Posted 06.25.2009 at 6:38 pm
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HP 15C Calculator Emulator for iPhone: HP
The iPhone version (available in iTunes) is a faithful rendition-–it mimics every last feature, including the famous “solve” key that shows the root of an equation (look for it in the far upper right), goofy click sounds, and even photo-realistic detailing to really fan the nostalgia flames.
Key clicks are incredibly responsive, and just like the physical version, the app allows you to program up to 448 lines of calculations for rapid retrieval. The app can be used in landscape mode imitating the original or in a truncated version vertically.
For anyone not classifying themselves as hardcore calculator nerds, the $30 price tag may be too much to justify any gains over the iPhone OS's own non-retro (and free) scientific calculator app. But if you can feel your synapses quickening their firing rate by just looking at that retro face, $30 is certainly less than the $200 or so you'd blow for the real thing in good condition on eBay.
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I got my HP48S when I started studying mechanical engineering in 1992. That piece of hardware is still riding with me wherever I go, although the calculations are not about dynamic or static forces anymore. In small, incremental steps I've moved into systems engineering. And still the I'm packing the 48 wherever I go. It is, as I said, a solid piece of hardware and still does it's job.
Unfortunately, that cannot be said of the current line of products. They might be fine and dandy from a software perspective, but mechanically the HP50 is a piece of shit, to be honest. It just cannot take the strain of being a reliable tool for a real engineer. This is where Fiorina fucked up big time. She just couldn't see the forest from the trees. Fortunately, the instrumentation division was saved and became Agilent. Otherwise all of Hewlett and Packards work would have become to nought. I really hate that narsist woman. In a way, she destroyed a piece of engineering history.
Instead of screwing around with making make believe copies of old calculators, I would hope that the HP engineers would create a new version of the old trustworthy 48. The 49 was still quite good, but the 50 is pure shite. Really bad. Honest. In fact, the 49 is actually selling for a higher price than the 50, only because the 49 is using the 48 casing which is far better than "kniketyknakety" HP50.
This was a rant, but in my opinion a valid one. Sorry aboout any hurt feelings, except if your first name is Carly.
I graduated from MIT back in '86 and I still have my HP15C. Agreed, the quality today isn't what it used to be on any device. In 20+ years I have only changed the batteries 2 or 3 times and a few tiny dents in the metal face, it is like new thanks to the leather case. I use it almost every day. I'm not so sure I'll pay the $30 for the iPhone, however. Nice app if you didn't own one though.