Comments on: HP calculators live (on your iPhone)!

By: Ricardo

Ricardo — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 00:40:25 +0000

Does anyone know if the HP 11C or 15C emulations are available for the Ipod Touch? I have it for the Iphone, but I can’t find it for the Ipod Touch. Any help will be great.

By: Daniel

Daniel — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 23:11:10 +0000

I disagree with the statement that “The HP-11C and HP-15C calculators are, quite simply, the best single-line display calculators ever created.” To be sure, they are fine machines, but they simply can’t compete with the HP-41 line of calculators. My HP-41CV does get used less these days, but I still get some mileage out of it. When it comes to calculating something quickly and with a minimum of keystrokes, it’s hard to beat RPN.

-dk-

By: Rezonate

Rezonate — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 21:46:47 +0000

Wow, what a find. I used this message as an excuse to look into the current hacking methods. I had done it with iFuntastic from version 1.1.2. Way complicated, couple hours of work. This time under 1.1.3, I used iNdependence and it was a (relative) breeze - under an hour. The calc simulators RULE, and earned some major Civil Engineer creds at work today. Along with all the other goodies available through the installer. This technology is transformative. Go Apple, GO!

By: Harold Schranz

Harold Schranz — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 07:50:44 +0000

I currently have two HP-38G graphing calculators similar to the HP-48 series in internal architecture but with an algebraic interface. I originally began with my trusty HP-25 in the mid-late-70’s but my favourite would have to be my HP-15C … which I still have but it is non-operative (as is the HP-25) … which pains me deeply as I love RPN (and even Forth) but have to put up with AOS.

I’d love to have a good (portable) emulation of the HP-15C … maybe when iPhone comes DownUnder finally … or is it good enough to want an iPod Touch?

By: John Martellaro

John Martellaro — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 22:51:02 +0000

HP Calculator fans may Remember Richard Nelson who founded the Hand Held Computer movement and magazine in the 70s. He’s still doing his thing!

Reference sites:

http://holyjoe.org/hhc2007/

Richard is in the front, right, sitting down, in a purple striped shirt, holding his HP-35!

By: HervÃ© S.

HervÃ© S. — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 18:21:53 +0000

There is a separate RPN calculator for iPhone / iPod touch that’s not mimicking HP but is quite powerful anyway: MAcalc, at
http://web.newsguy.com/marcio/iphone/macalc/

By: Planeten Paultje

Planeten Paultje — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 17:40:36 +0000

Wow, I never knew that about the OSX standard calculator! I use FreeRPN a lot, but there are a quite a few RPN calculators out there for OSX. In the old days I had an HP32E, no programming, so it had a lot of functions as standard.

Long live RPN :-).

By: Al

Al — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 15:20:25 +0000

Minor correction, but HP12Cs are workhorses for the financial industry. And yes it’s basically unchased since the 80s.

I always point out calculators as ‘high tech’ products that have plateaued. They could be made fancier and with more bells and whistles but they’ve hit the right mix of complexity, form factor, and ergonomics 25 years ago. More advanced calculators such as graphing calculators are in demand only because schools approve only a few cheat-proof models for test taking. Otherwise who would choose a graphing calculator over a computer?

The question is are personal computers anywhere close to plateauing?

By: Dave

Dave — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 13:51:20 +0000

What a great find, thanks for pointing it out! I don’t have an iPhone, but the emulators are fantastic. I’ve had my 15C for 24 years and I still use it regularly (I’m an electrical engineer). Now I can have the 15C on my Mac at home, since the real one is in my desk at work.

By: Nicholas Androulidakis

Nicholas Androulidakis — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 13:43:53 +0000

Just a reminder that RPN mode is still available as an option for the Mac’s own calculator (View > RPN).