I just inherited a couple of new HPs from a friend and former employer whom passed away in March.?ÿ A 48GX with TDS Cogo card and a 41CX with Survey I, Navigation, Aviation & memory modules.?ÿ The 41 has a cracked screen but still fires up.
It is kind of fitting that his ex-wife sent them to me since he is the one who lost my 48 years ago.?ÿ And no, this is not the same one.
I think these should last me.?ÿ I can't imagine using anything other than a RPN.
My HP48GX from college gave up the ghost about 4 years ago. It was about 4 months after an engineer colleague of mine gave he his 48GX because he didn't use it anymore. That was close!
I should look around and figure out how to get my original one repaired, because I suspect it to be 20+ years before I retire.?ÿ
The 48's usually aren't really dead.?ÿ Push down on the bezel above the screen then try to power on with fresh batteries.?ÿ If that fires it back up take 2 nickles and put them where you pushed then double wrap a strong rubber band around them and the calculator and it will last a good while longer.?ÿ I have 3 48GX's that I've stopped trying to MacGyver and just use the app on my phone now but the 48 and RPN changed my life in college having only known TI's before that.
Never used any desktop calculator other than an HP. Long live RPN!
I had an ongoing battle with my roommate in college regarding TI versus HP.?ÿ
A bit of trivia...HP was the source of the original GPS design that became Trimble. Charlie Trimble and others left HP to start a new company when HP decided to not pursue GPS. At least that is how I remember the story that was told to me long ago.?ÿ
And who remembers HP EDM's and total stations. The 3805 (with T2) and 3810 (total station) were the first EDM's I used when I started in surveying in 1980.?ÿ
I used a 3810 as an EDM on my first job out of school.?ÿ We were a fill in crew from the office and all of our total stations were out of the office (T2000s & T2002s).?ÿ We used it as an EDM for a T-2.?ÿ Kind of kludgy but it worked.
only a kludge in hindsight. There was a time when having one was a competitive edge. And glad to have it.
I'm sure they were great at the time. Hell it beat pulling chain for the job we used it on.?ÿ I feel very fortunate that I came into the profession at the end of chaining.?ÿ Besides school, I only had to pull chain for layout within 50 feet of the gun.
