Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!sdd.hp.com!wuarchive!uunet!orca!javelin.es.com!pashdown
From: pashdown@javelin.es.com (Pete Ashdown)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.handhelds
Subject: Re: ON and SPACE key
Keywords: peculiar
Message-ID: <1991Feb6.160847.10662@javelin.es.com>
Date: 6 Feb 91 16:08:47 GMT
References: <7413@uceng.UC.EDU>
Reply-To: pashdown@javelin.sim.es.com
Organization: Evans & Sutherland Computer Corp., Salt Lake City, Utah
Lines: 26

egraeler@uceng.UC.EDU (Eric S Graeler) writes:

>If you simultaneously hold down the ON key and the SPACE key and then release
>them, the caluculator will beep, some random garbage will momentarily flash
>on the screen and then it will be in an off state.  When you turn it back on
>you will breifly see what use to be on the stack and/or the menu you were in.
>It will then go to a state though as if you had done a reset with ON-C.

>Also when you do this, TIME STANDS STILL, that is when you turn it back on
>and look at your clock it will be at about the same time where it was when you
>did ON-SPACE.

>The best I can figure is that this sends a signal to the micro-processor to
>halt exection, stop all clocks, and turn off the display.

>Has anyone else encountered this or does this work for anyone else?

Yes, this was documented early on as the 'coma' mode.  It throws the 48 into
a state where it uses little or no battery power.  This enables HP to package
the batteries in the calculator, yet not have to worry about them being
dead when a person turns it on for the first time.
-- 

 "Hi, we're 'Slaughter'.  We'd just like to say how much we love our troops."

Pete Ashdown  pashdown@javelin.sim.es.com ...uunet!javelin.sim.es.com!pashdown