HP 35s Scientific Calculator

The HP35s may not be perfect but it's close and only the most finicky users will get too worked up about its deficiencies. There's a list of two dozen bugs over at hpcalc.org, but none of them are show-stoppers as far as I'm concerned. It would be great if the firmware could be updated, but that's technically impossible, so we're locked into "it is what it is", bugs and all, forever.From what I can collect by reading the forums the most egregious bug is a failure to round properly in the 13th decimal place. So, for example, 0.0123456789012 + 0.000000000000051 = 0.0123456789013 as it should, but 0.0123456789012 + 0.000000000000050 = 0.0123456789012 which is technically wrong. This gets reported as "TAN doesn't work", which seems like an exaggeration, imho. Like I said, not a show-stopper for me. The other really big problem is that it's possible to put the calculator into an infinite loop that locks the device, requiring a hard reset and clearing all memory. If you've spent a lot of time entering custom programs by hand, with no way to transfer them to or from a computer, clearing all memory is a really big deal. But face it, you can download Free42, for, um, free, and run it on any old handheld device. It can import/export programs, and is a perfect clone of the renowned HP42S. If you can't afford to lose your programs then something like that is your better solution anyway, or an upgrade to the HP Prime with its computer interface.Now for the good news! Playing with this I've been on a nostalgia high for the past 48 hours. Much more so than the HP50g, which never delivered quite the same kick - too advanced, or too big, or too something. The HP35s, on the other hand, is really similar to my old HP22S in size and feel, while being far more powerful and having RPN. It just "satisfies." The keys are responsive, the form-factor is comfortable and convenient, and the appearance is gorgeous, far superior to the toy like calculators HP made and still makes for the education market. For all these reasons it's a sweet collectible, in addition to being useful.The HP50g was released in 2006 and discontinued in 2015. Considering that the HP35s was released in 2007 it feels like it's living on borrowed time. If, like me, you've always sort of wanted an HP35s you may want to pull the trigger now while it's still readily available.One complaint: on page 42/43 of the "Quick Start Guide" that comes with the calculator, it says, "...in addition to this quick start guide, a printed copy of the users's guide can be obtained free of charge by calling HP Customer Care at 800-HP-INVENT." I've read online that people did succeed in doing that, but when I called HP this morning I was told that there are no more manuals available; they were all sent out and no more are being printed. So, if you want a printed manual, you'll have to print and bind yourself the 382 page PDF that comes on the enclosed CDROM, despite what the lying Quick Start Guide says. To be honest, I didn't really expect HP would honor that promise - it just would have been nice not to have to spend fifteen minutes on the phone to find out.p.s. there's a movement afoot to reverse-engineer and re-release some of the classic HP calculators. Check out the  , an HP-15C clone.

The caveat is that I am not steeped in the HP calculator tradition and only used their RPN calculators sparingly. Others -- particularly scientists and engineers -- may have legitimate complaints about this unit.Upon retirement as a software developer, I am able to indulge in my amateur radio hobby more and, perforce, need a decent scientific calculator. This unit seemed to be a good choice and, as I progress, RPN seems like one of those "I could have had a V-8" phenomena. I am sorry I did not do this earlier. That said, methinks many doth protest too much and need to get a life. If one is disappointed because it's not an HP-41, then one should explore eBay and pick from the many older units that abound -- for three or more times the HP 35s (approx.) $55 MSRP.The calculator is solidly built and has a nice tactile response and is loaded with features. It sits nicely on the desk and the display is at the proper reading angle. It has solid rubber feet which stop it from sliding all over the surface. Thus far -- with an intense learning curve for me to overcome -- I have not noticed key bounce or missed keystrokes. But if people say they have experienced that, I will be alert for same. But, all in all, it is a nice instrument.Of course, there are downsides.(1) One cannot upload or clone programs from other sources; I presume this is to allow these to be used in various engineering exams, etc. But programming can be done manually and there is a decent section in the user's guide on that. Interestingly, HP 35s calculators that have been pre-programmed can be had on Amazon and eBay for something on the order of $225. It tickles the imagination just how they got these programmed unless, of course, they employed a phalanx of engineering students to laboriously hand enter the formulas.(2) The different bases (binary, octal, decimal, hexadecimal) are somewhat cumbersome to use. But -- and I do not wish to be glib here -- I did not buy the calculator for that reason. The internet abounds with FREE Windows and MAC and Android scientific calculators that handle number bases in a more logical fashion. Reviewers have pointed out how other keystroke sequences are cumbersome but being a scientific and mathematical ignoramus, I have not noticed anything yet.(3) The user's manual is on an accompanying CD. For a short time, HP shipped the unit with a printed paperback NOT the nifty, handsome, spiral-bound manuals they used to produce. But, several years ago, they went all Greenpeace/tree-hugger on us and dumped it to CD. DESPITE WHAT THE MANUAL SAYS, HP DOES NOT HAVE A PRINTED VERSION ON REQUEST FROM CUSTOMER SUPPORT. Also note that there are multiple language versions of the manual thereon the CD. To this point, I have several calculators who sent along those little paperbacks that I found inconvenient to make notes in or otherwise paw through. Also, the have gotten lost..uh..somewhere in a move over the past 25 years or so. Since I am in a catching-up learning curve, I am printing mine chapter by chapter and working through each chapter as I go. (By the way, I recommend you print it two-up as it is 380 pages long.(4) While this is not a downside, a lot of folks have gone off on the "new" case that ships with the HP 35s now. It is a departure from the original zipper case that harkens back to the older HP models. I find the newer slip case to be sturdy and durable and works just fine and NOT to be a reason to avoid purchasing a 35s. In fact, it is more convenient to stow and remove the unit from this than the earlier version. However, the older case did allow for storage of notes and other items in addition to protecting the calculator. It is easy to see why surveyors or others in the field would favor that.Will get back later with any other regrets as conditions warrant.

Inte många miniräknare eller produkter som byggs med denna kvalitet längre. Sköna tangenter och bra funktioner. Visst, den är ljusår från funktioner i smartphones men vad man behöver i en miniräknare.

My first HP was the 15C, which taught me RPN. Over the years I've owned multiple, and more advanced graphical calculators, but for basic scientific stuff the HP35S it my absolute favorite. It's easy and quick to use, and the color-scheme makes it easy to read the labels (even the latest generation of the Prime i shit in this department). So when I had my HP35S stolen, I had to have a new one, even though it was in another price-range, now its no longer in production.

Era stato sempre il mio sogno da studente, ora l’ho realizzato con una spesa forse per alcuni spropositata, ma quanto valutate voi un sogno? La confezione integra in tutto e per tutto, sigillata, una grande emozione utilizzarla e programmarla. Se avete un sogno realizzatelo, tanto nella tomba non vi porterete via nulla. Poi che prodotto: i tasti rispondono come i vecchi calcolatori HP degli anni ’70, display chiarissimo, consumi ridotti, tabelle di conversione integrate... finchè ce ne sono e se vi piacciono come piacciono a me non perdetele...

buen producto

The calculator is exactly like one I purchased 20-25 years ago. Unfortunately, the older one had a wobbly ENTER button that I was worried would fall off and render the calculator useless. Other than that the calculator still worked. Trying to have the button replaced was not going well as I could not locate a convenient repair location to even do that. I was contemplating writing HP to see if there were any leftover buttons that could be ordered for us handy people that could do a switch out. Anyway, I was quite surprised that I was able to locate my latest HP 35s online because I thought it was not being sold anymore by HP. A reseller was offering it and they were only a few hours away from my location. The only issue was the price. I feel that it was inflated about 100% but since the calculator was hard to locate I made the purchase anyway. I guess that's what I get for buying an antique.