panek@hp-and.HP.COM (Jon Panek) (05/29/90)
Again, just another personal opinion. I would echo the previous response about the 9836 NOT being the appropriate machine for using commercial software (Lotus, word processors, etc), games or office-type stuff. It IS a great machine for using in a lab setting. Rocky Mountain Basic (RMB) has got to be the nicest BASIC I've ever come across. It also provides the cleanest interface to HP-IB in my experience. Writing quick little programs (or large, complex ones for that matter) to run lab instrumentation over HP-IB, process and display the data (graph- ically, if you'd like) or moderately heavy number-crunching programs are all typical applications for this beast. The 9836C is nice because of the large, med-res color display you have. Personally, I'm surprised that HP is still marketing software for the machine, as it originally came out about 9 or 10 years ago. Depending on the nature of your organization, you might be able to solicit donations of software, rather than outright buying it. Hope this helps. Jon Panek HP Andover Division
rer@hpfcdc.HP.COM (Rob Robason) (05/31/90)
> -on behalf of SEDS, Students for the Exploration and Development of > Space, Univ. of New Mexico Chapter- Satellite Tracking Station Project Depending on details, it may be that you have stumbled on one of the best possible systems in the world for what you're interested in. As an HP Systems Engineer for Desktop Computers in the El Paso office several years ago, I was involved with the NASA satellite tracking operation just East of Las Cruces. It's been too many years to remember names or organizations, but I remember a couple of engineers out there performing miracles with the 9836 running BASIC, including instrument control, graphics and some complex math. If you want more information, get hold of the HP El Paso Sales Office (915-833-4400) and track down the Sales Rep supporting the NASA facility in Las Cruces. He may be able to refer you directly to the engineers who worked on that project. Good Luck! Rob Robason