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From: akcs.joehorn@hpcvbbs.UUCP (Joseph K. Horn)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.handhelds
Subject: Re: Re: HP-32S II Curiosity
Keywords: fractions,bug,HP-32
Message-ID: <281e5272:2620.11comp.sys.handhelds;1@hpcvbbs.UUCP>
Date: 1 May 91 05:40:09 GMT
References: <51123@apple.Apple.COM> <281d2aa8:2620.10comp.sys.handhelds;1@hpcvb
Lines: 40

Edwin Garcia writes:

> Joe ... you mentioned that the decimal point key on the 32S-II serves
> two functions as though this were some grand innovation.  Well if you
> really want to take an extreme example of this, do you remember the
> Sinclair calculators that were released by Sir Clive Sinclair? To
> save keyboard space they even stuck five functions on the same key
> (three of the functions depended on how often you pressed the key);
> the first time you pressed the key it would give you a decimal point,
> the second time you pressed it would activate the exponent display,
> and the third press would change the sign of the exponent. Hoo boy!
> Now that was handy, packing that all into one key.  It seemed like a
> good idea at the time until some people started accidentally hitting
> the key twice when they only needed a decimal point, which forced the
> user to hit it two more times to get rid of the exponent display and
> change sign operator (to this day I thank the gods of calculator
> design that HP engineers decided to place these three functions on
> three separate keys, rather than adopting Sir Clive's unique idea...)
> So this idea of having one key acting differently depending on how
> many times it was pressed was hardly a Hewlett-Packard invention.

Thanx for pointing this out!  I stand corrected.

Apparently, HP foresaw the problem you mention (accidental pressing the
decimal point key twice).  A single backarrow undoes it, which is
consistent with the way backarrow treats all numeric entries.

By the way, Edwin, I did not intend to lob any thought bombs at you,
just at your opinions, in a spirited debate sort of way.  If my soapbox
style offended you, please accept my apology; it was more tongue in
cheek and intended to make you laugh than anything else (hence the
silly quotes, ALL of which were aimed at your funny bone, especially
the outrageous ones by that rollicking self-appointed radio expert on
politics, Rush Limbaugh).  Please thrust and parry with my opinions
any time.  I enjoy it immensely.  Half the time, I wind up agreeing
with the other person, and change my opinion.  The rest of the time, I
do my best to skewer their opinions right back.  But not them.  Just
their opinions.  It's all part of the fun.  I'm sorry that my poor
choice of words made it not fun.  I hope to do better next time.

-- Joseph K. Horn -- Peripheral Vision, Ltd. --