HP Prime Firmware Roadmap?

[Brando753]

I recently purchased an HP Prime calculator and have been rather disapointed with it. When I purchased it, I saw it say it had RPN which was a big decision in getting it, however being unable to get RPN to work in CAS I looked online and found that feature was not implemented, however it was implied that it may soon be implemented. Does anyone know if the RPN entry for the CAS system is actually being worked on or planned to being worked on? Its two years since this calcluators release and the RPN is still glued in like an after thought. I really want to like this thing, its really fast, working with graphs are amazing compared to any other calculator I have owned (TI84, TI89, HP50G) but the entry system for the CAS seems completly segmented from this calcluator. I have also encountered other bugs and was wondering if there is a public roadmap on whats planned? 

[Maké]

Hi!, Brando753:

Welcome, to Forum !.

The HP PRIME, is not equal, to HP49G, HP48GX, HP48G+, HP48G, HP48SX, HP34S, HP28S, HP28C, etc ..., for apply, RPN and RPL (Reverse Polish Lisp) of HP49G+ and HP50G. 

This calculator of 5° generation, has been invented, for use, in education classroom and exam, in laboratories, but only in 2D (today), etc. You must not compare, with the previous version's. 

CAS mode on the HP Prime is roughly equivalent, to exact mode, on the HP 50g.  If you want "exact integers" (more than 12 digits long) on the 50g, you must be in exact mode, and if you want them on the Prime, you must be in CAS mode.  Unfortunately, Prime's CAS mode does not currently support RPN entry, only Textbook and Algebraic entry.

Yo can see, this link ... https://www.google.com.ar/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=http://h30434.www3.hp.com/psg/attachments/ps...

Too ... http://www.hpprime.de/en/category/17-educational-materials  

Note: If you needed actualize ultimate Firmware, you can download and install, from ... ftp://ftp.hp.com/pub/calculators/

Other: If you speak Spanish Language, you can know how operate RPN, in HP PRIME, from this video ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TwYjR4T8MSg

[Brando753]

I am unsure why we should not compare this HP graphing calculator to the previous HP graphing calculators, if anything that seems to be the fairest comparison one can do, no? It lets us see if the new model has improved upon previous ones. It sounds like from this reply however that the HP prime is just not ment to be used as a serious calculator and is targeted soley for students? At the end of the day the question still remains, are the issues of the segregated CAS and home screens going to have uniform entry (RPN) in the future and is there a roadmap for bugs being fixed? Neither of these where really answered in you reply Maké.

[Maké]

Hi!, Brando753:

Apparently, you haven't understood, which is, the HP PRIME GRAPHING CALCULATOR.

This is, a microcomputer of 5° generation (too, call calculator) and not is equal, what the previous model's.

Is a new concept, of HP Invent, thing, to future, (HPPL, Xcas/Giac-based, OTG, etc ...).

For, XCas ... https://www-fourier.ujf-grenoble.fr/~parisse/giac/cascmd_fr.pdf and ... https://www-fourier.ujf-grenoble.fr/~parisse/giac/troussesurvie_en.pdf

Here, the differences ... https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_HP_graphing_calculators

https://www.educalc.net/2336473.page

http://h20195.www2.hp.com/V2/GetPDF.aspx/4AA5-4132ENW.pdf

http://www8.hp.com/us/en/campaigns/prime-graphing-calculator/loaner/overview.html

http://www.hpprime.de/en/category/5-hp-prime

 

Note: IMHO, the HP PRIME GRAPHING CALCULATOR (G8X92AA model), is today, the best, around the worldwide. 

[Joe_Horn]

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@Brando753 wrote:

... At the end of the day the question still remains, are the issues of the segregated CAS and home screens going to have uniform entry (RPN) in the future and is there a roadmap for bugs being fixed? Neither of these where really answered in you reply Maké.

---

The following will not satisfy you at all, but I think it's the most apt reply.  Due to HP policy, the people who know the answers to your questions are not allowed to answer them, at least not in a public forum like this.  At the HHC conferences, HP employees have often responded to questions about future products with the famous "HP Stare"... not even a hint of emotion.  Admirable self-control.  And maddening silence.  It's corporate policy.  Sorry!

Some non-HP people have signed legally binding non-disclosure agreements with HP, and are now in the know about some of HP's future plans, but obviously they ain't talking either.

Disclaimer: I do not work for HP, and never have. But I've been very active in the HP calculator user community since 1976 and can vouch for the validity of the above.

EDIT: All that being said, I think it's safe to say that HP's unbroken record of releasing periodic updates to the HP Prime firmware is sufficient evidence that they have an ongoing commitment to fix bugs and add features.

[JDW_]

It's now the end of June 2016.  Have any firmware updates improved RPN versus the original 2013 edition hardware/firmware?

I myself am an EE who has used the same HP-28S since engineering school.  Now 26 years later, my 28S is still serving me well.  I never was attracted to the 48 or 50 simply because all the extra keys on my model make it a breeze to use.  Furthermore, I love the shape and feel of the 28S keys, which is why I find the Prime rather appealing.  The only thing stopping me from buying the Prime is what I've read about RPN being only partly implemented.  Again, there has been a hardware revision and firmware updates since the 2013 release of the Prime.  Is RPN different today or is it the same?

Not to get too off topic but I have 2 more related questions...

I have no means to connect my 28S to a computer for backup.  I've lost code numerous times through the years only because I couldn't change the batteries and get the silly battery door closed before the backup capacitor ran dry.  If I buy the Prime, can I backup the data?  If so, how?

I also see there's an iOS app that seems to be a clone of the Prime.  Is it operationally the same as the hardware calculator, just faster running on the faster processors of iOS devices?  Other than the presence of physical keys, are there advantages of the hardware calculator over the iOS app edition?

Thanks.

[Maké]

Hi!, @JDW_:

Welcome, to Forum !.:smileyhappy:

For battery cap, of your HP28S, you can solution, if adapt one, from ... http://www.mpshp.com/hp28s/

You can use HP28S emulator, for store your data, or programs, from ... http://hp.giesselink.com/Emu42/EMU42.HTM

You can back up, the data or, programs, of HP PRIME calculator, to PC and viceversa, across, the connectivity kit and virtual calculator, installed in PC, notebook, etc ..., for Windows.

For OS. in MAC, only have emulator. Didn't have, connectivity kit.

[JDW_]

Thank you for the information.

You did not comment on RPN on the Prime though. I would be grateful if you or other informed Prime users could please re-read my previous post and then comment specifically on RPN improvements, if any, that have appared in the Prime firmware updates to date.

If there has been no progress at all made on RPN support in the last 3 years, logic dictates HP probably won't improve it in the future. Even so, I would appreciate detailed comments on that subject from my fellow RPN lovers.

I would also like to hear detailed thoughts on the iOS app version of Prime, versus the actual physical calculator.  Again, please re-read my previous post for details on the exact information I seek.

As to the emulator, that web page makes no mention of how to extract the required ROMs and therefore it wouldn't be of use to me. And even if I had the ROMs and therefore could use the emulator, that still would not help me transfer programs to my physical HP-28S or backup data resident on it. The only benefit I therefore see to such an emulator is that you could TEST programs on it before manually keying them in on the actual calculator device.  By the way, my 28S battery door still works.  In my previous post, I was saying that the TIME required to open that door, remove the batteries and then close the door is often longer than the 90 seconds or so you have before the memory capacitor drains and your custom programs are wiped.

I still think the 28S is the best HP calculator ever BECAUSE of the dual keyboards.  It's faster and easier than multiple function keys triggering numerous actions on the same key only because you have limited keys.  When I saw the HP-48 guys in college I just laughed.  They had some better features and performance, but I had the productivity enhancing dual key pads!  The 28S is also very thin and light, much thinner than the HP-48 when you fold it out.  And although the Prime has limited keys too, it has a touchscreen that perhaps could make the transition from the 28S easier for me.  But the final decision will all depend on the feedback you kind folks can give me on the RPN question.

Thank you.

[Maké]

Hi!, @JDW:

The HP PRIME GRAPHING CALCULATOR, for RPN, is not equal, for operator, what other RPN calculator (50G/49G/48G-G+- and GX/48S-SX/75C/28S-S/41C-CV-CX/67/97, etc ...).

You can see, the examples, from ... 

RPN Mode Tutorial: Advanced Functions - YouTube

App. YouTube

And too ... https://youtu.be/_eHXyGm9sEE

For transfer HP-28 to HP48 way IR and HP82240B Infrared printer ... https://groups.google.com/forum/m/#!topic/comp.sys.hp48/2Wt2QHcfXXk

[Brando753]

Hey JDW_,

To my knowledge the RPN support has not improved since I last posted on this forum. There was a recent firmware updgrade I have not yet implemented but looking at the list of improvements I dont see anything about RPN reaching CAS. You can find a copy of the release info here http://forum.hp-prime.de/showthread.php?tid=96.

JDW_ my advise to you would be if your looking for a good RPN calculator, pass on the HP Prime, its slick, slim, and fast but its really been designed for high school and college classroom use only. Outside of the one class I forced myself to use it for I have not touched my HP prime since. Its a real shame because it has so much potential, with such a fast processor and really well designed graphing, but alas it seems HP is not interested in really capturing the RPN market anymore. My recommendation if your looking for a RPN graphing calculator is to get an HP 50G they will soon be gone but right now can be had for  $50~70 on Amazon brand new. It does not have the keyboard you want but I find it a very powerful graphing calculator.

If your just looking for a replacement to your HP 28S scientific calculator there are two options, the HP 35S which is small and light but does have several problems, you can read about them online. (Honestly unless your 28S is at end of life you would probably be happier with the 28S.) The other option is a third party calculator based upon the old HP calculator designs, swiss micro makes high quality replicas, though if you get one from them make sure to get a large (designated with an 'L')  they can be found here: https://www.swissmicros.com/. I have two of their calculators the DM15L and DM16L as well as an original HP 15C to compare them with and can vouch for their quality.

My understanding of the IOS app is that it emulates the calculator ROM but I cannot confirm that. Either way it will give you a good feel for that calcualtor to see its potentials and limitations. 

Sorry if this does not answer all your questions but I hope it gives you some usefull information.

Sincerely,

Brando753