HP Virtualizes Its Calculators for the iPhone and PC

Hey rebo, I don't think everyone agrees with you. Some of the guys over at the Museum of HP Calculators are figuring out how many of these puppies they'll purchase. Some will prefer free. Some will prefer HP. Isn't it nice to have a choice? HP, Free, or none.

$30 is nuts! Especially when free alternatives are available.

Nelson Sicuro, thanks for contributing to the confusion around the HP 1xc calculators. The processors used in these calculators were based on the HP 41c's processor, but they didn't use that exact processor. The HP 41c project was called "coconut," not the processor. The 1xc calculator processors (of which there appear to have been four or so) are usually referred to as the "Nut" processor series, but more often only by their cryptic part numbers. As for not being 4-bitters, they are BCD engines that operate on data 4 bits at a time, regardless of the size of the accumulator. Or were you suggesting that we label them 56-bit processors (which they certainly were not)? It's a tough call, but I classify processors by the size of operand they generally work on. For example, the original Motorola 68000 processor had a 16-bit data bus but its instructions operated on 32-bit data atomically (the processor's microcode did the work in two chunks however). For the programmer, that made the 68000 a 32-bit processor. I must admit however that I was slightly misinformed by HP when discussing these calculator emulators and went right ahead and entered the name "Saturn" incorrectly. For more info on the Nut processors: nonpareil.brouhaha.com/microcode_simulation.pdf

As a longtime RPN (Reverse Polish Notation) data entry fan, I can also recommend three freeware apps for the iPhone and iPod touch. Search the App Store for 12C-Lite, RPN Calc, and PCalc Lite.

Is this the future? The real thing is harder and harder to sell. This might be the way to boost turn over. But for professional use? Out in the field it is better to have a real calculator one can use at below zero temperatures and that will go for ever on one set of batteries. Try this with an Iphone. Otherwise the Iphone is a marvel.

The processor of the HP-12c and HP-15c is called "Coconut" and have 56 bit wide registers and its instructions are 10bit wide, it isn't a 4 CPU bits as stated. They data/address bus is bit-serial. the "Saturn" CPU is totally different and is used on newer calculators as HP-42S, 48 series and have 64 bit wide registers, but it has 4 bit wide data bus externally.

I've never warmed up to the iPhone-like touch screen, but this is an application that might well justify it.