![]() ![]() ![]() (63 registers was equal to 200-400 fully merged lines of program memory.)įour ports at the top end of the machine allowed the user to plug in 4 more RAM modules which would increase the maximum register space to 319 or allow 1000-2000 lines of program space. Memory could be dynamically reassigned between storage registers and program memory. The HP-41C came with 63 "registers" of memory. A function that shifted strings by 6 characters was included to make it easy to store long strings in multiple registers. Alpha strings could be stored in normal registers or the stack but they were truncated to 6 characters when this was done. This register was separate from the stack and the other storage registers. There was a special register on the HP-41C called the Alpha Register. The characters were not as fully formed as a dot matrix display, but they had better contrast. This allowed a full range of alphabetic characters. The HP-41C used a low power LCD display with 7 more segments than previous calculators. The alphanumeric HP-41C is just the calculator." Alphanumeric Implementation With so many different kinds of calculator uses and applications in the world, we at Hewlett-Packard decided we could provide a significant contribution by designing and building you a quality calculator with expandable and flexible capability. The HP-41C is the first Hewlett-Packard handheld calculator offering an exciting array of alphanumeric capabilities. In fact, because of the advanced capabilities of the HP-41C, it can even be called a personal computing system. "The HP-41C represents a totally new concept in the design of Hewlett-Packard calculators. The HP-41C had more memory (now non-volatile) than its predecessor, more functions, improved programming, and could be expanded with both RAM and ROM modules. Of course, HP didn't just improve the human interface. If it was the wrong key, the user could continue to hold it until the display showed "NULL" when meant the function was canceled. In addition, whenever a key was held down, its function name was displayed. To make it easy to remember keyboard assignments, HP provided keyboard overlays along with preprinted labels for all built-in functions and blank labels for user functions. (With the gold shift key, this allowed two user functions per key.) The user toggle state remained set even when the calculator was turned off allowing true keyboard customization. Once the keyboard was placed in user mode, any assignments made by the user overrode the label on the key. The user could assign any built-in function or user program to any key. (About half of the HP-41Cs functions were preassigned to keys.)īecause typing out the name of a function could be cumbersome, the HP-41C added another toggle key called "user". (The alpha characters were printed on the slanted faces of the keys.) If the user needed a function not printed on a key, the name of the function could be typed in and executed. The keyboard had an "Alpha" key that toggled the keyboard between alpha and the normal calculator mode. The HP-41C overcame these limitations by adding alphanumeric capabilities to both the display and keyboard. ![]()
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