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From: daver@hp-pcd.UUCP (daver)
Newsgroups: net.micro.hp
Subject: Re: HP-411 Questions
Message-ID: <14200009@hp-pcd.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 11-Sep-84 15:43:00 EDT
Article-I.D.: hp-pcd.14200009
Posted: Tue Sep 11 15:43:00 1984
Date-Received: Tue, 25-Sep-84 09:30:27 EDT
References: <-303000@umn-cs.UUCP>
Organization: Hewlett-Packard - Corvallis, OR
Lines: 62
Nf-ID: #R:umn-cs:30300001:hpcvrd:14200009:000:2804
Nf-From: hpcvrd!daver    Sep 17 11:43:00 1984

>Here is my list of HP-41 questions:
>	- I heard a rumor that fourth was available for it.  Is this true?

An extended Forth is available for the 71B (Forth with an additional floating
point stack, strings, file-handling, communication with Basic [a Basic program
can invoke a Forth word and access the Forth stacks, and Forth can execute a
Basic command and invoke a Basic function, passing parameters and receiving the
result on either the regular or floating point stack], a built-in text editor
and assembler), but there is no Forth language for the 41C.
	  
>	- What is the difference between the new printer that works with HP-IL
>	  and the old printer that plugs into a module slot?

The HP-IL printer provides several features not available in the direct-connect
printer:  
	  "parse mode" provides word-wrap when printing text,
	  output can be right and left justified or centered on a line,
	  a full 7-bit ASCII character set can be accessed, in addition to the
	   41C character set,
          41C barcode can be printed with the plotter ROM.

The principal advantage is that it can be used with other products such as the
71B, 110, series 80 computers and future products supporting HP-IL.

>	- Does the plotter module allow you do make plots that use the full
>	  resolution of the printer?

The only way the plotter ROM module interacts with the printer is in printing
barcode.  All other plotting on the printer is done using column graphics; each
column of dots requires one buffer location and the HP-IL printer provides 101
buffer locations while the direct-connect printer provides only 43.

>	- What is the lifetime of the printer's head?

The print head on either printer is expected to print at least 20 million 
characters with no failures.

>	- What is the lifetime of the HP-41 now that HP has released the 71?

The 41C has been discontinued, but the 41CV and 41CX will continue to be built
and sold for many more years, and HP promises to provide service for at least
five years after the product is officially obsoleted (we are still servicing 
HP-35 calculators).

>	- Does anyone make a case for the the 41 in which the stupid quick
>	  reference card will fit?
>	- What sort of non-technical things do people use their 41's for?
>	  I use mine as a $250 alarm clock/phone book/appointment book/memo
>	  pad, etc.  What other things do people use it for?

The best way to get answers to these questions is to contact the PPC, the users
group for HP calculators.  You can reach them at:

	  POB 9599
	  Fountain Valley, CA  92728-9599

They publish a regular newsletter including new ideas for using calculators,
calculator programs, product reviews, user letters and general information, and
also organize meetings all over the world.

Dave Rabinowitz
hplabs!hp-pcd!daver