HP 15C Limited Edition RPN Programmable Scientific Calculator.

My dad asked what I wanted for Christmas, and I thought for a while.
What would I use on a daily basis in college, and enjoy doing so?

The HP 15C was my answer.

First made from 1982-1989 and then released as a limited edition in 2011, with only 10,000 made, this scientific calculator was a standard for scientists and engineers everywhere. It's a cousin of the famous HP 12C financial calculator, which my dad happens to use almost daily.

In operation, it uses HP's famed "RPN" input method: Reverse Polish Notation. Rather than inputting the operator, then the operation, then the operand, and then the equals button, you enter the operator, the operand, and then the operation. Example:

Problem: 2*3=?

RPN: 2 [enter] 3 [x]
Algebraic (normal) input: 2 [x] 3 [=] 6

This is advantageous because it affords fewer keystrokes, 4 vs. 5. The advantage is even more apparent when looking at more complex calculations.

Problem: (2+3)(5-1)=?

RPN: 2 [enter] 3 [+] 5 [enter] 1 [-] [x]
Algebraic: [(] 2 [+] 3 [)] [x] [(] 5 [-] 1 [)] [=]

9 vs. 12 keystrokes.

And it's just more fun to use!

This calculator can do numeric integration, complex calculations, matrix algebra, equation solving, and can execute programs. Overall a fun and useful tool.

Vintage Mechanical Pencil Reviews

Here are three videos I made of various vintage mechanical twister style pencils I've got. Enjoy!

Comments

Hi blogosphere,
I've recently been hit with a couple spam messages, so rather than use CAPTCHA and annoy my actual readers, I'm adding comment moderation. Your comments will appear on my blog, but I will verify them first.
Thanks for your understanding!

--Vikram

uni Kuru-Toga Mechanical Pencil video review

Hello blogosphere,
Here's a pencil that I've used almost exclusively for all my notetaking during my first semester in college. It's held up beautifully over the ~5 months that I've had it, and it's seen some heavy use. In .5mm, it is a great pencil. Below, you can see more about this pencil in the official SuperVpower review of the uni Kuru-Toga!

12/12/12 at 0:12:12 and 12:12:12

Quick post; I gotta go real soon, just wanted to let you know that I caught both 12/12/12 at 12:12:12's! :)

New device, doesn't work / Don't buy a WikiReader

 

Technology...

Just received my new WikiReader--if you've never heard of it, it's a small device that basically is a Wikipedia reader, offline.

Problem is, mine doesn't work.

It doesn't get past the initial on screen when powered up. I was really looking forward to being able to use it.

I emailed tech support, but don't think I will get a response, unfortunately.

One consolation I have is that I still have my green Machinery's Handbook 16th ed. from 1962--which will always give me instant access to almost all te engineering info, formulae, sin cos tan log tables, and diagrams, I need.

Tech, especially new things that don't work as expected, are extremely frustrating.

Happy Thanksgiving / It's Nice to be Back