paul+@andrew.cmu.edu (Paul J. Dujmich) (03/26/90)
I received my HP48SX last monday from Educalc.
The first thing I noticed when I opened the box was a nice clean cut
in the grey nylon calculator case. The cut/tear ran the whole length
of the bottom of the case. This was the beginning of the case caper.
It seems that Educalc has no spares of anything for the 48, much less
a case. They said that it would be 9 months or so before they do.
I called the HP parts number, and gave the part number that was on
one of the loose sheets that came with the calculator. I was informed
that the number wasn't even on the parts data base yet. HP Pittsburgh
advised me to go back to the place I got it from, since, as she put it,
"we don't have anything to do with that". Well, at this point, I was
ready to BUY another case, but there wasn't any to be found.
Educalc's only solution was to return the whole thing, in exchange for
another. I wasn't thrilled about the prospect, since I had just waited
7 days for it to arrive after paying for 2 day Fed Express delivery.
The replacement should be here this wednesday or so. I have a feeling
that the cut up case hasn't seen it's last ride on a UPS truck yet.
For the short time that I got to use it, I thought that, in general,
the HP48 was SUPER. The Keyboard is PERFECT. It feels just like my HP41CX,
and dosen't have that "pushing on a wet frog" feel that all the imported
machines have. I don't think the case is flimsy at all. It seems stronger
and better made than the 28S case. I really like the switch to AAA
batteries. Here in the sticks, it's almost impossible to find N cells
when you need them, and when you do, they're expensive. If I have one
complaint at all, it would be the display contrast. It certainly is usable
but there could be a bit more contrast. The display viewing angle is much
improved over the 28. I could move around to all sorts of angles, and still
see the display. While I had it, I rigged up a makeshift RS232 cable, and
I had almost no problem uploading and downloading files to my AT clone.
I say almost, because I did have to diddle around with the version of
Kermit that I have, in order to get it to talk to the 48 with no errors.
My Kermit seemed to work best with "flow-control none" set. I tried
it at 1200 and 9600 baud with excellent results.
PaulStephen_J_Thomas@cup.portal.com (03/27/90)
Re: defective 48 case One possible solution is to get a HP41 case....it fits the 48 rather nicel Re: Educalc I once had to return some merchandise to Educalc that was defective. They sent me the new item with no questions asked. They said to keep the old item until I received the new one, and even sent me a box with the new to return the old. They were very good about the whole thing.