50g

--- In 50g@yahoogroups.com, Dave Boyd <boydda@...> wrote:
>
> scramjet41 wrote:
> > Hi all;
> > I'm new to this group, I joined it in hopes of getting some help 
> > learning the new machine. 
> 
> Same here.  This reply to you, is in fact my own first post.
> 
> > I've been using a TI 86 for years, time to 
> > move up but the user manual isn't very helpful! 
> 
> Boy, there's an understatement.  One thing: you can pretty much 
ignore 
> the thin "User's Manual" you got with the calc, in favor of the 
PDF 
> "User's Guide", which is much better, although it could also be 
improved.
> 
> Speaking of which, I was thinking of going down to Kinko's or 
somewhere 
> like it, and getting it printed and spiral-bound.  Has anyone here 
ever 
> done that?  If so, how did it come out?  How much did it cost?
> 
> > I think I'm OK with 
> > RPN but some functions that SHOULD be quick and easy (like the 
TI) are 
> > turning out not to be. Elementary things like unit conversions 
(ex: 
> > convert yd^3 to m^3) seem to be very exhaustive to accomplish!
> 
> Lucky you picked this example -- that particular task is very 
simple, IF 
> you have the calculator in the right set of modes.  The "right 
set" in 
> this case is flag 117 (Soft MENU) checked, and RPN input mode.  
Once you 
> have the 50 in that state, go into the UNITS menu, pick VOLUME, 
type a 
> number  like 100, and hit the softkey corresponding to 'yd^3'.  
The 
> display reads 100_yd^3.  Then hit the left-shift (white) key, and 
hit 
> the key with the units you want to convert to, 'm^3', and the 
conversion 
> happens.  You only have to use CONVERT if you have some units that 
> aren't on the menus, like 'qt/hr'.  And even then, you can store 
that 
> unit in a variable, and make a custom menu with it (and the units 
you 
> regularly use), and then this same method (with the left-shift) 
works 
> the same way.  Handy!
> 
> > My primary use for this calculator is in doing survey calcs 
(bought 
> > the DZign software pac with the 50g).
> 
> Me, I don't need a calculator much, and when I do I need a 
programmer's 
> calc (like my HP-16C).  I just like calculators, so I have a bunch 
of 
> them.  I have the 50G just because it's a candidate for "best 
handheld 
> calculator in the world".  Depending on what you consider "best" 
of 
> course...
> 
> 
> -- 
> Dave "Maybe the HP-15C?" Boyd
>                "That's sucker talk."
>                -- Raven, _This_Gun_For_Hire_, Universal, 1942
>

Hi, welcome.  I was going to get mine printed at Kinkos, also, but 
they wanted about $100 ea. (I was getting the 49g+ AUR and UM 
printed).  The guy from Kinkos that gave the quote said that the 
price was after being deeply discounted and that it should really be 
more than that.

If you have a laserjet at home, it might be a worthwhile project to 
print in batches.

The end result is I never did print it--but I put it on my PDA and 
carry it with me that way :)

BTW:  Be sure to check out Debug4x from www.debug4x.com--it has a 
full 50g emulator and programming environment--useful for testing 
your calc programs before "crashing" your actual calc.  Also, it 
gives a lovely calculator for Windoze.

--Scott