Newsgroups: comp.sys.handhelds
Path: utzoo!utgpu!watserv1!mann
From: mann@watserv1.uwaterloo.ca (Shannon Mann)
Subject: questions about hp48
Message-ID: <1991Jun12.055450.18983@watserv1.waterloo.edu>
Sender: mann@watserv1.waterloo.edu (Shannon Mann)
Organization: Computing Services, University of Waterloo
Date: Wed, 12 Jun 1991 05:54:50 GMT
Lines: 35


I own a 28S and have been quite satisfied, except for the following:
1. Having to be careful the menu/cursor pad is in the correct mode. I
know it's just a toggle key, but it remains a real pain to always have
to hit that key when I want to move the cursor.
2. The functions INV, SQ, (root), ^, LN, EXP, SIN, ASIN, COS, ACOS, TAN,
ATAN are just not accessible enough for manual number-crunching (eg. you
should not have to shift for INV). Thus I put them in the custom menu, so
once it's selected, any of these functions is either immediately available
on the menu keys or after pressing NEXT once. But it's still awkward since
you're usually in a directory accessing variables, and have to always call
back the custom menu.
3. The folding book format is good for protection when transporting, but not
for using. It takes up too much room on my desk, and is incredibly awkward
to hold and use while standing up. A lot of the time I like to snatch it up,
hammer out a calculation and toss it down. This is awkward if you needed a
menu function on the LHS of the keyboard.

Apparently, a 48S would take care of these gripes (dedicated cursor pad,
dedicated number-crunching row of keys, conventional format). Does anyone
have any warnings of awkward stuff on the 48? I am concerned about losing
the easy accessibility of alpha characters, and notice the object delimiter
characters (<< >>, [], etc) are paired. Does this imply some awkward 
context-sensitive editing? What of keyboard quality? What is the latest
version and what was improved? What else?

Additionally: Given the hardware skills and documentation, could a plain
48S be expanded like the 48SX ie. hardwire in one of those cards (I am just
interested in more "on-line" RAM)? Is the RS232 cable from HP just a dumb
cable ie. can it be built? ie. is the HP connector available?

Post or mail, whatever's appropriate. Thanks very much.