DM42 : What a beauty !
Posted: Fri Sep 28, 2018 4:54 pm
Ordered on Friday and received on...Monday ! in a tiny discrete package. So very fast "logistic" even if Lyon is not so far
So, what can I say ? Many comments have already been spraid.
On my side, pros are :
- Very nice shape with very nice pouch. The calc is inserted/removed without any force at the opposite of the hp42s and seems more durable
- Feels heavy and strong with metal housing
- The general black aspect (case+layer background+most of the screen saver pictures) give a global quality and serious aspect (same spirit as could be RC models, even if it seems difficult to make DM42 flying )
- Beautifull screen, no need of contrast adjusting, allowing "HiRes" graphics handled by programs and ALSO a "screensaver"
- Up to 10 lines of program display or XYZT stack + running window of original hp42 above (on top screen)
- The extra keys used directly for menus OR used as Fn functions (F1=help,...F6=Zoom In/Out)
- Extended Alpha mode by entering letters directly from each key (like on the 41) instead of using the screen menus
- Large amount of memory (6MB) for all programs' storage and more than 10 times more memory for programs (hp42 is around 6K bytes)
- Much more faster than the original (I had some moving graphics programs, no time to see the move now, when you run, it is already ended !)
- USB connection to PC to downlad/upload programs, screenshots, firmware..
- Other things certainly but I stop here
Now, some improvements that could be done (expressed as constructive remarks as this calc is almost perfect):
- Some keys labellings could be improved as x<>y, +/-, SQRT(x) with a slightly bigger font size
- Keys' surface is not flat but concave
- Keys' bounce a little bit hard (this said, we have the clic, but louder sound compared to hp)
Some ideas :
- Blue color for the "ALPHA" label above the ENTER key and blue color for all the letters/symbols placed on the keys' bottom right (so we would have a mix between 41 and 42, interesting...)
- Not sure but : add yellow labels above the top keys like "Help Menu Vol Format Zoom"
- A port expander using the mini USB port (that should be duplicated, as the IR led for the printer). To keep a slim shape, could be 2 ports allowing to use hp41 modules (yes they would need to be enhanced). Will try to make a 3D drawing
To conclude :
I am using hp calcs for 35 years (35/67/41CV/CX/15C/42S) and I can say we have here the sum of all that these different models have brought in terms of functions, ergonomy, display, memory and speed. Some cosmetics add-ons and a retro-compatibility with hp41 modules -I know it is not a DM41, but...- that I list in "Some ideas" would make it the perfect one !
Note that I put away the graphing calculators that are in a separate category, more school oriented with a lot of dedicated input windows, maybe not specifically RPN and are of a bigger size also. You can always program graph plots on the 42 by the way.
So, what can I say ? Many comments have already been spraid.
On my side, pros are :
- Very nice shape with very nice pouch. The calc is inserted/removed without any force at the opposite of the hp42s and seems more durable
- Feels heavy and strong with metal housing
- The general black aspect (case+layer background+most of the screen saver pictures) give a global quality and serious aspect (same spirit as could be RC models, even if it seems difficult to make DM42 flying )
- Beautifull screen, no need of contrast adjusting, allowing "HiRes" graphics handled by programs and ALSO a "screensaver"
- Up to 10 lines of program display or XYZT stack + running window of original hp42 above (on top screen)
- The extra keys used directly for menus OR used as Fn functions (F1=help,...F6=Zoom In/Out)
- Extended Alpha mode by entering letters directly from each key (like on the 41) instead of using the screen menus
- Large amount of memory (6MB) for all programs' storage and more than 10 times more memory for programs (hp42 is around 6K bytes)
- Much more faster than the original (I had some moving graphics programs, no time to see the move now, when you run, it is already ended !)
- USB connection to PC to downlad/upload programs, screenshots, firmware..
- Other things certainly but I stop here
Now, some improvements that could be done (expressed as constructive remarks as this calc is almost perfect):
- Some keys labellings could be improved as x<>y, +/-, SQRT(x) with a slightly bigger font size
- Keys' surface is not flat but concave
- Keys' bounce a little bit hard (this said, we have the clic, but louder sound compared to hp)
Some ideas :
- Blue color for the "ALPHA" label above the ENTER key and blue color for all the letters/symbols placed on the keys' bottom right (so we would have a mix between 41 and 42, interesting...)
- Not sure but : add yellow labels above the top keys like "Help Menu Vol Format Zoom"
- A port expander using the mini USB port (that should be duplicated, as the IR led for the printer). To keep a slim shape, could be 2 ports allowing to use hp41 modules (yes they would need to be enhanced). Will try to make a 3D drawing
To conclude :
I am using hp calcs for 35 years (35/67/41CV/CX/15C/42S) and I can say we have here the sum of all that these different models have brought in terms of functions, ergonomy, display, memory and speed. Some cosmetics add-ons and a retro-compatibility with hp41 modules -I know it is not a DM41, but...- that I list in "Some ideas" would make it the perfect one !
Note that I put away the graphing calculators that are in a separate category, more school oriented with a lot of dedicated input windows, maybe not specifically RPN and are of a bigger size also. You can always program graph plots on the 42 by the way.