HHC 2006 Update #1

[Richard Schwartz]

As usual, we don't agree on everything.
 
 1.  Is there room for another true generation of high end calculators?
(Personal view, yes indeed). 
 
If there is to be another generation, there has to be a dramatic increase in
capability.  Something like MathCad in your pocket combined with a Wi-Fi web
browser and PDA.  Unlike the present iPAQ, it would have to have easy file
transfer to all kinds of other machines so that applications can be
exchanged.    It will be extremely fast and powerful, on a par with the
fastest PC's, and will run on a tritium power cell that is leased from HP
for an anual fee.  Likewise, the software just be updated periodically (for
a small fee) or it will do a master reset and lock of the machine.   An
aftermarket for the power cells will develop for those who will need to heat
their homes, cars, or ovens without consuming hydrocarbon fuel.
 
 2.  How is the educational "demand" going to affect this next generation?
(Personal view, immensely) 
 
Most public school teachers are products of the Great Cultural Revolution
and its "new age" aftermath.  They do not like science and math because they
believe it leads to nucyular war.  At the same time, a lot of our science
and technology work is now done by a semi-slave class of low paid workers
from India and Pakistan.   There is no longer any need for Americans to
study math and science; they need to learn slave management instead!   So
the next generation of educational calculators will include biorhythm,
horoscope, and psi evaluation as built-in applications.   This will be very
different from the next generation of scientific machines.   And the
educational machine will be the ONLY one allowed in the public schools and
in the SAT examination.   It will be very secure and unable to perform
unauthorized functions, like develop applets that run on the machine and can
be passed around.   And there must be no way to store or display text,
because the SAT, Actuarial Exam, GRE, and Professional Engineer exam people
are afraid that test questions will be copied and leaked to the public.
 
 3.  When may we expect new machines that are truly in this category?
(Personal view, we will have a clue at HHC 2006) 
 
Some of the educational machines you have already mentioned.
 
 4.  Do we need a level of machine such as the HP-15C, HP 42S, etc.?
(Personal view, yes) 
 
What you mean "we" ?  I sure don't need it.  I have a perfectly good
calculator program in my PDA.
 
 5.  Are Hewlett-Packard User Community, HPUC, Projects still being
undertaken?  (Personal view, yes, and they will be covered) 
 
This I want to see.
 
 6.  Will we have a "new" machine to talk about?  (Personal view, yes) 
 
The last "new" machine was the semi-crippled 33-S with its inflexible memory
arrangement.   I think we deserve better.
 
 7.  Will the number of keys on the next generation calculator increase or
decrease?  (Personal view, use the treo as a data point and remember that
keys are expensive.  This issue is unclear.  Personally I want more keys.) 
 
Keep in mind that every key is a failure point.   I like stylus input.   For
massive inputs, one can use an external keyboard. 
 
 8.  Will HP have some interesting inputs on all of the above?  (Personal
view, yes) 
 
HP will have only one thing: the official HP position, and will not be able
to discuss any alternate view.   This is not very different from the
attitude of Microsoft at the Maker's Faire. 

 

1.  San Jose - Ted Kerber is the point person on this location.  A repeat at
the Radisson of HHC 2004.

2.  Bosie - Cyrille is the point person on this location.  Car rental
necessary but HP offers a no cost meeting location.

3.  San Diego - I am looking into this location.  A very nice Radisson hotel
in La Jolla CA. 

 

If it is to be Boise, please publish the cost of an Idaho stream fishing
license and refer us to some local fishing guides!    Idaho, especially the
area around Lewiston, is one of the most perfect places on earth, almost as
good as Alberta.

 

 

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