The Hewlett Packard 15C was the most powerful of the Voyager series of HP calculators. It was originally produced between 1982 and 1989. There have been two re-releases of the 15C: Limited Edition in 2011 and the Collectors Edition in 2023.

Swiss Micros also have been releasing high quality clones of several high-end HP models and the DM15C shown here is one of them.

Tags:   HP Hewlett Packard Swiss Micros 15C Calculator calculators

© All Rights Reserved

© All Rights Reserved

I haven't posted a calculator for a long time ... for those that aren't aware, i've got a museum that showcases the evolution of this technology from the slide rule days to now. This includes HP prototypes and some rare items. I've got a display case in my office that houses the most interesting ones.

The Hewlett Packard 15C was the most powerful of the Voyager series of HP calculators. It was originally produced between 1982 and 1989. It was highly capable for such a small machine, programmable with numeric integration, root solver, matrices and complex maths.

Whilst its financial sibling, the 12C, has remained in continuous production since 1981, the 15C was dropped in favour of the Pioneer series of calculators in 1989.

There was a strong push for HP to re-release the 15C (which could share the same casing and processor as the modern 12C). HP eventually produced a 'Limited Edition' re-release of the 15C in 2011. I thought this would be the last incarnation of the 15C, but no ... the 'Collector's Edition' was released last year (2023). Some subtle differences such as no "Hewlett Packard" writing along the bottom line below they 'f' and 'g' keys. But it's got an amazingly fast processor that would put an original 15C to shame on a complex calculation.

Tags:   HP Hewlett Packard 15C HP15C calculator Collectors Edition

© All Rights Reserved

This is a Macro Monday image - I don't often take part in MM, but couldn't resist this weeks theme "Evolution". What was required:

"Think now, before and after, yesterday and today...

Your photograph must include two (or more if you can fit them into a macro) objects that serve the same purpose but at different times.

In other words, show how something has changed, progressed or evolved over time either due to some event or just technological advancement".

So my image is of a vintage slide rule juxtaposed against my (brand new/ only got today!) iPhone 7 Plus running a Hewlett Packard 65 calculator app. The HP65 was the world's first programmable hand-held calculator, produced in 1974-1977 for a cost of $795USD (equivalent to around $4,000 in today's value). So I think i've captured "today" and "yesterday" with something in between as well for good measure.

The slide rule was my grandfather's - he was (like me) an engineer. In his day this was one of his tools of the trade. For me I have been a part of the evolution of calculations, with powerful hand-held devices that would have been unthinkably amazing for my grandfather (and would have saved him considerable time with calculations). The HP35 was the world's first hand-held calculator that could do scientific calculations (famously replacing the slide rule), which was followed by the HP65 only a few years later (first programmable). Now we have technology like the iPhone that enables us to pull up an app with a virtual keyboard of this historic technological marvel. I'd love to see the look on my grandfather's face if he could have seen that.

Oh, and just to carry on with the theme, my 'Macro Monday' image was taken with a vintage FD 100mm macro lens strapped to a modern DLSR.

Tags:   #MacroMondays #evolution calculator slide rule Hewlett Packard HP iPhone iPhone7plus

© All Rights Reserved

The Hewlett Packard 71B was a powerful pocket computer that was made between 1984 to 1989. It was programmable in BASIC and was expandable with various modules available.

This is a late prototype version with a 1AAAA ROM made just before the first real production version (1BBBB, later followed by 2CCCC and finally the 2CDCC). It does not even have the characteristic serial number on the back of the case.

This was sent to me by Johnny Bjoern Rasmussen from Denmark. I have a virtual museum of HP's and other pocket computers and I had all other known versions of the 71B except for a 1AAAA (including the early prototype version: 0AAAA). The 1AAAA version eluded me for about a decade of searching and Johnny sent me this one long after i'd given up and officially 'stopped' collecting. So this is an important piece of my museum. Thanks Johhny!

The full collection can be found here: www.flickr.com/photos/keithmidson/collections/72157629634...

Tags:   programmable basic computing computer vintage Hewlett Packard HP Calculator pocket computer 71B 1AAAA VER$:1AAAA prototype HP71B

© All Rights Reserved