Hewlett-Packard Voyager series

Last updated

HP-10C
HP-10C programmable calculator.jpg
HP-10C
Type Programmable scientific
Manufacturer Hewlett-Packard
Introduced1982
Discontinued1984
CostUSD 80
Calculator
Entry mode RPN
Display type LCD seven-segment display
Display size10 digits
CPU
Processor HP Nut core (1LF5 [1] )
Programming
Programming language(s) Keystroke programmable (fully merged)
Memory register0…9 registers (R0R9) plus X, Y, Z, T, LAST X [2]
Program steps9…79 lines [2]
Other
Power consumption0.25 mW
HP-11C
Hp11c2.jpg
HP-11C
Type Programmable scientific
Manufacturer Hewlett-Packard
Introduced1981
Discontinued1989
CostUSD 135
Calculator
Entry mode RPN
Display type LCD seven-segment display
Display size10 digits
CPU
Processor HP Nut core (1LF5 / 1LM2 / 1LQ9 [1] )
Programming
Programming language(s) Keystroke programmable (fully merged)
Memory register0…20 registers (R0R9, R.0R.9) plus RI, X, Y, Z, T, LAST X [3]
Program steps63…203 lines [3]
Other
Power consumption0.25 mW

The Hewlett-Packard Voyager series of calculators were introduced by Hewlett-Packard in 1981. [4] All members of this series are programmable, use Reverse Polish Notation, and feature continuous memory. Nearly identical in appearance, each model provided different capabilities and was aimed at different user markets.

Contents

Models

The HP calculators Voyager series consisted of five models, some of which were manufactured in several variants (with years of production):

HP-10C

The HP-10C is the last and lowest-featured calculator in this line, even though its number would suggest an earlier origin. The 10C was a basic scientific programmable calculator. While a useful general purpose RPN calculator, the HP-11C offered twice as much for only a slight increase in price. Designed to be an introductory calculator, it was still costly compared to the competition, and many looking at an HP would just step up to the better HP-11C. Poor sales led to a very short market life, making it one of the most difficult of the series to find today.

HP-11C

The HP-11C is a mid-range scientific programmable calculator.

HP-12C

The HP-12C is a popular financial calculator. It was such a successful model that Hewlett-Packard redesigned it from scratch, [1] added several new functions, and introduced it as the HP 12c Platinum in 2003 as well as the HP 12c Prestige. Over the course of years, several anniversary editions of the calculator were produced as well.

The HP-12C is HP's longest and best-selling product, in continual production since its introduction in 1981. [4]

HP-15C

The HP-15C is a high-end scientific programmable with a root-solver and numerical integration, produced between 1982 and 1989. It is also able to handle complex numbers and matrix operations. Although long being discontinued its continued popularity among users triggered Hewlett-Packard to offer a HP 15c Limited Edition remake of the calculator in 2011 and a HP 15C Collector's Edition in 2023.

HP-16C

The HP-16C is a computer programmer's calculator, designed to assist in debugging. It can display numbers in hexadecimal, decimal, octal and binary, and convert numbers from one base to another. A number of specialized functions are provided to assist the programmer, including left- and right-shifting, masking, and bitwise logical operations. HP has (as of 2015) never made another programmer's calculator, but has incorporated the 16C's functions in later calculator models.

The HP-16C was dedicated for the needs of computer programmers. For this purpose, it was able to display, compute, manipulate and convert numbers in or between different numeral systems relevant for programming - additionally to the standard decimal system also binary, octal and hexadecimal (as in the image, indicated by the "h"). Hewlett-Packard Model HP-16C Programmable RPN Calculator, HP's First and Only Calculator esp. for Programmers, built 1982-1989 (edited to rectangular, V2).jpg
The HP-16C was dedicated for the needs of computer programmers. For this purpose, it was able to display, compute, manipulate and convert numbers in or between different numeral systems relevant for programming - additionally to the standard decimal system also binary, octal and hexadecimal (as in the image, indicated by the "h").

Features

Arithmetic

Hewlett-Packard retained the numerical analyst William Kahan of UC Berkeley, the architect of the IEEE 754 standard for floating-point arithmetic, to design the numerical algorithms implemented by the calculators. [5] [6] He also wrote parts of the manuals.

Programming

The HP Voyager series calculator are keystroke programmable, meaning that it can remember and later execute sequences of keystrokes to solve particular problems of interest to the user. These keystroke programs, in addition to performing any operation normally available on the keyboard, can also make use of conditional and unconditional branching and looping instructions, allowing programs to perform repetitive operations and make decisions.

The available programming features differentiate between the various HP Voyager series calculator systems.

Function HP-10C HP-11C HP-12C HP-15C HP-16C
BSP / ← [F 1] NoYesNoYesYes
LBL [F 2] NoYesNoYesYes
GSB/RTN [F 3] NoYesNoYesYes
x≤y, x=0YesYesYesYesYes
x=y, x≠yNoYesNoYes [F 4] Yes
x<0, x≠0, x>y, x>0NoYesNoYes [F 4] Yes
x>0, x≤0, x≥y, x≥0NoNoNoYes [F 4] No
DSE, ISG [F 5] NoYesNoYesNo
DSZ, ISZ [F 5] NoNoNoNoYes
SF, CF, F?NoYesNoYesYes
I (I) [F 6] NoYesNoYesYes
  1. Without BSP (backspace) programs can only be edited by overwriting existing steps.
  2. Without LBL (Label) goto commands can reference only absolute program steps.
  3. Without GSB (Go Subroutine) / RTN (Return from Subroutine) one cannot write subroutines.
  4. 1 2 3 Available via the gTEST n (indirect) function
  5. 1 2 Without DSZ/DSE (Decrement and Skip) and ISZ/ISG (Increment and Skip) writing loops is difficult.
  6. Without indirect addressing only the first 20 (0…19) register can be accessed. Also the programming model is not turing complete.

Legacy

The HP-12C and its derivatives remains in widespread use today and is still available from Hewlett-Packard. The long-discontinued HP-15C was re-released in a "Limited Edition" in 2011 that has again been discontinued. A Collector's Edition was released in 2023.

Emulators

Official emulators for the 12C and 15C are commercially available from Hewlett-Packard for Android [7] and iOS [8] devices.

Clones

In 2011, the continued popularity of the Voyager series among users prompted SwissMicros (originally called RPN-Calc) to produce a series of credit-card-sized calculators looking like miniature versions of their HP equivalents and running the original HP firmware in an emulator on a modern calculator hardware. The series consisted of the DM10,DM11, DM12 , DM15 and DM16 . [9] All calculators used the same hardware, but differ in keyboard and firmware (which can be changed with an upgrade port). After the introduction of the larger DM15L , DM41L and DM16L in 2015, the DM11L was added in January 2016 with the DM12L following in February. A limited production run for a DM10L was planned for 2019. [10] [11]

See also

Related Research Articles

Reverse Polish notation (RPN), also known as reverse Łukasiewicz notation, Polish postfix notation or simply postfix notation, is a mathematical notation in which operators follow their operands, in contrast to prefix or Polish notation (PN), in which operators precede their operands. The notation does not need any parentheses for as long as each operator has a fixed number of operands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">William Kahan</span> Canadian mathematician and computer scientist

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">HP 33s</span>

The HP 33s (F2216A) was a scientific calculator marketed by Hewlett-Packard. It was introduced in 2003 as the successor to the HP 32SII, and discontinued on the introduction of its successor the HP 35s in 2007.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">HP-41C</span> Hewlett-Packard handheld RPN calculator

The HP-41C series are programmable, expandable, continuous memory handheld RPN calculators made by Hewlett-Packard from 1979 to 1990. The original model, HP-41C, was the first of its kind to offer alphanumeric display capabilities. Later came the HP-41CV and HP-41CX, offering more memory and functionality.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">HP-42S</span>

The HP-42S RPN Scientific is a programmable RPN Scientific hand held calculator introduced by Hewlett-Packard in 1988. It has advanced functions suitable for applications in mathematics, linear algebra, statistical analysis, computer science and others.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">HP-27S</span>

The HP-27S was a pocket calculator produced by Hewlett-Packard, introduced in 1988, and discontinued between 1990 and 1993. It was the first HP scientific calculator to use algebraic entry instead of RPN, and though it was labelled scientific, it also included features associated with specialized business calculators.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">HP-12C</span> Financial calculator made by Hewlett-Packard

The HP-12C is a financial calculator made by Hewlett-Packard (HP) and its successor HP Inc. as part of the HP Voyager series, introduced in 1981. It is HP's longest and best-selling product and is considered the de facto standard among financial professionals. There have been multiple revisions over the years, with newer revisions moving to an ARM processor running a software emulator of the original Nut processor. Critics claim that its 1980s technology is antiquated, but proponents point out that it is still the de facto and de jure in high finance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">HP calculators</span> Calculator product line by Hewlett-Packard

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">HP-25</span>

The HP-25 was a hand-held programmable scientific/engineering calculator made by Hewlett-Packard between early January 1975 and 1978. The HP-25 was introduced as a cheaper alternative to the ground-breaking HP-65.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">HP-15C</span> Programmable scientific calculator produce by Hewlett-Packard

The HP-15C is a high-end scientific programmable calculator of Hewlett-Packard's Voyager series produced between 1982 and 1989.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">HP-16C</span> Programmable calculator produce by Hewlett-Packard

The HP-16C Computer Scientist is a programmable pocket calculator that was produced by Hewlett-Packard between 1982 and 1989. It was specifically designed for use by computer programmers, to assist in debugging. It is a member of the HP Voyager series of programmable calculators. It was the only programmer's calculator ever produced by HP, though many later HP calculators have incorporated most of the 16C's functions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">HP-28 series</span> Series of graphing calculators produced by Hewlett-Packard

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The term continuous memory was coined by Hewlett-Packard (HP) to describe a unique feature of certain HP calculators whereby the calculator could internally sustain most, or in later models - all, of the contents of user memory. Since its introduction on the HP-25C, this feature slowly evolved by model to eventually mean maintaining the contents of nearly all calculator memory, including system and scratch RAM, options, settings, flags, and other calculator state information.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">HP-34C</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">HP 35s</span> Programmable scientific calculator produced by Hewlett-Packard

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HP-10 or variant, may refer to:

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">HP 30 series</span>

The HP-30 or Spice series are RPN Scientific hand held calculators introduced by Hewlett-Packard in 1978. Some models are a programmable.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Smith, Eric (2009-07-28). "HP Voyager Calculator Variants" . Retrieved 2015-11-20.
  2. 1 2 Hewlett-Packard HP-10C Owner's Handbook (PDF) (1 ed.). Corvallis, Oregon, USA: Hewlett-Packard Company, Corvallis Division. February 1982. HP part-number 00010-90025. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2015-10-05.
  3. 1 2 Hewlett-Packard HP-11C Owner's Handbook and Problem-Solving Guide (PDF) (G ed.). Corvallis, Oregon, USA: Hewlett-Packard Company, Corvallis Division. November 1985. HP part-number 00011-90001. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2015-10-05.
  4. 1 2 Furr, Richard (2003-01-22). "HP Calculators by Date of Introduction". The Calculator Reference.
  5. Kahan, William Morton (December 1979). "Personal Calculator Has Key to Solve Any Equation f(x) = 0" (PDF). Hewlett-Packard Journal . 30 (12): 20, 26. Retrieved 2008-11-14.
  6. Kahan, William Morton (August 1980). "Handheld Calculator Evaluates Integrals" (PDF). Hewlett-Packard Journal . 31 (8): 23, 32. Retrieved 2008-11-14.
  7. "Hewlett-Packard ships official HP 15c app for Android | Hacker News".
  8. "HP reincarnates calculators on iPhone, Windows".
  9. "SwissMicros.com" . Retrieved 2013-06-29.
  10. "Attention collectors! - Page 7 - SwissMicros Calculator Forum".
  11. "[DM10L] Coming soon! - SwissMicros Calculator Forum".

Further reading