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Programming an HP-15C (2013)

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Re: Programming an HP-15C (2013)

#51

Post by agumonkey »

krallja wrote: post #5
cr0sh wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah - I'm not mathematically inclined enough to understand what would be so funny about the 38x^3 denominator either? Unless it's something that would cause an error due to memory/register size constraints, or cause the calculator to sit there forever on some of the other larger squares or test values due to 1986 speed of the ALU or whatever is in the calc? My gut assumption is that it's some mathematics inside joke…

All of the other constants are expected. 1, 2, 9, 10 ok those make sense. Where does 38 come from? Ha ha. So random.

    1 + 2 = 3
    3 * 9 = 27
    27 + 10 = 37
off-by-1 #laughter

Re: Programming an HP-15C (2013)

#52

Post by agumonkey »

madengr wrote: post #18

Reminds me to start collecting HP calculators. I have a few, but would like to collect all of them and put them in a display case. Anything non-RPN is an abomination.

The other day I ran into a guy throwing stuff at the junkyard, in the bag there was a calculator, so I picked it up. HP 40G ..

I was so happy, until I put batteries in and realize there's no RPN in the rom. The device is unusable (to me)..

poor HP

Re: Programming an HP-15C (2013)

#53

Post by djaque »

gshubert17 wrote: post #7

I think the "someone who brought it back" is Swiss Micros, which makes a compatible calculator (which they call DM-15) as well as other models in the same family. They say their chip that emulates the original cpu is quite a bit faster than the original. https://www.swissmicros.com

I've really wanted one for a while, but they're so expensive. Maybe one day.

Re: Programming an HP-15C (2013)

#54

Post by cameldrv »

msla wrote: post #30
cameldrv wrote: post #14

Related: it’s been sad to see the HP48 emulators bitrotting. m48 is no longer available on the App Store, and I can’t find anything that works anymore for the Mac.

There's a port of Emu48 to MacOS https://sourceforge.net/projects/emu48mac/ Kinda Mac-related is i48 for iOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/i48/id329454950 hpcalc.org has a list of emulators: https://www.hpcalc.org/hp48/pc/emulators/ Best seems to be Emu48, as mentioned above: https://hp.giesselink.com/emu48.htm x48 is open source, like Emu48: https://sourceforge.net/projects/x48.berlios/

Unfortunately I couldn't get any of em to build anymore. Emu48 is definitely the best, but it needs help to build on new MacOS. x48 doesn't build anymore, and is also X11 based, which is not great on Mac anymore either.

Re: Programming an HP-15C (2013)

#55

Post by seanhunter »

gshubert17 wrote: post #7

I think the "someone who brought it back" is Swiss Micros, which makes a compatible calculator (which they call DM-15) as well as other models in the same family. They say their chip that emulates the original cpu is quite a bit faster than the original. https://www.swissmicros.com

Faster is not necessarily better here. My HP-12Cs have been going on their original batteries for more than 10 years each now, but I expect a faster processor would mean shorter battery life.

Re: Programming an HP-15C (2013)

#56

Post by bigprovolone »

fmajid wrote: post #15
drivers99 wrote: post #8

Wow that sounds a lot more complicated than the one I had, HP 42S, because you had to use codes for the instructions instead of just pulling up the instructions in readable ASCII. I found this random example of entering a program on a 42S: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQMOOxup8bI Coincidentally, it even uses the FP (fractional part) and X=0? test that the OP mentioned. I wanted to see what programming the 15C look…

I still have my original HP-15C from 1987, along with two SwissMicros DM-15L (I had also purchased the official HP reedition HP-15C LE, but one was stolen from work in a burglary, and I resold the other one at a tidy profit, the DM-15L is much better). I also have the official HP-15C iPhone app. And a HP-48GX, HP-33S, HP-35S, DM-42L. To be frank, it's the only one of my HP calculators I can remember how to program, i…

I still have my original hp-15C and the owner's handbook with a print date of 2/84

Re: Programming an HP-15C (2013)

#58

Post by metaphor »

SkyMarshal wrote: post #50
golem14 wrote: post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The HP store shows many of their remaining 7 (!) calculator models out of stock quite often. I'm not taking any bets on how long HP is going to make any calculators at all. I feel sad every time I visit their store... They already stopped making any kind of graphing calculator, apparently.

HP ported their calculators to iPhone and Android apps. Most people who want an HP calc probably just use those now instead, except for the few who want the tactile feel of calculator buttons.

For the discerning STEM student/professional, 15c is the only relevant RPN emulator on mobile officially released by HP and it's an overpriced disappointment IMHO.

HP didn't even extend a courtesy reach-around for our CS/CpE brethren with 16c integration despite their $16.99! Even if you were in the market circa 2011 to pre-order one (or a few) 15c LE--which came with a copy of the desktop app--you'd still have to pony up even more for the mobile app!

On Android, I'd highly recommend skipping the "official" HP garbage and supporting CalcTastic Plus[1] for a mere $0.99. Even the free version makes the HP emulator look like a complete joke. I've been rolling with a 35s as workhorse since undergrad days, but couldn't care less if today's zombie HP literally disappeared from the market tomorrow.

[1] https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.shaytastic...

Re: Programming an HP-15C (2013)

#59

Post by mschaef »

0culus wrote: post #46
mschaef wrote: post #45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I consider HP-28S a work of art. I'd extend that to the whole HP calculator lineup through about 1994 or 95. There are a lot of aspects I could single out, but William Kahan's involvement in their numerical algorithms is a particular standout for me. They wanted high quality numerics out of battery powered 1970's era micro-electronics, so they brought Dr. Kahan in to design the algorithms necessary for the task. (D…

What would you say is the final model that "has it"? Besides my vintage HPs (HP15C, 2xHP16C, HP45) I also have the 50g and the modern 35S. For me, the 50g's lack of a proper ENTER key ruins it. I'm sort of on the lookout for a nice 48 series to replace it for that reason. The 35S at least has a proper ENTER.

> What would you say is the final model that "has it"?

For me, at least, probably the combination of the 48GX and 42S. Both represent the end of the line of HP's traditional hardware engineering, which is such a significant part of using these devices. The software gaps between the 48GX and the later 49 can be made up by installing software into a 48, if that turns out to matter for you.

One of the more significant new parts of the 49 software is the "Meta Kernel", which was externally developed by Jean-Yves Avenard as a 48 extension. IIRC, Avenard ultimately wound up working for HP on their calculators, which I believe is how MetaKernal wound up as part of the core 49G ROM. IIRC, this was also a bit of a reconstitution of HP's calculator engineering effort, as the previous team had been disbanded a few years prior. (ie; William Wickes, who was heavily involved in the 41 and 28/48, wound up at some point working on video conferencing systems for HP.)

The reason I'm also including the 42S is that it's a lot more traditional in the way that it operates. If the 28/48/49/50 series feels like a small handheld computer with a custom programming language, the 42 feels more like an actual calculator (with a lot of capabilities).

Re: Programming an HP-15C (2013)

#60

Post by SkyMarshal »

metaphor wrote: post #58
SkyMarshal wrote: post #50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

HP ported their calculators to iPhone and Android apps. Most people who want an HP calc probably just use those now instead, except for the few who want the tactile feel of calculator buttons.

For the discerning STEM student/professional, 15c is the only relevant RPN emulator on mobile officially released by HP and it's an overpriced disappointment IMHO. HP didn't even extend a courtesy reach-around for our CS/CpE brethren with 16c integration despite their $16.99! Even if you were in the market circa 2011 to pre-order one (or a few) 15c LE--which came with a copy of the desktop app--you'd still have to po…

Good info, thanks for the update!
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