), GTO, or XEQ.
RE: HP 35s for you RPN engineers
I've been very happy with it except for the keytime issue. I'll check on the hpmuseum forum. Thanks!
RE: HP 35s for you RPN engineers
RE: HP 35s for you RPN engineers
RE: HP 35s for you RPN engineers
Yes, that is correct. It took me a little time to find the appropriate format to enter the "-->keytime" but found it. Thanks for the post!
RE: HP 35s for you RPN engineers
I prefer the way polar to rect conversions were handled on the 32SII. I normally do my conversions manually though. Another small gripe I have with the 35s is that the Theta symbol looks too much like the number 8.
On ballance though, I think the 35s is a good calculator, and I hope it shows that HP is back on track with its calculators. It's good to see so much response to this thread regarding HP calculators, I hope that means that sales of the 35s and the 50g are good, and that we can look forward to RPN being available for a long time. I'd be lost without an RPN calculator.
Having X^2 being shifted doesn't bother me because every HP I've ever owned has been that way except the 33s.
RE: HP 35s for you RPN engineers
RE: HP 35s for you RPN engineers
MADE IN CHINA???????????????????? Somehow I cannot logically think of the Chinese as reverse Polish.
Mike McCann
McCann Engineering
RE: HP 35s for you RPN engineers
No support for a printer or other communications, undoubtedly with PE tests in mind.
Yep, it's made in China. Quality seems fine, though.
RE: HP 35s for you RPN engineers
On a related note, NCEES just released their updated approved calculator list. Both the 33s and the 35s are on the list. Good news for HP users. This could be an HP/RPN revival.
My only complaint about the 33 is the small enter key located in the strangest place possible. Using the 33 for so long has kind of messed me up. I was so used to my 48 that it took me forever to get used to the 33 enter key. I was constantly hitting R/S, where the enter key is on the 48. Now, when I go to use my 48, I'm constantly hitting the SPC key, where the enter key for my 33 is located. Maybe using the 35 for a while will get me straightened out.
I will miss the X^2 key of the 33. On an RPL machine, like the 48, I used to just hit enter again and then multiply the two to square things. You can get away with things like that when you have an infinite stack. You get a little sloppy and lazy with a big stack like that because it's quick and easy. RPN is a different animal. When I started using the 33 while studying for the PE exam, I had to clean up my number crunching practices to make more efficient usage of the teeny tiny 4-level stack. RPN requires a little more thought before diving into a big equation.
I'll post some thoughts on the 35s after I get it and have had a chance to play around with it.
RE: HP 35s for you RPN engineers
RE: HP 35s for you RPN engineers
It has happened when I am speeding through a calc and I think I don't press down hard enough. But it seems to register fine when I test it, for instance if I deliberately press it in combination with a number over and over. Such as hitting 2.2.2.2.2.2.2 very fast and deliberately with my thumb.
RE: HP 35s for you RPN engineers
Just wondering - does Eng-Tips get a sales commission from HP on all the 35S's that have been purchased due to this thread? If they don't, they should!
I'm thinking of getting one too, I still have my dead HP45. I just can't bear to part with it.
RE: HP 35s for you RPN engineers
RE: HP 35s for you RPN engineers
RE: HP 35s for you RPN engineers
RE: HP 35s for you RPN engineers
RE: HP 35s for you RPN engineers
Here's an interesting experiment, which is at least a little related to the last couple of posts.
Try pressing 1, 2, and 3, keeping 1 and 2 pressed while you press 3. Do it fast or slow and either way you should see all three numbers. Try the same with 7, 8, and 9. Then try the same with 4, 5, and 6. Mine won't register all three on that row, regardless of which order I punch them. Not saying you're holding them down, but it's interesting seeing how there seems to be some patterns to this kind of thing.
As another, more direct experiment, I tried pressing any alternating keystrokes, 1,2,3,4,5..., etc. and no matter how fast I punch them, I can't get mine to miss one. Not saying I'm the Carl Lewis of calculators, but I'm punching them really fast in this experiment. Could you have a faulty calculator? After trying this, I don't see how speed could be the problem. You should be able to go very fast and only have "operator errors" LOL.
RE: HP 35s for you RPN engineers
Very interesting that you found that anomaly.
RE: HP 35s for you RPN engineers
RE: HP 35s for you RPN engineers
Errors do seem to happen more often with the decimal. I tried holding down the decimal key and pressing every number and they all worked. I also tried the reverse. Hold down any number and press the decimal and that worked. My only idea is that the decimal is farther from some of the keys--finger moves farther, I get impatient, and try to hit it too fast and get to the next key. Just a guess, though.
I also can't seem to get the Enter key to cause any problems, like pressing and holding Enter, then pressing two, th en let off Enter. I can even clear the stack, press 1 and hold it, press and hold Enter, let off 1, and press 2 and +. Even if I never let off Enter, it shows 3. That's pretty slick. I wonder if a TI will do that, LOL.
I will try a lot harder to notice when I think a key didn't register to try and see a pattern.
I wonder if anybody over at www.hpmuseum.org has posted a thread on this.
Lit reviews must be boring if I stop doing that to experiment with my HP!!
RE: HP 35s for you RPN engineers
If I press and hold 3, ., and 2, the 2 doesn't register. Some other combos do, however, and this is unlikely to actually happen during a calc.
Now I'm bored enough to continue searching through obscure journals...
RE: HP 35s for you RPN engineers
h
RE: HP 35s for you RPN engineers
It would be interesting to know what calculators folks who are having problems are migrating from. Perhaps the key shape, travel distance, calculator slope, or something else is just a little different and causes errors.
I used a 48G before and I think a LOT of folks have used those for 10+ years. Surely that would cause many subconscious habits and preferences to be well ingrained.
From beating on mine, I'm pretty well convinced that the calculator does not miss any keystrokes regardless of speed, previous key not being let up, etc. Perhaps other units are defective, though, although we seem to have a sample size of two good ones now.
10000e
RE: HP 35s for you RPN engineers
RE: HP 35s for you RPN engineers
Yep, pretty much.
I just noticed an error. I multiplied something by 55 and lost the second 5. I simply didn't let up all the way.
I speculate that one has to let up on the key farther, before pressing it again, than is required on the 48.
LOL, they need a "short trigger reset" like some semi-auto handguns have.
RE: HP 35s for you RPN engineers
RE: HP 35s for you RPN engineers
RE: HP 35s for you RPN engineers
I have one major problem with it, however. Say I have a big multi-term equation, especially if there are nested radicals, etc. and I want to back-solve for one of the variables. With my 48, I could back out almost any variable without re-writing the equation.
I can't do this with my 35s because I can't visualize where the "inside" will be after it's rearranged. I end up re-writing an equation every now and then.
RE: HP 35s for you RPN engineers
I've only used RPN calculators with the 4 level stack, I wonder if the infinite stack of the RPL machines would somehow trip me up. I've been using RPN for so long now, it's ingrained into me. A user difinable stack seems to make sense, maybe they will incorporate that feature into a possible HP35sii. All in all, the 35s is a worthy calculator. If they would just make a successor to the HP 42s.....
RE: HP 35s for you RPN engineers
Pictures don't do the 35s justice; it's really a good looking calculator. The plastic case is black, and the aluminum cover plate is a very dark brown, almost black. The lower half of the key pad, the enter and backspace keys and are black. The rest of the keys are a very dark grey. The color difference is so subtle it's hard to even notice. The blue and yellow functions stand out very clearly against the dark brown cover plate. The new zipping hard case is cool too. Much nicer than the cheesy looking slip case the 33s had.
HP definitely got the classic HP-high-quality look right on this one. It reminds me of the first time I saw a 32sII in the university bookstore. Sitting there next to comparable TI's, Sharps and Casios and at two to three times the price, something about the look of the HP justified the price.
The 35s reminds me of the 32sII. The key feel is very similar to my 48GX, though maybe slightly more clicking sound. Could be that my 48 is just worn out and has been 'clicked' out. All of the keys on the 35s are larger than the 48 keys. Once the word gets out about the 35s, I expect this calculator to put a real dent in the used HP calculator market.
I've said before that I like the 33s as a daily user, or maybe I should say liked. Quality-wise, the 35s is way better than the 33s, hands down, no question. The keys are softer and quieter than the 33s. The traditional keypad layout with the large enter key is very nice. The 35s is what the 33s should have been to begin with. The 33s got me through the PE, so I'll always have a soft spot in my heart for it, but the 35s is my new love.
The 35s carries over a few minor quirks of the 33s...but it's executed so beautifully, that those quirks don't really matter much. It would be nice to have a matte screen, more pixels for better digit quality and a larger decimal point, but that's all stuff I can live with.
There is one new aggrivating problem though. Really, really aggrivating! I like to have my display set to ALL rather than fixed, scientific or engineering notation. I don't think in E to some power and I don't like to see a bunch of place holder zeros. The problem, which I think someone has already mentioned, is that when you have a long answer (like sin25 = 0.422618261741E-1), the exponent is not displayed on the screen; you have to scroll right to see the exponent. This about drove me crazy when I first got the calculator and was playing around with it. I've decided that the next best thing is fixed notation with 4 decimal places, which is the most I'll use for most things. Inexcusable, but I love the 35s enough that I'll just have to live with it. Crap!
The plastic packaging they ship the 35s in is bullet proof. Mere scissors are not enough to get into the package. I recommend tin snips or a circular saw. Me, I was so excited to get my hands on my new little black box I risked life and limb and used a razor sharp hunting knife to hack away at the packaging. I'd like to meet the shoplifter who inspired that kind of elaborately secure packaging. Seems like lawsuit material to me.
While everyone might have their little gripes about what HP should have done with it, considering that HP has the burden of trying to produce a scientific calculator that is all things to all people, I think they did a pretty good job. IMHO that the 35s represents HP best effort in many years.
RE: HP 35s for you RPN engineers
RE: HP 35s for you RPN engineers
Start with 9.7847 on the stack.
Then compute .626(5)(2)/4.45.
Let me know if you get anything strange (like 30.626 or 6.882). Of course, the answer should be 1.4067.
I missed this one a couple of times somehow and resorted to video recording the calc a bunch of times until it repeated a couple of times. I can very clearly hear the click for the 2, but it didn't register on a couple of tries. Without the 2 registering, the product ended up multiplied by the 9.7847 that was already on the stack.
I watched very closely and the 2 keystroke didn't overlap with either the x or the divide.
I can't seem to make it repeat, but it's a data point. I am totally confused at this point as to the question of user error or calculator error. I sure can't seem to make it not register on other than actual calcs. Sure sounds like user error, but my video/audio recording doesn't seem to agree.
RE: HP 35s for you RPN engineers
RE: HP 35s for you RPN engineers
RE: HP 35s for you RPN engineers
RE: HP 35s for you RPN engineers
I am getting the right answer for that calc, but I was missing (5)(20)=100 over and over this weekend. It was driving me crazy. The number "2" was not registering to the point that it was missing almost every other time and I was getting "(5)(0)=0", but using RPN entry of course.
I am mainly noticing I miss numbers when holding the calculator in both hands and using my left and right thumbs to enter in numbers. By placing on my desk and using one hand entry, I hardly ever miss a keystroke.
RE: HP 35s for you RPN engineers
Maybe there's a pattern with the 2. Other folks?
You might be right, Ron. Slower and smoother ends up being faster in the end lots of time in life.
RE: HP 35s for you RPN engineers
I always hold the calculator in my hands. I found a long time ago I can enter in numbers faster by using my left thumb to cover the first 2 columns of keys and my right to cover from the decimal point over. As soon as I hit "sin" with my left thumb I can hit "+" with my right thumb. I never had a problem with my old 48.
RE: HP 35s for you RPN engineers
Has any one else had this problem?
RE: HP 35s for you RPN engineers
If your 0 key or clear key is making a noticably different sound than the other keys, I'd say there could be a problem, especially since they're right next to each other. Loose keys are also a bad sign. Sounds like a legitimate problem.
I did have a problem with my 33s with the 4 key missing key strokes. I called up HP service and eventually got a person to talk to. She sent out a 33s immediately and had me return the old one once I had received the new one. I had the new one in my hands in a few days. Can't ask for better service than that, except maybe better quality control to prevent such problems.
The 35s is HP's way of doing a Mulligan after the lukewarm to sour reception of the 33s. With the introduction of the 35s, I'd say HP calculators are on the verge of a comeback and as such, they're probably very anxious to avoid/correct any negative feedback on the calculator that represents this comeback. I'd give them a call, give them the chance to make it right.
RE: HP 35s for you RPN engineers
haynewp, I've been experimenting more over the last couple of days. It seems that I can't ever make it miss if I go fast, but smooth--no herky-jerky "as fast as I can" keystrokes. In reality, smooth is probably faster anyway, as it usually is with similar skills. Leaning back toward these being from operator error.
I did see that some over at hpmuseum report some missed keystrokes, but it's really hard to know if they can really be sure it's not the "loose nut behind the keyboard."
Someone mentioned basically hacking the electronics in an attempt to fix a possible hardware problem, but I have no clue what they're talking about.
RE: HP 35s for you RPN engineers
The gist is I am not really sure what is going on but I definitely have been missing keystrokes, but I can't get it to miss when purposely going fast when keeping the strokes complete and smooth. I think the odds are too low that 3(?) of us on this thread received faulty units, so I think it is an issue with the whole line-or user error and getting used to pressing numbers more smoothly if you want to look at it that way.
The stack thing bothers me just as much because I keep thinking that I may have went over the max allowed during a long equation calc and I can't trust the final answer it gives. So I end up doing the calc over and writing down the intermediate calculation answers.
RE: HP 35s for you RPN engineers
RE: HP 35s for you RPN engineers