Alan,
Thanks for your caution note. I appreciate it. I'm a long-time HP calculator user and fan. My first was the HP-65, then, one step at a time, the others that followed (67, 41C, CV, CX, 42S, 35s, etc.) I know what you mean about the HP key feel. And I would agree with your evaluation. And it's interesting that you mentioned the 12C, because initially I was interested in buying one of those. However, when I asked the question as to whether it was a clone of the HP-12C or of the HP-12C Platinum, I learned that it was of the regular 12C, not the Platinum. Since the programming capacity of the regular 12C only allows a max. of 99 steps and I was more interested in the 399 steps of the Platinum, I took a look at their other models. I settled on trying their 15C clone because it does have the greater programming capacity, plus it has user labeling (A-E) like the HP-65, 67 and 41's, etc. that I had "been weaned on", so to speak. Anyway, while there is a different "feel" to the keyboard, it seems to be more of a function of the construction constraints, and, on balance, there is something very neat about being able to have such a small, yet full-powered, RPN calculator that is so easy to carry in your shirt pocket. And as I mentioned, I was really surprised that once you get the sense of it, you can easily only push the key you want without activating two or more keys simultaneously. One of my concerns before ordering it was that I might have to use some sort of stylus to press just the keys I wanted. I can see that someone with larger fingers might need to use a stylus, but even then, just being able to have a full powered, RPN, calculator in such a small size would be worth it, at least to me. I like the build quality of mine. If you go to their site,
http://www.rpn-calc.ch/ , and click on the "infos" button, you'll be taken to a page where they have links to videos on YouTube that show their initial prototypes & first version. Apparently they've evolved the design, because my 15C version has an excellent quality black anodized case instead of the "sandwich" construction shown in the videos. All in all, I'm very pleased with the 15C version, and feel that the trade-off between the HP keyboard "feel" that I got used to with the HP-65, HP-67, and HP-41C, CV, and CX and the convenience of having the HP RPN computing power in such a small package that is even easier to carry in my shirt pocket is well worth it. If I didn't need the extra programming capacity, based on the quality of my 15C version, I would have already ordered their 12C version as well. Another feature of their design that I like is that updates to the operating software are able to be loaded via a miniUSB port that is built into the units. I don't yet have the personal experience of doing that, but it's a definite plus just knowing that I'll be able to do such upgrades in the future if needed.
But you need a pretty big shirt pocket to put it in, unless you don't mind having half of it stick out, and probably fall out when you bend over.
