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Landscape DM42?

Posted: Wed Jan 17, 2018 11:58 pm
by keithdalby
It's been a few weeks since I last mentioned it, so it's about due. Sorry for being repetitive and bothersome, but...

... I really would love to own a landscape DM42. DM41 style, voyager style, with the keys shaped like those on the DM42, two-stack display, pure beauty.

I know I know, most people don't want a landscape DM42 but I'd pay good money for one. How I dream.

Re: Landscape DM42?

Posted: Thu Jan 18, 2018 8:35 am
by akaTB
The world is too small to bear another such abomination :!:

Re: Landscape DM42?

Posted: Thu Jan 18, 2018 2:00 pm
by toml_12953
akaTB wrote:
Thu Jan 18, 2018 8:35 am
The world is too small to bear another such abomination :!:
Now, now. The people who prefer landscape format are to be pitied, not criticized! ;)

Re: Landscape DM42?

Posted: Thu Jan 18, 2018 5:10 pm
by grsbanks
A "DM42L" is not ruled out.

It's not even on the drawing board yet so the answer to your next question is "not yet" :)

Re: Landscape DM42?

Posted: Thu Jan 18, 2018 5:28 pm
by H2X
grsbanks wrote:
Thu Jan 18, 2018 5:10 pm
A "DM42L" is not ruled out.

It's not even on the drawing board yet so the answer to your next question is "not yet" :)
Well, if it's just a drawing you need I am sure that can be arranged... :lol:

Re: Landscape DM42?

Posted: Thu Jan 18, 2018 5:35 pm
by keithdalby
grsbanks wrote:
Thu Jan 18, 2018 5:10 pm
A "DM42L" is not ruled out.
I'll keep saving up my pocket money then :). Thanks grsbanks.

Re: Landscape DM42?

Posted: Thu Jan 18, 2018 6:36 pm
by Walter
H2X wrote:
Thu Jan 18, 2018 5:28 pm
grsbanks wrote:
Thu Jan 18, 2018 5:10 pm
A "DM42L" is not ruled out.

It's not even on the drawing board yet so the answer to your next question is "not yet" :)
Well, if it's just a drawing you need I am sure that can be arranged... :lol:
Yes in principle -- but our design department is busy with the 43S. :P

Re: Landscape DM42?

Posted: Fri Jan 19, 2018 6:44 am
by Krauts In Space
keithdalby wrote:
Thu Jan 18, 2018 5:35 pm
grsbanks wrote:
Thu Jan 18, 2018 5:10 pm
A "DM42L" is not ruled out.
I'll keep saving up my pocket money then :). Thanks grsbanks.
It's as easy as that:
  • Turn your DM42 90° counterclockwise
  • Open it and turn your display 90° clockwise
  • Do so with all keys (if possible, see Enter-key)
  • Put masking tape over all front plate printings and label it upright by hand (or live with that)
See? In one-two-three you will have your 42L, reflecting your personality. ;)

Re: Landscape DM42?

Posted: Fri Jan 19, 2018 10:05 am
by H2X
Krauts In Space wrote:
Fri Jan 19, 2018 6:44 am
See? In one-two-three you will have your 42L, reflecting your personality. ;)
I'd say there are many ways to reflect one's personality... :?

Re: Landscape DM42?

Posted: Sun Jan 21, 2018 4:56 pm
by keithdalby
If this line of ponderings is annoying anyone, I am sorry, please do ignore me.

Back in February 2016 Michael posted a video of a landscape DM42L prototype. He commented on the video stating that the screen on the prototype was the same resolution as the screen on the original HP-42s. The prototype ran Free42. From what I could gather, the biggest challenge was the positioning of the soft menu keys. I believe (based on what I've read) that the alignment of the soft keys was the main motivation for moving to a portrait model; however, I also recall Michael saying that reallocating/binding the keys was a straightforward matter.

So, it seems to me that the DM42L already exists in some state, albeit without the beta testing having taken place and the bugs ironed out.

My personal opinion is that the soft keys being allocated from left-to-right like this (below) would work fine:

XEQ, SQRT, LOG, LN, 1/X, E

Another personal opinion of mine is that trying to have different alpha input methods is perhaps unnecessary for a workhorse calculator such as this. The DM42L would have fewer customisable options, for sure, but that would not be a drawback in my opinion.

So, with that in mind, I guess I'm just trying to decide whether to splash out on a DM41L to tide me over or hang on for the DM42L which may or may not appear in the future - a model that, it appears to me, already exists (well, at least one unit does). I'm not made of money, so buying both might not be an option.

The landscape DM42L would be my dream calculator. I'd be forever using my DM41L and wishing it were a DM42L, I reckon.

I wonder if non-loser folk have similar dilemmas about things they care about, like shoes or soccerball teams or what version of the Dune film to watch. I'm so far removed from the non-loser people, I don't even know what dilemmas they might have!