27 Sep
2001
27 Sep
'01
6:05 a.m.
On Thu, 27 Sep 2001, Douglas Quebbeman wrote:
Way back in '77 (I think), I got a mailing from TI
advertising and
offerring for sale the TI Programmer, which was a simple 4-function
calculator in that standard black-plastic format they used to use,
replete with the also-standard LEDs. However, it wasn't actually a
four-function calculator, because it included radix conversion and
several standard logical operators.
At home, when I need radix conversion, instead of the Casio Fx-115m or
the Calc accessory, I still reach for the TI Programmer...
The TI "Programmer" (NOT to be confused with "programmable") was one
of
the first basic calculators to offer hexadecimal arithmetic and
hex/decimal conversion. The LED display really ate batteries, and it
could go through a battery discharge in less time than it takes Windoze to
boot. But if you kept it plugged into the wall, it worked great.
Then they came out with a new model of it with LCD display. The batteries
got great life, but the keyboard tended to go before the batteries.
If you like having a calculator that includes hex, one of the really neat
ones is the Casio CFX-40 and CFX-400. It requires good eyes and good
dexterity, since it is a "scientific" calculator in a watch. It's biggest
weakness was a tendency to crack between the display and the keyboard.
I've replaced the case on several.
--
Grumpy Ol' Fred cisin(a)xenosoft.com