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====== HP-12c (ARM variant) First Impressions ======

(This page taken from Katie Wasserman's post on the [[http://www.hpmuseum.org/cgi-sys/cgiwrap/hpmuseum/forum.cgi|HP Museum Forums]], by permission)

Thanks entirely to Charlie Oxford's efforts, I now have a new HP-12C+ to play with.

{{:12c:p1010368.jpg}}

If you like the original 12C you will love this machine.  It's
functionally identical to the original (we know this because it's
emulating the original) but everything runs 60 (sixty) times faster: a
long program (my 70 decimal digits of pi) ran in 90 seconds vs 90
minutes on the original 12C; a long amortization, 1.5 seconds vs 90
seconds, 69 factorial gives you an answer almost before you hit the
key, it's ludicrously fast!  I hope that this blazing speed does not
scar the set-in-their-ways wall street crowd from believing the
calculation results.

Build quality, key clicks and display readability are excellent.  Most
importantly, no missed keystrokes.  The keys themselves use the new,
lower density plastic compared to the original, but this is a very
minor nit to pick.

The only things that are functionally different are the self tests.  The manual has not been updated in this section, so it's wrong in most cases:

- "ON" + "/" runs the sequential key press test but shows 1,2 or 3
segments at a time and does not give "error 9" if you press the keys
in the wrong order.  When the test ends it doesn't show the "12" on
the display just returns you to the X register.

- "ON" + "x" run a self test (I think) for one second and just results
to the x register.

- [ON] + [-] will clear the calculator and show "Pr Error".

- [ON] + [+] will run a continues self test (I think) ending when you
press and hold any key.

Now for the new stuff that I found from playing around:

- [ON] + [g] shows the curious display below but I haven't found anything
that you can do with this yet:

{{:12c:p1010359.jpg}}

- [ON] + [g] + [ENTER} starts a testing menu:

{{:12c:p1010358.jpg}}

1.L - LCD test -- this turns on all the segments.  If you then press
[Rv] it will turn off half of them, press [Rv] again and you'll toggle
the segments on to off and vice versa

2.C - Copyright. First you'll see this:

{{:12c:p1010360.jpg}}

the next key press will give you this:

{{:12c:p1010361.jpg}}

then next you'll see this:

{{:12c:p1010362.jpg}} 

3.H - Extended LCD and key test.  All segments will turn on at first.
hit any key and it will turn off 1 to 3 segments that sort of map to
the position of the keys -- rows and columns.

There are probably other easter eggs in here too, but I have yet to find them.

So, how do you find one of these in the store?  You can see the bottom
edge of the calculator through the packaging, here's what it looks
like:

{{:12c:p1010355.jpg}}

Here's a picture of the back, see how big that batter cover is?

{{:12c:p1010356.jpg}}

And here's what it looks like under the door, I need to get one of
those special SDK cables from HP so I can start playing around with
some alternative firmware.

{{:12c:p1010357.jpg}}

(I'm tempted to pull off the feet and peek at the circuit board, but
I'm going to wait for a bit longer.)

I think they did a great job on this.  Proven technology and
ergonomics updated with modern speed and firmware
replacement/updatability.  I can't wait for the modern 15C (and, dare I
suggest, 16C).  Way to go HP!  Kudos to Eric, Cyrille, Sam, Gene and whoever else
had a hand in this.
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