chad@ucscb.UCSC.EDU (darknight) (02/22/90)
I am looking into buying a Hi-Tech, Super-Dooper, Ultra-Cool-Neeto, Programmable/Graphing calculator... The three models I'm currently looking at (in no particular order) are the Sharp EL-5200, the Casio FX-8000G, and the Hewlett-Packard HP-28s. I want to know if anyone has any opinions and/or recommendations for any of these. The Hewlett-Packard (which I've seen) is the most expensive, but it has the smallest (physically) display screen. The Sharp is the cheapest. Some specific things, besides general opinion, that I want to know are: 1) What are the resolutions (pixels) of each of these calculators? 2) What are the memory capacities, and function capabilities of each of these calculators? 3) What are the graphing capabilities (can it pan, zoom, slice, dice, etc.)? 4) What are the programming features? 5) What problems does it have (size, weight, battery limits, exploding keys, etc.)? 6) Is there anything else better? I'm looking to buy the one with the best functionality/cost ratio (although I would have lots of fun fooling around with the HP's programming, so that does give it a plus). If you mail me, I will summarize the responses (or you can just post your opinion). Thanx in advance. -- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ INTERNET: chad@slugmail.ucsc.edu Chad 'The_Walrus' Netzer->AmigaManiac++ ------====== "Life is a Strange Attractor." ======-------
jln@portia.Stanford.EDU (Jared Nedzel) (02/27/90)
In article <6816@ucdavis.ucdavis.edu> chad@ucscb.UCSC.EDU (darknight) writes: } } I am looking into buying a Hi-Tech, Super-Dooper, }Ultra-Cool-Neeto, Programmable/Graphing calculator... The three models }I'm currently looking at (in no particular order) are the Sharp EL-5200, }the Casio FX-8000G, and the Hewlett-Packard HP-28s. I want to know if }anyone has any opinions and/or recommendations for any of these. } The Hewlett-Packard (which I've seen) is the most expensive, but }it has the smallest (physically) display screen. The Sharp is the }cheapest. Another thing to consider is the basic notation of the calculator. Most calculators use an algebraic notation; that is, if you want to calculate 7 + 3, you type 7, then +, then 3, then =. Hewlett-Packard calculators use RPN (reverse polish notation), in which you type 7, enter, 3, +. The HP thus gives you a stack which you operate on. The notation is sort of a post-fix notation (i.e., the "opposite" of Lisp infix notation). A discussion of which notation is better often leads to religious wars (complete with excommunication). I'm an RPN believer, so an algebraic notation calculator quickly reduces me to a blithering idiot. Algebraic devotees often seem to find RPN incomprehensible. I suggest you make a choice and stick with it. Another important issue is the ergonomic design of the calculator. I've had three HPs: HP-65, HP-41c, HP-12c. I have found the '65 and '41 to have wonderful buttons: just the right combination of travel, click, resistance (the '12c wasn't quite as nice). You know when you've pressed a button on an HP. (I seem to recall that HP spent over $1M designing the buttons circa '78, when a million was really a million.) I'm not familiar with the other calculators in your list, but it has generally been my impression that no other company had matched HPs for feel. They also don't match HP for price :-(. But if you use your calculator a lot, it might be worth it for you. }INTERNET: chad@slugmail.ucsc.edu Chad 'The_Walrus' Netzer-}AmigaManiac++ -- Jared L. Nedzel --------------------------------------------------------------------- e-mail: nedzel@cive.stanford.edu jln@portia.stanford.edu
sean@ms.uky.edu (Sean Casey) (02/27/90)
chad@ucscb.UCSC.EDU (darknight) writes: | I am looking into buying a Hi-Tech, Super-Dooper, |Ultra-Cool-Neeto, Programmable/Graphing calculator... Right now it is the HP28s. See comp.sys.handhelds for some sample programs. This calculator can do more than you can ask of it. Sean -- *** Sean Casey sean@ms.uky.edu, sean@ukma.bitnet, ukma!sean