In 2021 the Hewlett-Packard HP-12C turns 40 years old! Today when most electronics are usually replaced after a couple of years it is incredible that an electronic device from the 1980s is still being continuously manufactured today!
Why are these calculators still so beloved today?
- From a software perspective:
- The Reverse Polish Notation (RPN) input in the past made it easier to perform complex calculations without the use of memory registers (BA-35 I am looking at you) or awkward brackets. With new multi-line calculators having algebraic entry and multi-line displays, RPN is perhaps more for the traditionalists who enjoy deconstructing complex calculations.
- A set of calculator functions that are more practical for day to day usage such as the date, percentage, and financial calculations
- The calculator is certified for CFA exams
- HP calculator documentation is known to be very comprehensive and working through the examples in the manual are a fun exercise
- The keystroke programming makes it possible to code complex problems and formulas
- From a hardware perspective:
- The calculator is extremely rugged especially compared to its more delicate predecessors (e.g. HP-41C) and successors (e.g. HP-42S, HP48G, HP49G).
- The landscape input, although not for everyone, can facilitate faster and more comfortable usage compared to portrait orientation calculators
- The tactility of the keyboard with double shot key caps where the legends cannot not wear off. Unfortunately, the double shot key caps were replaced with printed legends in later models.
- The originals were super thrifty on batteries with some users getting more than 10+ years of battery life on the initial set
- Member of the Voyager family of calculators with a similar layout but with complementing functions
The back of this particular calculator is also worth a closer look:
- The older versions use 3 LR44 batteries
- This particular example was made in Brazil and decoding the serial number indicates it was manufactured during the last week of February 1992
- When performing the statistical calculations, the reminders of the storage registers for the accumulators is useful
- Given how easy it is to forget the keystrokes for the financial functions, it is nice to have examples! Although some of the sample interest rates look a bit wild today!