Which HP-48 is Best ?

[breyfogle]

If someone wanted to buy an HP-48GX, would it be better to buy an older used
example or new old stock from the tail end of HP's last production run ?
Relative price is not a consideration. There appears to be several
retailers that still sell "new" 48GX's. Is it true that the last 48GX's
were assembled in China and were not generally considered to be up to HP
quality standards ? On the other hand, are there any particular production
runs of older 48GX's that are considered better than others with regards to
production quality, ROM versions, keyboard etc. ?

[Veli-Pekka Nousiainen]

Post by breyfogle
If someone wanted to buy an HP-48GX, would it be better to buy an older used
example or new old stock from the tail end of HP's last production run ?
Relative price is not a consideration. There appears to be several
retailers that still sell "new" 48GX's. Is it true that the last 48GX's
were assembled in China and were not generally considered to be up to HP
quality standards ? On the other hand, are there any particular production
runs of older 48GX's that are considered better than others with regards to
production quality, ROM versions, keyboard etc. ?

1) New China 48G series: Black high contrast LCD, silk-screened key labels
2) Older 48G series: Bluish good contrast LCD, silk screened key labels
3) Even older 48G series: Bluish good contrast keys, injection molded keys
A) Latest ROM R
B) Older ROM, more bugs
Be aware of older ROMs if you are hunting for the injection molded keys...
It's up to you, but I'll still take the Chinese model because of the best
LCD!
VPN
PS: 48S series: light grey mediorate contrast LCD, injection molded keys

[breyfogle]

If someone wanted by purchase a used 48SX (or older 48GX for that matter ),
is there any way to tell which ROM version is installed ? Google has not
found any information on ROM versions for specific ranges of serial numbers
or build dates.

Post by breyfogle

Post by breyfogle
If someone wanted to buy an HP-48GX, would it be better to buy an older

used

Post by breyfogle
example or new old stock from the tail end of HP's last production run ?
Relative price is not a consideration. There appears to be several
retailers that still sell "new" 48GX's. Is it true that the last 48GX's
were assembled in China and were not generally considered to be up to HP
quality standards ? On the other hand, are there any particular

production

Post by breyfogle
runs of older 48GX's that are considered better than others with regards

to

Post by breyfogle
production quality, ROM versions, keyboard etc. ?

1) New China 48G series: Black high contrast LCD, silk-screened key labels
2) Older 48G series: Bluish good contrast LCD, silk screened key labels
3) Even older 48G series: Bluish good contrast keys, injection molded keys
A) Latest ROM R
B) Older ROM, more bugs
Be aware of older ROMs if you are hunting for the injection molded keys...
It's up to you, but I'll still take the Chinese model because of the best
LCD!
VPN
PS: 48S series: light grey mediorate contrast LCD, injection molded keys

[Rick Nungester]

Post by breyfogle
If someone wanted by purchase a used 48SX (or older 48GX for that matter ),
is there any way to tell which ROM version is installed ? Google has not
found any information on ROM versions for specific ranges of serial numbers
or build dates.

If you can get access to the calculator:

- With the 48SX on, press ON+D together and relase both.
- Press and release <backspace>.
- Press and release EVAL.
- See, for example (my 48SX):

Version HP48-J
Copyright HP 1989

- Press ON+C together and release both for normal operation.

Rick



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[R. Geoffrey Newbury]

That key sequence does not work with a 48-GX... Any idea what does?

Geoff


On Fri, 29 Aug 2003 03:22:36 UTC, "Rick Nungester"

Post by Rick Nungester

Post by breyfogle
If someone wanted by purchase a used 48SX (or older 48GX for that matter ),
is there any way to tell which ROM version is installed ? Google has not
found any information on ROM versions for specific ranges of serial numbers
or build dates.

- With the 48SX on, press ON+D together and relase both.
- Press and release <backspace>.
- Press and release EVAL.
Version HP48-J
Copyright HP 1989
- Press ON+C together and release both for normal operation.
Rick
-----= Posted via Newsfeeds.Com, Uncensored Usenet News =-----
http://www.newsfeeds.com - The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World!
-----== Over 100,000 Newsgroups - 19 Different Servers! =-----

[Matthew F Funke]

Post by R. Geoffrey Newbury
That key sequence does not work with a 48-GX... Any idea what does?

Type in VERSION and hit <ENTER>. (To the best of my knowledge, the
command does not appear in any of the menus, so you have to type it in.)
When I do so, my calculator puts the following on the two bottom levels of
the stack:

"Version HP48-P"
"Copyright HP 1993"

Thus, I'm running ROM version P -- which isn't as up to date as "R"
(which, AFAIK, was the latest... and there *was* no ROM version Q).
--
-- With Best Regards,
Matthew Funke (***@hopper.unh.edu)

[Steve]

I was wondering, what seperates the quality between the Indonesian and Chinese models?

I would stay away from these Chinese units.

Maybe you would like to know that HP went away from the Indonesian
manufacturer because the quality was not as good as its Chinese one..
Jean-Yves

[TCS]

I would stay away from these Chinese units.

Maybe you would like to know that HP went away from the Indonesian
manufacturer because the quality was not as good as its Chinese one..

China's a big country. The quality depends on which prison labor camp
is employed.

[Jean-Yves Avenard]

On 27/8/03 8:11, in article

Post by TCS
China's a big country. The quality depends on which prison labor camp
is employed.

That's a lot of talk without any actual knowledge of what's happening there,
and rather insulting for Chinese people.

Over the past few months I've been dealing a lot with various Chinese
companies and I found them to be very professional and *occidental* really.

Jean-Yves

[qwerty]

Post by Jean-Yves Avenard
On 27/8/03 8:11, in article

Post by TCS
China's a big country. The quality depends on which prison labor camp
is employed.

That's a lot of talk without any actual knowledge of what's happening there,
and rather insulting for Chinese people.
Over the past few months I've been dealing a lot with various Chinese
companies and I found them to be very professional and *occidental* really.
Jean-Yves

What about Human Rights?

[J.Manrique Lopez de la Fuente]

Post by qwerty

Post by Jean-Yves Avenard
On 27/8/03 8:11, in article

Post by TCS
China's a big country. The quality depends on which prison labor
camp is employed.

That's a lot of talk without any actual knowledge of what's happening
there, and rather insulting for Chinese people.
Over the past few months I've been dealing a lot with various Chinese
companies and I found them to be very professional and *occidental* really.
Jean-Yves

What about Human Rights?

Human Rights? I am not sure since I haven't been there, but maybe local
Chinesse companies respect Human Rights more than other multinational
companies that have production there.

---
J.Manrique López de la Fuente
Users Club from Gijón
1077 HPCC Member
AsturLiNUX & HispaLiNUX Member

[TCS]

Post by Jean-Yves Avenard
On 27/8/03 8:11, in article

Post by TCS
China's a big country. The quality depends on which prison labor camp
is employed.

That's a lot of talk without any actual knowledge of what's happening there,
and rather insulting for Chinese people.

try doing a google search for "chinese prison labor"

[R. Sun]

Post by TCS
China's a big country. The quality depends on which prison labor camp
is employed.

Allegations without facts are rumors, not mention that some people are
intentionary evilizing China. Do you know many people got killed each
year by guns that are out of control in the US, do you dare to walk in
any downtown at late night in any big cities in the US. What are the
human rights of those citizens who want to live a normal life. Human
rights not only just about porn stars can participate in the election
of governor (california), but also about food, clothing and shelter.
China feed 25% of world's population with only 7% cultivated land.
China is not perfact, and a lot need to be done to improve its human
rights, but tell me who in this world is perfact. China is catching up
become the 6th largest economy in the world, you can not explain that
was build by prisoners.

By the way, I am the proud owner of HP 49g which was made in China. I
never have any problems with it for 3 years.

[Joshua J. Belsky]

Post by R. Sun

Post by TCS
China's a big country. The quality depends on which prison labor camp
is employed.

Allegations without facts are rumors, not mention that some people are

<tons of factless allegations snipped>

I assume you're trying to be ironic! :)