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From: jpser@cup.portal.com (John Paul Serafin)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.handhelds
Subject: Re: RE: Zero-slot HP48
Message-ID: <41199@cup.portal.com>
Date: 12 Apr 91 05:27:57 GMT
References: <21041016260645@vms3.macc.wisc.edu>
Organization: The Portal System (TM)
Lines: 23

<@vms3.macc.wisc.edu:KAUFMAN@ETHL.DecNet> writes:
>Yeah, but what about all of the niceties for the 48 that have been put onto
>cards (Equation Library, Chem Library..etc.)? I feel it is all this software
>that makes the 48 really useful, and am not convinced that this calculator
>should be worth much more (if any) than a 28S if these things are not
>available. Just my $.02
The HP28 seems most like a replacement for the HP15 even though it is
much more powerful.   The lack of ports and the lack of I from I/O are
the two biggest disappoinments for someone wanting an HP41 replacement.
The HP48SX made many large improvements over the HP28s.  I think that
two way non manual i/o (by 2 different means yet) ranks right up there
with port expansion.  I would think that the 48S represents a way for
someone who can not afford or does not need expansion ports to save
some money.   The expansion ports are very useful.  I wish there were
four of them.  Life certainly isn't miserable with just 2.  You have
the option of a 48 with expansion ports.  Why shouldn't someone who doesn't
want them have an option to save some money?
   Perhaps an argument could be made that the ROM space spent on the Equation
Writer was wasted, but there is a lot of added functionality and power in
the 48 over the 28.   Jake Schwatz's list went on with many dozens of
items.  Port expansion was only a tiny, if important part.
John Serafin
jpser@cup.portal.com