Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!cs.utexas.edu!usc!apple!rutgers!cbmvax!sterling
From: sterling@cbmvax.commodore.com (Rick Sterling)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.handhelds
Subject: Re: HP-48SX: first impressions
Message-ID: <10069@cbmvax.commodore.com>
Date: 9 Mar 90 14:47:01 GMT
References: <6750@columbia.edu> <1157@kunivv1.sci.kun.nl>
Reply-To: sterling@cbmvax (Rick Sterling)
Organization: Commodore, West Chester, PA
Lines: 77

In article <1157@kunivv1.sci.kun.nl> ge@kunivv1.sci.kun.nl (Ge' Weijers) writes:
> ji@close.cs.columbia.edu (John Ioannidis) writes:
> 
> >* The display contrast is poor. One should be allowed to change both
> >the intensity and the contrast, not some combined function thereof.
> >It's not very visible in subdued lighting, but I guess I'll get used
> >to it. 
> 
> So the combination of the ON key and one of the add/subtract keys is gone?
> 
  No, the [ON] [+]<>[-] combination does adjust display viewing angle/contrast
  and I find the display very readable in moderate to high light levels....
  a bit tougher to read in candlelight. ;-)

> >* It feels too flimsy. I can flex the case by about four degrees
> >without fear of cracking it. There is no way I would throw it accross
> >the room (the way people threw around 25's) and not care if it hits a
> >brick wall at 60mph!
> 
> Flexible things are usually the hardest to damage. Perhaps the 'flimsyness'
> was designed in. I'd worry if the machine had an inflexible feel to it.
> 

  I find the case design/quality seems a half-a-notch below usual HP 
  standards ( or at least my expectations of HP quality ) but I wouldn't
  characterize it as being ``flimsy''. I have no doubt it will stand up
  to the usual abuse I give to my calculators.

> >And a couple of minor gripes:
> 
> >* There is virtually no documentation on the serial port hardware. I'd
> >hate to have to shell out an extra $60 for a cable that I can make
> >myself. 
> 
> Is it a standard plug? Perhaps the interface kit has to generate a negative
> voltage. It might have a MAX232 chip hidden somewhere (a MAX232 is a serial
> port line driver which generates the voltages needed on chip. Is there someone
> with a '48 out there who can shed a light? I don't own a PC or Mac, but I'd
> like to interface the thing anyway (after I get one, of course).
> 
  I called HP Service and get the following info... use it at your own risk!
  
  Pin       Function                RS-232 equiv
    1       Chassis Ground          pin 1
    2       Txd                     pin 2
    3       Rxd                     pin 3
    4       Signal Ground           pin 7

 I jury-rigged up a ``connector'' and was ``online'' to the 48 in a couple
 minutes. This is a straight connector to connector interface.
 All transfers under KERMIT worked 100% first time. great stuff!
 
 for the curious: the other system is an Amiga running VLT.    

 personal notes:

 1> The manuals look like a real ``rush'' job. Plenty of typo's and poorly
    organized index. The paper stock leaves a lot to be desired. Hopefully
    I'll be able to replace them in six months with something more 
    substantial. ( I'll probably HAVE to. )

 2> The example program WALK on pg. 598 can not be entered without SYNTAX
    ERROR. ( anybody have a clue why? ) It geeks at `ERASE { # 0d ...'
                                                           ^
 3> quote from page 673...

    ``Products are sold on the basis of specifications applicable at the
      time of manufacture. Hewlett-Packard shall have no obligation to
      modify or update products, once sold.''

     Fine... now where can I find the specifications? No reference to them
     in the index, not in the appendix either.

 4> I love the ``cuckcoo clock'' alarm! ;-)

 Rick Sterling                 Commodore Technology Group       (215)-431-9275
 Test Engineering              UUCP ...{uunet,allegra,rutgers}!cbmvax!sterling