HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
Newsgroups: comp.sys.hp48

Carsten.Wedemeyer%bbs@parrot.in-berlin.de (Carsten Wedemeyer) asks about
any documentation on opening the hp48sx.

Carsten:
  If you have ftp access, look at seq.uncwil.edu for a file called
"openhp48.Z" in the directory /hp48/desc.  It is in compressed format, so
you will need to use Unix "uncompress" (actually an alias for "compress
-x") or an eqivalent on another system.  If you are unable to get it
there, I will post it to this newsgroup (but it's a bit long).  Maybe
I'll just post it here anyway :) .  The file contains instructions on how
to take the hp48s(x) apart as far as the outer case goes.  Getting the
keyboard or the screen assembly apart is not discussed because it would
take considerably more work.
I will attempt to mail it to you as well (allthough my mail server may
barf at your address with a "%" in it...).
  Credit for the original opening (as far as I can remember) goes to
David Holmes, not myself.  I took Dave's ideas and customized them a bit.
(Thanks David).

Paul Smith
v055qmd6@ubvms.cc.buffalo.edu
Newsgroups: comp.sys.hp48
From: phr@telebit.com (Paul Rubin)
Subject: Re: The "high price" of the HP48!
Organization: Telebit Corporation; Sunnyvale, CA, USA
	<PHR.92Dec25155736@napa.telebit.com>
	<1992Dec26.052935.17881@doug.cae.wisc.edu>
	<PHR.92Dec30220240@napa.telebit.com> <jcFds*740@lemsys.UUCP>
Distribution: usa
Date: Thu, 31 Dec 1992 20:14:39 GMT

In article <jcFds*740@lemsys.UUCP> clemon@lemsys.UUCP (Craig Lemon VE3XCL) writes:

	   I am a University student (in case you can't tell by the .sig). 
   I'm not rich.  I'm not the son of a major dignitary or world power (just
   thought I'd clear that up :-).  The HP-48 is a _tool_ for your education. 
   You require a good calculator (for engineering anyways).  

Why?  Given access to a good computer, I didn't feel any need at all
for a fancy calculator.  The $10 Sharp nonprogrammable unit that I
used was adequate for all my pocket calculator needs.

   I found it quite
   worthwhile to purchase a GOOD calculator to replace my aging and broken
   calc. I've been using through high school. 

What did the HP48 do for you that a $10 calculator wouldn't have *and*
a computer wouldn't have?

   If you don't buy an HP, chances are you'll have to buy another one before
   you're done school anyways.

So what?  I can afford quite a few $10 calculators for the price of an HP48.

   You are investing in your education when you
   buy a calculator.  So you save $70 by not buying HP.  Is that a big deal in
   the long run?

I have no question that it's an investment in my education.  My question
is whether it's a GOOD investment, i.e. whether whether I'd get more
education per dollar by upgrading my computer, or buying more textbooks,
or hiring someone to do my laundry so I can spend more time studying, etc.
And I believe I saved more than $70 by not buying an HP48.  If I could
get an HP48 for $80, I probably would have gotten one, but they were
more like $300 (I think they're a little less now).

Newsgroups: comp.sys.hp48
From: kolstad@cae.wisc.edu (Joel Kolstad)
Subject: Re: VCR Plus codes...
Organization: U of Wisconsin-Madison College of Engineering
Date: 25 Dec 92 10:58:13 CST

In article <James_Cook.0k0l@nesbbx.rain.COM> James_Cook@nesbbx.rain.COM (**) writes:
>
>Regarding the VCR Plus codes:
>     
>How are these numbers encoded?  I spent an hour or so looking them over
>and it is not readily apparent to me how these numbers work.

Gemstar specifically made it non-obvious so that would-be hackers would
have a difficult time figuring it out.  If the code were obvious, Gemstar
couldn't charge all the TV guides $$$ so that the guides can print the
codes.  Gemstar had also recently begun licensing the encryption method to
VCR manufacturers, so you don't even need to buy the special remote.

I think this is an interesting ploy of Gemstar's: They make money off of
offering a simply time/duration encoding system.  For the intended purpose, ANSI
(or some other standards organization) could have come up with a publically
distributable system that would have worked just as well.  Of course, the
government isn't very good at doing things like this, so I suppose that
Gemstar deserves some money for pushing the concept into the marketplace.

Sci.crypt is the place where this has been discussed at length.

						---Joel Kolstad
Newsgroups: comp.sys.hp48
From: rmg53668@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu (Ryan M. Grant)
Subject: Re: Engraving an HP48
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana
Date: Fri, 25 Dec 1992 07:32:19 GMT

anderson@Apple.COM (Clark Anderson) writes:

>sweet@ug.cs.dal.ca (garth r sweet) writes:
>>Has anyone else had this problem?
>>How do you mark your calculators

>I had my name engraved in the aluminum plate
>just below the display. Looks very nice.

I used a pocket knife to do my signature on the front panel and on the 
back in a bigger scrawl.  It's not as visable on the back due to the rough
texture, but it's big enough to be permananent.  On the front it looks 
really nice, and fit well to the right of the label.  It's my signature too, 
and I like that part - more personal then having someone else write on it.

- Ryan Grant
From: bruhn@exaib (Peter Bruhn )
Newsgroups: comp.sys.hp48
Subject: beginner's questions
Date: Mon, 28 Dec 92 11:04:37 MESZ
Organization: WU-Wien
Distribution: world
NNTP-Posting-Host: exaib.wu-wien.ac.at

I got my HP48SX two days ago and have already a number of
questions. I hope that some kind soul will answer some of them.

1. I would like to write some functions that are available in
    all (sub)directories. But I really don't want to put these functions
    into the HOME directory. Is there some way around?

2. The HP48SX is able to calculate the probability that a CHI-2
    random variable is greater than a given number (x). What I need
    is the inverse of this function: given a probability,  calculate x.
    The only solution I see is something like:

	<< -> F P
	    <<
	        << F UTP UTPC P - >>
	        'UTP' 2 ROOT
	    >>
	>>

    But this is really sloooow. Is there a better way?

3. What does "HALT" in the status line mean?

4. I intend to write some econometric tools, so my questions are:

    4a. Has someone already done so?

    4b. How good is the INV-function (I have to use it often in
          econometrics)?  My manuals include an additional sheet
          that advises me to use << DUP SIZE 1 GET IDN SWAP / >>
          instead of INV if the dimension of the Matrix is greater
          than 7. What do you think about it?

    4c. Are there programs available to facilitate matrix-algebra?

5. Are there any OR tools available (LP, ILP, MILP, queing theory,...)?

6. What do the following cards do in detail:

	Statistik ROM (SESCO)
	Advanced math card (SRS Software)

7. What do you think about the following books, are the worth buying:

	Mastering yout HP48
	HP 48 insights
	
8. Are the following books for the HP28S useful for HP48 programming:

	Probability and Statistics
	Vectors and Matrices
	Mathematical Applications

Thanks a lot

Peter (bruhn AT uxe.wu-wien.ac.at)

Newsgroups: comp.sys.hp48
From: "kenneth tam" <kenneth.tam@canrem.com>
Subject: 48sx manual question
Reply-To: "kenneth tam" <kenneth.tam@canrem.com>
Organization: Canada Remote Systems
Distribution: comp
Date: 28 Dec 92 23:48:24 EST

>>   A quick (possibly dumb) question. I have seen several people
>>   refer to their "two volume manual" that came with their 48sx.
>>   I only seem to have one, called the "HP 48 Owner's Manual", HP
>>   part No. 00048-90091, Edition 1, November 1991.

>>   Was there a second printing ... or ... was I short manualed
>>   ... or is there another explanation

>Sigh.  You have the updated, improved, single-volume HP 48
>Owner's manual.  The manual printed previously was in two
>volumes, part numbers 00048-90077 and 00048-90078.  Mine are
>"Edition 4, July 1990".
 
Content-wise I can believe it, but I personally prefer the spiral-bound 
older manuals.  Much easier to refer to, and they just don't wear out. 
 
Anyone have a manual post November 1991?  I'm curious if they went back 
to the spiral bound format..

kenneth.tam@canrem.com

---
  MR/2 1.37 NR  Who you callin' "argumentative", Bucko?
--
Canada Remote Systems  - Toronto, Ontario
World's Largest PCBOARD System - 416-629-7000/629-7044
From: akcs.ejf@hpcvbbs.cv.hp.com (Ed Fasula)
Date: Mon, 28 Dec 1992 22:40:02 GMT
Subject: 48 4 DATA LOGGING (AGAIN)
Message-ID: <2b3f77c8.2525comp.sys.hp48@hpcvbbs.cv.hp.com>
Newsgroups: comp.sys.hp48

Dear all, 
  I am very interested in logging data as the kermit program does with
the log session command so I'm asking again if anyone knows how to do
this?   
Newsgroups: comp.sys.hp48
From: fin@unet.umn.edu (Craig A. Finseth)
Subject: Re: Difference between 28c and 28s???????
Organization: University of Minnesota, Networking Services.
Date: Mon, 21 Dec 1992 14:56:03 GMT

In article <1992Dec18.190602.18069@gdwest.gd.com>, luse@gdwest.gd.com (Stephen A. Luse) writes:
|> In article <BzF01J.7Mv@ulowell.ulowell.edu> gvahe@cs.ulowell.edu (Gerry Vahe) writes:
|> >Can someone out there please tell me the difference between a 28c and a 28s?
|> >I am interested in buying a used calculator and I need the differeces. 
|> >thanks a lot.

From the HPDATAbase:

	Firsts:			graphics objects, directories for
				user variables

Memory:
	Flags:			46	set by GETI and PUTI if they wrap
				47	double spaced printing
	User-RAM-Bytes:		32,400
	Total-RAM-Bytes:	32K (vs. 2K)
	ROM-Bytes:		128K (vs. 64K)

Somewhat different key arrangement.

Programmable-Operations::

->LCD		put grob into LCD
c		speed of light constant
COMB		combinations
CRDIR		create directory
DGTIZ		activate interactive plot mode
HOME		move to home directory
LCD->		return LCD as a grob
MENU		select a built-in menu
PATH		returns current path
PERM		compute permutations
POS		less restrictive definition
VARS		return list of variables

Non-Programmable-Operations::

no +CMD
no +LAST
no +ML
no +UND
no -CMD
no -LAST
no -ML
no -UND
CMD		enable/disable LAST CMD mode
COMPLX		bring up menu
CONTRL		bring up menu
CUSTOM		custom menu
MENUS		toggles shifted and unshifted actions of A-R keys
ML		toggles multi-line display mode
ON + <- + ENTER, then S puts the machine into COMA mode (loses stack
		and halts timer, does not destroy memory)
ON + L		print screen
ON + NEXT	start keyboard test
no ON + v
no RDX.
RDX,		toggle radix
no SCAN
no STOP
UNDO		toggle undo saving
\Ga		toggles entry mode from immediate to alpha to algebraic
shift \Ga	 toggles menu lock

Somewhat different menus.

Memory is now from an industry-standard chip instead of a -71B-type
chip.  A "Power Lost" message has been added.  The battery compartment
is lined with foam.  The display has non-glare glass.  One-key
operators are now entered into programs with spaces around them.  The
definitions of some units have been adjusted.  Program and variable
printing has been cleaned up and improved.

Craig A. Finseth                        Craig.A.Finseth-1@umn.edu
1343 Lafond                             fin@unet.umn.edu
St Paul MN 55104-2437                   Craig.Finseth@mr.net
USA                                     +1 612 644 4027         member, LPF
From: heavy-metal@vnet.ibm.com
Date: Mon, 28 Dec 92 15:27:59 CST
Newsgroups: comp.sys.hp48
Subject: Major Meltdown

Wow, I just had a major meltdown on my HP48SX. I had accidentally erased
one of the files from the hidden directory so I switched to bank 4 where
are have my hp archived. I did a restore and it took a loooooong time and
then came back with a Recover memory prompt. I said yes. It was able to find
some of the stuff, but not all. It also gave me an invalid card data error.
Nevertheless, I typed in 3 BS2 (switch to bank 3) I went there and the display
started booting the first library, but then changed the display angle (similar
to ON:-. It then clipped the display in to sections, top and bottom, and
displayed the normal upper portion of the display on the top and bottom half.
It kept crashing during or immediately after booting the first library.
Finally, I pulled out both cards with the machine on (a no no, I know, but it
was going nuts.) That didn't work, in fact, no matter what I did the machine
just kept giving me this high pitch beep every time I hit a button.
Now I have the batteries out and hope that works.

What in the heck is going on???

From: akcs.joehorn@hpcvbbs.cv.hp.com (Joseph K. Horn)
Date: Thu, 24 Dec 1992 07:40:02 GMT
Subject: Re: need GCD and LCM
Message-ID: <2b396708.2460.2comp.sys.hp48.1@hpcvbbs.cv.hp.com>
Newsgroups: comp.sys.hp48

jmr@aaron.ece.psu.edu [Joe Reinhardt] writes:

> Hi, I know I saw a GCD and LCM program posted somewhere for the
> HP48, but I can't find it on any of the archive sites.  Can someone
> help me find it?

GCD
<< WHILE OVER MOD DUP REPEAT SWAP END DROP >>

LCM
<< DUP2 GCD / * >>
From: jcook@cryo.rain.com (James Cook)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.hp48
Subject: Re: The 'high price' of the HP48!
Date: 3 Jan 93 02:25:53 GMT
Article-I.D.: cryo.jcook.0n03
Distribution: usa
Organization: Cryogenic Software - Portland, OR USA
X-NewsSoftware: BBX-UMB 0.27a beta (Nov 30 1992)


Jeez, folks!  This thread is beginning to read like
comp.sys.amiga.advocacy!  The choice of a computer, whether it is an
Amiga or PC, HP-48 or HP95 is completely and entirely a PERSONAL
decision.  Its value is the value YOU place on it, not what others may
believe its value to be.  I work with a 33MHz '386 PC compatible at work
and value it very little.  My Amiga 2000 at home is much more fun and
suits me far better than a PC.  My HP-48, sits right next to both
machines ready to convert decimal to hex, keep track of client phone
numbers, play a little reversi, etc.
     
The HP-95 is the PC of pocket calculators, the HP-48 is the Amiga of
pocket calculators...
     

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
    _  James Cook, PE - Electrical and Control Systems Engineer ____ _+__
 _ //               Harris Group Inc. - Portland, OR             | | | |
 \X/      My views are not the views of Cryogenic Software.      | | | |
Amiga!               How can our views be the same?              | |=| |
                They're clear on the other side of town...       | | | |
                                                                _|_|_|_|_
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Newsgroups: comp.sys.hp48
From: b645zjo@utarlg.uta.edu (Rick Homard)
Subject: Re: Experiences with ElekTek, EduCalc, mail order places?
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41    
Organization: The University of Texas at Arlington
Date: Fri, 1 Jan 1993 20:04:00 GMT


Joe Horn states:

>   (1) There's a brochure packed inside every HP48 box that lists
>       available accessories.  Notice that EduCALC is featured not only
>       in the list of vendors at the end of the brochure, but in the text
>       too, with many accessories available only from EduCALC (for
>       example, the famous, fabulous HP48 Goodies Disks).  ElekTek is not
>       in the brochure. This says to me that HP considers EduCALC a
>       reliable enough source of HP48 accessories to mention it "in the
>       box".  But not ElecTek.
> 

 Paul Rubin replies:

>I don't know about the HP48 box but in general it's common for
>product vendors to include things in the box pointing users
>to vendors of add-on products.  The add-on vendors pay the product
>vendor a fee to be listed.  Not everyone is willing to pay the fee.
>It could be simply that Elektek wasn't interested in being listed.


I make the comment:

If you call the HP Direct phone number and request product
information and prices for calculators, you will receive
a recorded message to call EDUCalc for all HP calculator 
and assessory products.  This says something about EDUCalc.

Rick Homard
From: d91-mwd@dront.nada.kth.se (Michael Westlund)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.hp48
Subject: Re: How do I copy ROM-libraries to a RAM-card?
Date: 27 Dec 92 14:30:50 GMT
Organization: Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden

In <1hi4nnINN2ru@leela.CS.ORST.EDU> forbesm@atlantis.CS.ORST.EDU (Mark Forbes) writes:

>d91-mwd@dront.nada.kth.se (Michael Westlund) writes:

>>Is there any way I can copy the libraries of one of my ROM cards onto
>>my RAM card and thus be able to access both of of them at the same
>>time - without having to remove my merged RAM card?

>If the libraries are small, you can copy them into RAM. If they're a
>couple of Sparcom cards, don't waste your time. The libraries are a
>full card, almost 128K, and if you *do* copy them you won't have any
>space left anyway.

That is if I copy the contents of my Sparcom Math Pac to the RAM card.
However, I might want to copy parts of the other card, that is _not_ a
Sparcom card, to the merged 128k RAM card...

	/ Mike

-- 
//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
Michael Westlund                         Royal Institute of Technology
d91-mwd@nada.kth.se                                  Stockholm, Sweden
//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
COMMAND : Statement presented by a human and accepted by a computer in
          such a manner as to make the human feel as he is in control.
Newsgroups: comp.sys.hp48
Subject: Re: Engraving an HP48
From: omf@pyros.hacks.arizona.edu (Oscar Fowler)
Date: 27 DEC 92 18:37:31    
Reply-To: omf@pyros.hacks.arizona.edu
Distribution: world,local
Organization: Sirius Cybernetics Corporation
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.4-a4  

In article <Bzs1r8.I48@cs.dal.ca>, sweet@ug.cs.dal.ca (garth r sweet) writes...
> 
>	I recently tried to get my name and SIN number engraved on my HP48
>figuring to make it at least slightly more secure, but when I tried the
>key houses and engraving shops kept turning me away, saving that most
>plastics will melt when they try to engrave it, hence they won't even try.
>Has anyone else had this problem? How do you mark your calculators, or do
>you, I figure most people are like me in that after they shell hundreds
>of dollars for these supper calcs, they like to put thier name on them.
>Maybe I just have to find the right shop.

I had the same problem.  I finally went to a trophy shop and told them
that I would not hold them liable if something happened to the calc.
They engraved my name on the metal face plate right above where it says
"Scientific Expandable".  Looks great - no problems at all.

Oscar Fowler
Computing from sunny Tucson, Arizona
omf@hacks.arizona.edu

Newsgroups: comp.sys.hp48
From: bdr@cbnewsg.cb.att.com (brian.d.reed)
Subject: Re: VCR Plus Project...
Keywords: VCR REMOTE CONTROL 
Organization: AT&T
Date: Thu, 24 Dec 1992 01:32:11 GMT

In article <1992Dec23.153851.1610@cbfsb.cb.att.com> mxl@cbnewsg.cb.att.com (marc.a.levy) writes:
>In article <1992Dec23.132927.13649@eng.umd.edu> morris@eng.umd.edu (Morris S. Berman) writes:
>>Here's an ideas for a program for the HP 48.
>>In this area we have a device called VCR Plus,
>>I don't know if it's nationwide (USA) yet. But

Interesting...the idea of the VCR Plus is for those who don't know how
to program a VCR...I'm sure most of us using an HP48 wouldn't
know how to program anything that complicated!
Newsgroups: comp.sys.hp48
From: f_quan@pavo.concordia.ca (QUAN, FEDERICO)
Subject: Re: Experiences with ElekTek, EduCalc, mail order places?
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41    
Organization: Concordia University
Date: Sun, 3 Jan 1993 06:18:00 GMT


> 
>I make the comment:
> 
>If you call the HP Direct phone number and request product
>information and prices for calculators, you will receive
>a recorded message to call EDUCalc for all HP calculator 
>and assessory products.  This says something about EDUCalc.
> 
>Rick Homard

That means nothing.  If you read the brochure that came with the calculator
it says and I quote:

    "The products included in thes section are produced by companies 
     INDEPENDENT of HP.  We have reviewed these products for inclusion
     in this brochure but have NOT tested them.  The inclusion of third
     products in this catalog does not constitute an endorsement by 
     Hewlett-Packard."

The quote was taken from page 11 of the brochure titled "Software and 
Accessories for the HP 48 Family" which came in the same box as my HP 48

I hope I cleared up misconceptions.

-----
Fred Quan
* I speak only for myself....so butt out!!
-----
Newsgroups: comp.sys.hp48
From: kolstad@cae.wisc.edu (Joel Kolstad)
Subject: Re: The "high price" of the HP48!
Organization: U of Wisconsin-Madison College of Engineering
Date: 2 Jan 93 11:20:11 CST

Hi again Paul,

[Whenever I start reading this tired thread, the battle mix theme ("Welcome
to the Pleasuredome") from Toys comes to mind... rather fitting...]

In article <PHR.93Jan1221624@napa.telebit.com> phr@telebit.com (Paul Rubin) writes:
>
>You think the high dot pitch monitors are worse than the 8 line hp48 display?

Displays should be matched to what produces their video.  If the HP-48
could display more than 131x64 pixels, obviously the same LCD display
wouldn't have been used.  By the same token, using a 1280x1024 SVGA card 
with a 14" .52mm dot pitch monitor would be ludicrous.

>Actually, I use a cheap Hercules-type monochrome monitor on my 486 box
>and find it adequate.

Ok, I hadn't considered mono monitors.  If you're happy with it, fine...
probably well over 90% of the PC buyers out there wouldn't be, though.

>Even the cheapest stuff is usually to be pretty useable.

It may well be useable, but what happens when it takes a 4 foot dive off of
your desk?

I guess I can't really argue that much about cheap PCs.  All of the ones
I've used have just felt cheap and slow to me.  If you're happy with cheap
PCs, fine... but I'd really like something like a Gateway 2000 if I were
buyiing a PC.  (HP produces a fine line of PCs, too, but they really are
overpriced :-) )

>This might be true.  But I took lots of math, physics, CS, and
>engineering classes, and don't think my experiences were atypical.
>I'm interested to hear what you do with your 48 that you couldn't
>do with your 32S-II (not sure what that is).

The HP-32S II is HP's lowest end RPN calculator (the even lower end ones
use an algebraic entry system).  It has around 30 variables, and 384 bytes
of program memory.

On both my 48 and 32, I use the built in solver to find solutions of
equations.  I only use the 32 for simple equations, though, because the one
character variable name and non-plotting restriction often feels rather
limiting.  (And I've encountered some pretty wierd equations in my life,
where it really does help to see what they look like.)  On the other hand,
the 32 "starts up" a lot faster than the 48, and I prefer to use it for
things like adding long lists of numbers (checks, for instance).  

I don't know why I'd use a $15 Casio over my HP-32S II. :-)  The 32
does cost something like $50 or $60, though, and a $40 Casio can probably
do more than it can.  The use of RPN and the similarities in operation with
my 48 make it worth the extra $$$ to me.  (Actually.... do $40 Casios have
solvers and integrators in them?  They must, right?)

There are still people in my math, physics, CS, and engineering classes who
do use those $15 calculators, just like you say you did.  They can do just
as well in class as I can, but I do think that they spend more time doing
algebraic manipulations and "number crunching" than I do.

						---Joel Kolstad
Newsgroups: comp.sys.hp48
From: phr@telebit.com (Paul Rubin)
Subject: Re: The "high price" of the HP48!
Organization: Telebit Corporation; Sunnyvale, CA, USA
	<6869@dciem.dciem.dnd.ca> <1992Dec21.132830.5946@doug.cae.wisc.edu>
	<1992Dec22.144437.11595@mixcom.com>
Distribution: usa
Date: 25 Dec 92 15:57:36

    I agree.  I do not understand those who buy the Casios and the TIs because
    the 48 is just "too expensive".

I felt that paying my rent was more important than having a fancy
calculator.  
Newsgroups: comp.sys.hp48