I just received my new HP Prime calculator.
Color touch screen - RPN if you want or AOS
Just out of the box but first impressions are that it isn't too robust ,thin and has a short key travel. The "menu" is now part of the touch screen and you can do on screen cut and paste with a rocker type switch. When you turn the calculator on it has to boot up which only takes a second, so far, no clue to what it might do with more software onboard. The screen dims after a few seconds of non use. Power is rechargable Li-ion batteries. I don't see any card port but I haven't looked in the manual yet. This is obviously a graphing calculator aimed at academe. "They" (HP) say that it is the best thing since sliced bread, I guess we will have to wait and see. In the mean time I am going to order two more HP 35s, while they are still making them and maybe another HP 50.
T.W.
I would have thought with that kind of connectivity it wouldn't be allowed in exams. But, they have a work around:
"For school use, the teachers sets the settings they want e.g. turn off the CAS, creates a password and then beams this setting to all of the connected PRIMES, wirelessly. A series of bright LEDS light up in the same sequence while exam mode is engaged. It is immediately clear to the exam secretary that the machine has only those facilities allowed in exams. "
source: http://www.hpgraphingcalc.org/prime.html
Thank you Tom for the heads up.
Pardon my ignorance as I'm not a programmer per se.
Is there, or will there be COGO software available for "The Prime"?
http://www.hpgraphingcalc.org/prime.html
Cheers,
Derek
My 11C died a couple of weeks ago.
replacd it with the 35S after struggling some weeks with another HP without RPN modus
The 35S, plastic case, but does everything I need.
Chr.
Christ:
I really like my HP 35s as it is the only RPN calculator that I can find that has simple "key stroke" programming like the HP-41. Just a few minutes and you can build short routines. Since it seems like the claculator market is going down hill I figured that I should stock up while the tools I like are still out there.
The new Prime calculator was purchased out of curiosity and may end up being another toy as it doesn't appear to be up to survey grade quality. I have played with it for a few hours and I am sure that it is quite powerful but the form factor troubles me. I don't really like touch screens, I still think that the TDS HP48 combo is eaiser to use than a Ranger plus I see repairs in the future. I also don't like the rechargable battery system which uses a very small connection which may also become a repair problem. Years ago we use to wear out the keypads on our HPs with constant use (pe personal computer days) I am sure that most modern calculators aren't up to that type of punishment. As a matter of fact, even though I like the HP 35s my key pad has failed in about 18 months of use with the + key not returning to it's top position (still works though). I checked out the repair guy and read that the new models can't be repaired.
The Prime does have some neat tools, a spread sheet app and triangle solver app are built in plus I have read that it should be easy to program. HP seems to be big on their CAS system that lets you key in and solve algebraic equations again aimed at the school market.
My $0.02 worth.
T.W.
I got one of these machines out of curiosity.
Started programming it and now have a fairly nifty CoGo program for it.
Still a work in progress. Maybe I'll make it available as a public project.
Nice thing is it will store 10,000 coordinates!
There are some issues to work out.
One item. It's not entirely straight forward to get the coordinates to-from a PC.
I would definitely be interested in helping with said program when i have time. I have also written a few small programs for surveying, but i am very curious how you have done yours.
- John
> I would definitely be interested in helping with said program when i have time. I have also written a few small programs for surveying, but i am very curious how you have done yours.
>
> - John
Just now noticed that you had posted.
I can't seem to make the Forum notify me when a posting is made.
Also, I see no way to send you a PM or email.
Anyway my program has evolved quite a bit.
Now have full use of Curvilinear Alignments with Station & Offset. (to and from N&E)
These can be done Batch Style i.e. Range of points.
Will calc "Back" and "Ahead" Stations when point fall outside the range
or are in the "Twilight Zone" near angle points.
All the Intersections,
Best Fit Line,
Force to Line or Offset to CL.
Compass Angle Adj for Closed Traverse,
Az Angle Adj for Open Traverse
Area
etc
