Warp wrote:

> David Fontaine <dav### [at] faricynet> wrote:
> : It'd take a lot of modification since TIs don't have floating point. You have to
> : use a struct ti_float (bcd) and special functions to do all the math.
>
>   If gcc is ported in the right way, then the compiler would handle all
> that automatically.
>   For example, you can perfectly compile povray for a 386/486 with no FPU.
> It will be slower, of course, but it will run.

There has been a c compiler for the hp48 for a long time.

I got my hp48gx as an upgrade to my TI-81 back before the TI-92 existed.  I have been
keeping track of new calculators as they come out, waiting, hoping that someone would
come out with something better.  So far no one has.  Sure there are calculators with
advantages over the hp48gx, but not as a whole package.  I would like now to compare
some of the advantages.

HP 48GX

1. I can play Beethoven on the built in speaker

2. I can use the infrared port to shoot messages across the room to a friend, or
control my tv

3. Can display gray scale images like the one I have of Claudia Shiffer

4. Unit conversions.  You can tag every number you enter with the unit it was measured
in.  Then instantly convert to the desired unit after the calculations are complete.
I bet NASA wouldn't have lost the Mars probe due to incorrect units if they had used
this system.  ALL of my classmates in physics class were jealous that I finished in
one quarter the time.

5.  Equation library.  Forget one of those formulas you need all the time.  No
problem, almost everything you would ever need is there, just look it up.  Also has
constants.

6. Durability.  I knew several people who had to have their TI fixed because they
dropped it on the floor.  My calculator is incredibly durable.  I was usually at the
bottom of my bag under 30 pounds of books.  I demonstrate this by pounding it against
hard surfaces.

7. Easy file transfers.  The hp understands .txt files, so it is easy to type notes on
your computer and send them through the wire to your calculator.  Easier actually than
trying to type on a TI-92 keyboard.  I think the rule about no qwerty keyboards for
tests is stupid.  Also you don't need any special software to transfer files.  I can
do it with any terminal program I have ever tried.

8. RPN is addictive, and fast.  There are many places where the notation hp uses save
so much time.  For example you can write a list, and perform the same computation with
every value in the list simultaneously.

9.  Works like a computer.  File system is very familiar.  I knew many people who
actually replaced the OS on their TI's

TI

1.  Very fast data transfer.  Transferring a one kilobyte file between to hp
calculators will take a minute.  Between to TI calculators the rate is over 32
kilobytes a second.  Now that's a lot better than my internet connection ( I want
broadband).  This shouldn't be too surprising considering that they make modem chips.

2. Speed.  The new TI calculators are 10 MHz.  My Hp is only 4 Mhz.  They will smoke
it any day.

3. Easy to use.  They do not use RPN, and many things are only accessible from menus.
For me this is not a positive.  It took me half a day to learn to use my calculator,
and it was worth it.  It took me longer to learn POV-Ray and it has been worth it.

Things I want in my future calculator.

1.  More power.  Faster processor more memory.

2.  More better symbolic math.  They should simply call the people at wolfram
research.

3.  Should play mp3's and have a headphone jack.

4.  Color display capable of displaying millions of colors.

5.  Good games should be in rom, like sonic the hedgehog.

6.  Built in Remote program

7.  Fast standardized data interface.  USB maybe.

8.  C compiler

9.  POV-Ray

Dan Johnson

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