nlj2 wrote: ↑Sat Aug 13, 2022 3:22 pm
This image raises a few (superficial) questions about the C43 layout:
1. Why are the letters "N" and "Y" white, while the other letters are grey?
2. Why are COS and TAN underlined in orange and blue (respectively)?
3. It's difficult to know which keys bring up menus because the black background of their labels on the bezel is very hard to see against the very dark grey (brown?) of the rest of the bezel -- more contrast seems called for!
I love these questions which give the opportunity to reflect on prior design decisions of the team:
1. I started doing the bold Y and N on the old WP34C/S bezel stickers and I continued the use thereof on C43. Its intention is to aid the eye in finding the Y/N response button when one of those few: "are you sure y/n" questions are posed by the calculator. Yes, it can be debated whether it skews the otherwise uniform look, but I prefer the certainty of not pressing the wrong Y/N.
2. The underlines on COS and TAN are subtle guides for when the alternative USER mode key layout is used. This layout uses the f/g keys as shown, but since the target DM42 hardware has no coloured keys, these lines on the bezel help the eye locate f and g on DM42 keys.
- Clipboard05a.png (54.49 KiB) Viewed 1529 times
The option "C43 ALT" in the KEYS menu above, pre-selects USER key allocations for [Σ+], [SIN], [COS] and [TAN] as above. [SIN] calls the TRIG menu while [COS] has f and [TAN] has g in similar style to WP43S. [Σ+] changes to a comfortable way to switch USER mode on and off. These allocations are simply normal USER key allocations and can be cancelled or changed as necessary.
3. The images given in my prior post are from the simulators. WP43S has a conscious effort to make their simulator look exactly as the hardware where the simulator on C43 is not picture perfect. I believe the contrast issue that you highlight is due to a simulator colour effect. The C43 contrast is sufficient on the artwork for the metal plate.
3b. The reason for C43 simulator not being picture perfect is that on C43 simulator the bezel and key labels change accordingly when changing to USER mode, where WP43S simulates the real hardware and therefore that is picture perfect and labels therefore do not change in USER mode.
Jaco Mostert
Elec Eng, South Africa
https://47calc.com C47 (s/n 03818 & 06199), WP43 (0015). In box: HP42S, HP32Sii, WP34S&C, HP28C, HP35s, EL-506P, EL-W506, PB700; ex: FX702P, 11C, HP67 & HP85; iOS: 42s Byron,
Free42+, WP31S/34S, HCalc.