Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!gem.mps.ohio-state.edu!samsung!aplcen!haven!udel!mvac23!thomas
From: thomas@mvac23.UUCP (Thomas Lapp)
Newsgroups: comp.misc
Subject: Re: RPN Calculators
Message-ID: <109.UUL1.3#5131@mvac23.UUCP>
Date: 19 Nov 89 21:51:12 GMT
References: <1989Nov15.171212.642@esegue.segue.boston.ma.us>
Sender: usenet@udel.EDU
Reply-To: mvac23!thomas@udel.edu
Organization: MultiVac23, Newark, DE, U.S.A.
Lines: 35

> I have a TI four-function calculator that I bought in 1976 which
> still works, but having opened it up one time to clean out the keypad
> I doubt that it will still work if I ever drop it.  I once heard a
> story of an HP salesman who, when a student asked why he should pay
> more for an HP than the comparable TI, threw his HP as hard as
> possible at a concrete wall.  "Now you try it with yours."

I've heard a few stories about HP repair.  One: The user shipped the unit
back after accidently spilling coke into the keypad.  The unit was repaired
and shipped back with a note to the effect that HP calculators do not
particularly like coke.

Two: A salesman returned a defective calculator (which had failed after
a particularly hard throw against the wall) for repair.  When the unit
came back, a note was included which said basically, "Don't throw it
quite so hard next time."

Disclaimer: heard from an HP tech.  Stories may be in the realm of urban
legends by now.  However, the following IS true:

A high-school friend had purchased the HP-67, and accidently dropped it
while getting into his car.  He didn't realize it until after he ran
over it with the front tire of his VW kit car.  Scuffed the carrying case
pretty well, and there were one or two scratches on the case, but other-
wise was no worse for wear.
                         - tom
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