[Pc_Support] Re: HP 50G Calculator for $112.99 shipped ... and why are used TIs cheap and HPs not?

[Tim McDonough]

Bryan J. Smith wrote:

> Let's reverse that question ...
>  "Why are the 10 year-old, HP 48 series still going for $100 USED
>  and the TI jobbies are dime-a-dozen USED?  Hmmm?"
> 
> Other than the HP 39/49G/49G+ (which sucked, hard, long story, glad HP
> reversed their decision to exit the market), HP's
> scientific/engineering calculators are _rarely_ resold because their
> users love them.  They last nearly forever (those 4MHz Saturn
> processors went 3+ years on 3xAAA batteries) and my 48G is now 15
> years-old (even well dented from the usage ;-).
> 
> Paul M Foster wrote:
>> Reverse Polish Notation, the *only* way a calculator should be used.

I love my HP 32S II calculator. It's still on it's original batteries 
even with daily use. I was very concerned a few years ago -- it was on 
  a workbench and I accidentally knocked a spool of solder off a 
shelf. It put a nasty dent just below the "32S II" and the LCD but 
thankfully did no internal damage.

I got started with HP calculators and RPN back around 1976. It seemed 
like only about 1/2 the students at the local college had calculators 
and it was a constant "can I borrow yours" situation in the library or 
cafeteria. One of my professors showed me how to use his RPN model and 
I initially bought it because very few people would borrow it since 
they couldn't operate it. It took me about a day to fall in love with 
the operation and I've owned one ever since.

Tim