HP HP48GX RPN Expandable Graphic Calculator

List Price: $265.00 Discount Price: $659.00

Features:

• Over 2,300 functions including over 300 for scientific and engineering applications
• Built-in equation library with over 300 formulas and constants
• 2-way infrared communication, RS-232C serial port; supports optional printer
• 128 KB memory; 2 card ports for expandable RAM and ROM
• 2-D and 3-D graphing capabilities

Accessories:
The HP 48G/GX Pocket Guide	Energizer E91BP-4 AA Batteries(4-Pack)	HP 82240B Enhanced Infrared Printer for HP Calculators	HP Connectivity Kit for HP Calculators 48G, 48G+, 48GX, and 49G

Customer Reviews:

The Mercedes Benz of Calculators [Posted on 2004-01-12]
Being a college professor of Electrical Engineering for over 30 years, and having used numerous brands and models of calculators and having written reviews of some of them for various publications, there is no doubt in my mind that the HP48GX is indeed head and shoulders above all the other calculators (even the HP49). The RPL entry system is a natural and easy to learn process that mimics the pencil and paper approach that we've all learned in Grammar school arithmetic. The efficiency of input and the ease with which it handles comlex-number calculations is second to none. Formulae can be entered with mixed units and the calculator automatically performs internal conversions to present the answer in whatever valid units you desire. It handles 2-D and 3-D vectors with all the corresponding mathematical operations seemlessly. The infrared connectivity (wireless) and RS232 port (wire) both allow communication between another HP calculator and your computer. This calculator has the right mix of 'function per key' versus 'menu per key' that makes it very easy to negotiate.
One can enter a formula in algebraic notation and the calculator can solve for one of the variables in symbolic and/or numeric form (if all the other vales are specified). The keystroke error recovery facility is superb. A couple of days with this calculator and most people cannot go back to their old 'Algebraic Operating System' calculators, with its cumbersome parenthesis, without making a mistake.
There is not enough space here to praise this calculator to the extent that it deserves. Over the years with all the students and professionals I've had contact with, I know of no one who has ever regretted purchasing this calculator except for the fact that they realized that they waisted money on purchasing their AOS calculators.

Stack is different. This required learning [Posted on 2004-04-25]
To store '5' on the HP48 line of calculators, hit 5 [enter]. It's stored. You can even see where it's stored right away because you're always looking at the bottom four stack entries. It seems the previous reviewer believes that the way TI does calculators is the way calculators should be done. If that's you, buy a TI. Storing a value in a named variable is a fundamentally different way of thinking about calculation from the way HP decided to do it.

With RPN, there is very rarely any need for a named variable and it only took me about an hour to start using this calculator for fairly complex EE homework. One of the things I noticed about RPN fairly quickly is that if you're doing complex calculations, you'll often build up intermediate values and then bring the intermediate values together at the end. My study-buddies were always writing down their intermediate values, I just left them on the stack while I did the other calculations. More often than not, those previously calculated values were exactly where I needed them when I needed them later. Everyone else was punching back in the values that they had previously written down (with the possibility of error on each transcription) or trying to remember which variable they had stored them in.

I don't mean to ding the TI approach, I used to work at TI and I think they make a great product. I simply think that the HP has a subtly better philosophy of calculation and a massively better keyboard in the 48s/sx/g/sx line of calculators.

Bring It Back!! [Posted on 2007-07-14]
Great calculator, but hard to find now. New ones crop up on eBay now and then.

Highly recommended if you are a serious calculator user.

HP 48GX [Posted on 2007-09-01]
I have owned mine since I went to college in 1993. It has worked flawlessly for 14 years until the lower right keys, being the +,-,/,* and drop key stopped working. After determining that it is almost impossible to service I almost bought the 50g until I realized that slight pressure on the top surface of the calculator, compressing the joint between the top and bottom of the calculator, allowed the keys to work. Double banding a rubber band between the space beteen the keypad and screen resolved the problem. Let's hope that lasts another 14 years since it seems that there is no equal.

I give 4 stars since the calculator can't be easily opened and serviced/cleaned or a new one can't be purchased. I love the unit conversions and the simple finance calcs for loans.

not HP's finest hour [Posted on 2008-03-23]
This calculator has tremendous capabilities; however, it gives up a lot in usability and good design. No complaints about quality and feel, this is a Mercedes-Benz of a calculator, it's just not easy to use!! If you were stranded on a desert island without a PC, it would be a must-have, but most of its features are found in modern PC software. Having owned and used various HPs since 1972, I have to say this is not HP's finest hour. It isn't as hideous as the HP-49G, but it just doesn't "flow". It's also noticeably slow to respond to user input. Multiple key presses are needed for even the simplest functions. Let's take statistics for an example. On most HPs, you clear the statistical registers and enter your data using the "sigma+" key (one key press for each entry). Then press "mean" or "xbar" (usually a shifted key needing two key presses). On the 48GX, you go into the STAT routine and then have to go into the MATRIX editor to enter your data set. Then you select the values you want, using arrow keys and soft keys, and finally get your answer. What a pain, for a basic calculator function. I think you'd have to be some kind of autistic savant in order to use the HP48GX without constantly consulting the manual. Here in order are my favorites of the HPs I own right now (without regard to price or availability): HP-41CX, HP-35s, HP-42s, HP-33s, HP-48GX is last on the list. If you want a modern RPN calculator that's well designed and highly usable, I suggest you go take a look at the new HP-35s.

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