| Brand: | Hewlett Packard |
| Model: | HP 41CX |
| Type: | Alphanumeric programmable scientific calculator |
| Batteries: | Type N x 3 |
| Lifetime: |
Introduced: 1983 Terminated: 1990 |
| Notes: |
This must be the top-of-the-bill calculator design of all time.
It's the successor to the HP 67. Even today this calculator is still
totally up-to-date and usable. It's my all-time favourite of
calculators. I even wanted to have "HP-41-CX" as my car
registration number, but the problem was they don't use the letter
C. And even if they did, it would have to be a very old car :-)
The HP 41C (which was introduced in 1979) was probably the first alphanumeric handheld calculator ever. It was far before dot-matrix LCD's existed, and it uses a clever display using segments. The HP 41CX has a built-in clock module which was optional for other HP 41 types. It has constant memory and has four extension possibilities. The case is wonderful and, well, only HP could build them like this. Programming this calculator is more difficult than necessary however (at least compared to more modern programmable calculators, but at the time the programming of the 41 was a huge step forward). It's therefore not my favourite of programmable calculators (that is the Casio fx-602p if you want to know). The HP 41 series calculators have had a very long lifetime. The range of peripherals is also amazing. Including floppy drives and video cards! There's some information on the HP 41CX on HP's official website: http://www.hp.com/hpinfo/abouthp/histnfacts/museum/personalsystems/0043/index.html (link valid 2006-10-29). For more information on this beauty please refer to the better sources, like The Museum of HP Calculators (link valid 2006-10-29). |
| Picture: |
|
©2009 Ernst Mulder