Thanks - was Re: Cool calculator

From: Keys <jrkeys_at_concentric.net>
Date: Thu Apr 3 15:36:00 2003

Thanks for the tips, I also found some sample programs on the web.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Tony Duell" <ard_at_p850ug1.demon.co.uk>
To: <cctalk_at_classiccmp.org>
Sent: Thursday, April 03, 2003 3:10 PM
Subject: Re: Cool calculator


> > I picked up a Compucorp 324G Scientist calculator/micro computer at a
thrift
> > today for $8.08. Seems to work great.
>
> I have one too, found at a radio rally (hamfest) for about the same
> amount of money.
>
> As you've realised by now, it's programmable, in that it will remember a
> seqeunce of keys, and when it gets to the end, it restarts from the
> beginning. There are no labels or jumps, though. The only waty to stop a
> program is either to record a start/stop key, or for an error to occur.
> The user manual gave a number of programs that would force an error after
> a given number of iterations, thus allowing the machine to calculate
> factorials, etc.
>
> The 2nd function key is strange. It's pressed _after_ the other key. So
> that, for example SIN and COS are on the same key. Press that key to
> calculate one of them (I forget which), then press 2nd function to get
> the other.
>
> Inside there are 4 circuit boards IIRC, stuffed with 40 pin custom chips
> (and some standard RAMs and PSU parts).
>
> It's one of the first programmable calculators -- the 322 (same machine
> with half the memoey) predates the HP65 by a few weeks, or so I was told.
>
> Oh yes, it _eats_ batteries. Officially you're supposed to use 4 D-size
> NiCds. It will run of alkaline cells, but it drains them in a few minutes
> (!).
>
> -tony
Received on Thu Apr 03 2003 - 15:36:00 BST

This archive was generated by hypermail 2.3.0 : Fri Oct 10 2014 - 23:35:42 BST