reverse Polish syntax
 

got a demo lighting console the other day that uses reverse Polish syntax for inputting commands. this sucked and I could not wrap my head around it, way worse than driving on the other side of the street in reverse.

does any of you like or see a benefit in the reverse Polish syntax?

It's way, way, way faster, easier, and less error-prone than trying to use parenthesis. I've used an HP with RPN since high school and struggle with "normal" calculator notation.

I have used RPN on HP calculators for a long time. it is fast and holds interim results in memory almost automatically. Algebraic is very hard for me to use.

I'm a long time RPN geek.

RPN: Value A, Value B, Operation.

Conventional: Value A, Operation, Value B, Equals.

RPN is quick and easy!

Yep, not sure what it would be like on a lighting console, but on a calculator, it's the best.

1(Chanel)56(thru)50(@ level) -RPN
or
1(thru)56(@)50 -standard

I always got a kick out of watching people pick my HP11C off my desk then just stare at it blankly looking for the = button.

reverse Polish syntax
 

Boom! I have an arsenal of these. Three. I'm good for life.
http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/14...653add1169.jpg

I've got an RPN app on my phone, and also one installed on my PC. RPN is all I use. No one borrows my calc. Hahaha.

Alas, I've tried to get my kids to use RPN but it is dying out, since every high school math class supports only the TI-84 and the HP graphing calcs (HP48/49) are, I think, rather hard to use.

Do you have to push down on the case right above the "E" button to get it to turn on? (How I got it for free)

+1!! HP41CX app on my phone. It matches my HP-41CV sitting on my desk!

TI was smart getting textbooks written around the 85. Brilliant.
In college we were given the option to try to keep up with the HP. In the end, I'd argue we got better with our tools cuz we had to scramble to keep up in the beginning.
I don't like the HP49.

I use HP12C and HP25C, via iPhone emulator.

Have a couple physical HP12C, HP11C, HP20, HP41CX, HP48G that I don't use much. And a HP97(?) that I use at work. Gave up trying to buy a working HP25C.

RPN, been using it since 1970.

I have all four versions of the HP35, both versions hp45, both versions of the HP80, HP55 (I love this one), HP65 (Moon Landing and LeMans), HP67, HP46 (desktop), HP91, HP92, HP9025, HP9015, HP10, HP10C, HP25, HP25C, HP19C, HP41C (first production, HP41CV, HP41CX and the list goes on and on. Yeah, I have always preferred the RPN machines.

I'm al bubbling fool with my field calc. HP20s, which is NOT rpn. But it is pretty durable.
http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/14...25a55ee927.jpg

An HP 48 and 49 got me through engineering school. It was always amusing to let the TI users borrow my calculator.

I've still got my 41CV, but it has the "normal" corrosion on the battery terminal flex circuitry. I've tried researching getting it repaired, but have struck out... :(

Man I can absolutely relate to that one. It gave me a me chuckle also when I pulled that stunt. I am dyed-in-the-wool member of the RPN group. I've used it for what seems like forever now.

Cheers
JB

I've still got the same HP 32SII RPN calc that a girlfriend got me for Christmas in 1989. It still works fine.

I still use my HP 11C daily.

Bought in 84'

I think it's only on it's 4th set of batteries.

Thing will probably outlive me.

Pictures!!!!

I'm thinking that my life will work out just fine not knowing what the hell you guys are talking about.

I got the 45 in 1972. I sold my yellow aluminum Post slide rule to help pay for it. My buddies thought I was crazy.
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1412742534.jpg
now i have to figure out why auto focus doesn't work.

little better.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1412743405.jpg

I still love my HP42S (in my opinion, the best "bang for the buck" that HP ever put together for an engineering-specific calculator).

RPN all the way... I'm pretty useless with a conventional calculator. I have the emulators on my iPhone, but nothing beats the feeling of the keys on my HP 12C!

HP12C - best damn tool on the planet. Had to learn RPN to make it work - glad I did!

This thread is inspiring me to get my daughter a 32 or 42 for college. Maybe she can break free from the tyranny of algebraic.

right?!! i'm inspired to find a 42 to replace my 20s, to standardize all that button pushing..

gonna find one. at least i will know that it fits my vest pocket. i had no clue on most of the HP model of calculators..i've been googling them as you nerds note them. thanks!! the 42s looks like the one.

Good grief. Trying to find errors in plans. Doing it old school. Oscar had a heap of apples.
Timely thread. Haha.

My wife had me stop at a Goodwill a few years back. I was sitting in the car for what seemed like forever. I finally went in to drag her out. There in the display case was a 32 SII. Paid $3 it. Greatest calculator ever.

Also, it's sad that all you RPN devotees (I'm one btw) can't use a regular calculator. You can't be serious about that. That is pathetic. It's a calculator for cryin' out loud.

48GX user here. I can use a regular calculator - I just have to think about it. LOL.

I see HP-42S' run on ebay for $300+.

The HP-42S emulator for Android and iphone is a pretty decent substitute.

Yea, RPN is such a great system. No parenthesis or memory needed. I tried to get my son on board (he's an engineer), but he was brought up in the TI-8x era.

Here's something crazy - so was I. I used regular calculators until I was 30. But one of my bosses had three or four HPs lying around, and when I asked to borrow a calculator, he gave me an HP. He said "it works a little different from a regular calculator. You'll get used to it." That was the extent of my training, and this was before the internet.

After ten minutes, I was hooked.

A big ten four on that.... I learned RPN back in the day and probably could revert back to it if I had to.
But I prefer to do all my programing in machine code. :p

I can use a regular calc if I need to. Fortunately, I rarely need to. RPN is just better. Ive been using RPN for nearly 25 years. about 8 years ago, I bought and used a regular calculator for a semester or two because there was only one or two calcs that would do what I needed and they didn't work in RPN.

May have to add my 48G and 41CV to my Pelican signature. I can use an algrebraic calculator still, but it's like writing with your left hand when you're right handed.

All hail the slide rule.

I think what the world needs is a digital slide rule. I mean one with a digital display on the cursor. So that those of us with crappy eyes can use the damn things.