Hewlett-Packard HP-71B
| Datasheet legend
Ab/c:
Fractions calculation
AC: Alternating current BaseN: Number base calculations Card: Magnetic card storage Cmem: Continuous memory Cond: Conditional execution Const: Scientific constants Cplx: Complex number arithmetic DC: Direct current Eqlib: Equation library Exp: Exponential/logarithmic functions Fin: Financial functions Grph: Graphing capability Hyp: Hyperbolic functions Ind: Indirect addressing Intg: Numerical integration Jump: Unconditional jump (GOTO) Lbl: Program labels LCD: Liquid Crystal Display LED: Light-Emitting Diode Li-ion: Lithium-ion rechargeable battery Lreg: Linear regression (2-variable statistics) mA: Milliamperes of current Mtrx: Matrix support NiCd: Nickel-Cadmium rechargeable battery NiMH: Nickel-metal-hydrite rechargeable battery Prnt: Printer RTC: Real-time clock Sdev: Standard deviation (1-variable statistics) Solv: Equation solver Subr: Subroutine call capability Symb: Symbolic computing Tape: Magnetic tape storage Trig: Trigonometric functions Units: Unit conversions VAC: Volts AC VDC: Volts DC |
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Hewlett-Packard HP-71B
Having expressed my dislike for another Hewlett-Packard BASIC-programmable handheld calculator, the HP-75C earlier, I was surprised to find that the HP-71B is a much more likeable machine. Is it the separate numeric keypad and the calculator mode? Is it the smaller size? I don't know what the cause, but I consider the HP-71B a much friendlier beast.
Yes, this is a BASIC-programmable handheld computer, and I guess that even at the time of its introduction, it had a hard time to compete with much cheaper models from Casio and others. One thing going for it is quality; the HP-71B has that solid HP "feel", a high-quality keyboard, optional HP-IL connectivity, and a wealth of accessories including an optional magnetic card reader.
Another claim of fame: the HP-71B was the first Hewlett-Packard calculator/computer to use the then new Saturn CPU architecture. This microprocessor has since been used in all high-end HP calculators, including the HP-28 and HP-48 series, and the new HP-49G.
The BASIC programming model of the HP-71B is practically identical to that of the HP-75. Unlike many other handhelds BASIC machines, the HP-71B lets you organize your programs in main memory into named files; these files can then be managed, or copied to or from peripherals. (To save the current file to a card, you'd type COPY TO CARD; to load it later, use COPY CARD.)
A good CPU means fast execution; this lets me present another variation on my favorite theme, the Gamma function. Calculating the incomplete Gamma function takes only a few tens of seconds for most reasonable pairs of values using the program below. It actually implements the incomplete Gamma function as a user-defined function; for instance, to calculate the incomplete Gamma function for the argument 5, with an integration limit of 45, you'd type FNG(5,45). Needless to say, the machine must not be in calculator mode when you enter or run this program.
10 DEF FNG(A,X) 20 G=X^A/EXP(X)/A 30 T=G 40 A=A+1 50 T=T*X/A 60 IF G=G+T THEN GOTO 90 70 G=G+T 80 GOTO 40 90 FNG=G 100 END DEF
