postpischil@being.dec.com (Always mount a scratch monkey.) (11/08/88)
A couple of people have complained about the lack of mass input/output on the HP-28. I can understand this, as it would add quite a bit to the HP-28, but I am satisfied with it as is. While I cannot offer anything to help these people achieve their goals, except possibly to recommend a small computer rather than a calculator, I thought they might like to understand how other people use the device. To me, the HP-28 is a problem solver, not a library of programs to perform specific tasks. For complicated things I need done regularly, I have access to full-size computers. For data storage, I also use such computers. The HP-28 does calculations. It is well-suited to the quick development of programs to perform one calculation or another. It is also good for finding a solution to a problem, when the problem need be solved only once. In fact, the HP-28 is a unique tool, providing capabilities for these tasks that no other calculator or computer provides so readily, compactly, or cheaply. So the HP-28 fills my needs, and I am glad I did not have to pay the extra cost that mass input/output would have consumed in dollars, physical size, and displacement of other features. -- edp (Eric Postpischil) "Always mount a scratch monkey."