-----------Original message:
Date: Wed, 30 Aug 2006 21:45:23 -0600
From: woodelf <bfranchuk at jetnet.ab.ca>
Subject: Re: Octal
I find computer calculator programs a pain.
That's a pretty sweeping statement; their keyboard and display
are as good as the one you use every day, cut and paste is
often handy for avoiding entry errors and you don't have another
item on your (non-virtual) desktop; best of all, if you don't like anything
out there you could presumably create your own.
I am curious: what exactly is it that you don't like about them?
In fact it is hard to find a good calculator - read
nice display -- good keyboard. You don't find that
with the $5 calculator market.
I'm obviously less demanding; I'm quite happy with my $1.00
calculator: nice large LCD display, full size keys and solar-powered.
Cheaply made, true, but that's why it cost $1.00, and it's served me
well for 3 or 4 years; if it dies I guess I'll have to bite the bullet and
spend another $1.00.
I for one am amazed and delighted that calculators, computers etc.
can be manufactured as cheaply as they are while in general being
much more efficient/useful/powerful and just as reliable (or more so)
than the products of yore, which would presumably cost several orders
of magnitude more if manufactured the same way today and be
completely out of my reach pricewise.
mike