27 replies to this topic

[CrimsonCasio]

this post is for the forum to design a calculator, everyone should post something they would like to see in a calculator, it doesn't have to be a new idea, just a feature you like. it can be hardware or software, graphical, game related, or mathmatical, or anything else for that matter.

I'll start:

I'd like a huge, functional, basic language that can be compiled, with features like buffer flipping, strings, bitmaps, etc... it should still retain BASIC's simplicity though.

who knows, mabey we could sell the final product

(by the way, try to keep it realistic)

[Bob Vila]

i would like to see a dos or unix type of OS, and lots of ram, with a Java compiler, and a fairly fast cpu

[betoe]

I would like in addition to better casiobasic, programming in assembler available in this calculator.

Besides this, a powerfull CPU. I wait for anxious the day in that a pentium can be the CPU of a new computer. Hopefully soon they can surpass problems of heat dissipation to be able to make this.

[casiokingdom]

A calc with sound, great graphics and an easy programming language would be a total dream! Also, it must have an infrared or bluetooth port and awesome math functions.

[rjstephens]

when i first saw this post:
Looks like a gameboy advance sp, has a 3ghz p4 chip, 2gb ram, ati radeon 9800, self-expanding screen (to 21in), fast compilable basic language.
------
more realistic:
still gameboy advance sp shape, 133Mhz ARM processor, 64mb flash ram, touch screen, FAST basic language as well as c and asm, ability to run dos and windows apps, as for maths, 3d graphing

[Andy.Davies]

id like a cordles transfer for data (im working on an infra-red one at the moment) and the abilty to 'chat' between calcs cos u cant at the moment...

[PJay]

when i first saw this post:
Looks like a gameboy advance sp, has a 3ghz p4 chip, 2gb ram, ati radeon 9800, self-expanding screen (to 21in), fast compilable basic language.
------
more realistic:
still gameboy advance sp shape, 133Mhz ARM processor, 64mb flash ram, touch screen, FAST basic language as well as c and asm, ability to run dos and windows apps, as for maths, 3d graphing

NO !
-> Intel P4 3.2 FSB800 HT, 2GB DDR400 ECC Kingston, ATI FireGL X2-256 with High-speed 256MB DDR II memory ! ! !

[Endi]

It would be good to make some communication links. E.g. a possibility to connect with mouse or speakers or
FLOPPY OR CD DRIVE (yeah, the last would be great).

BTW: How would you call such designed calculator? And where would you produce it. In Japan, China ( ) or USA?

[CrimsonCasio]

"Casio Chimera" oh... it sounds catchy...

[AlephMobius]

512k of RAM, a 75mhz CPU, speaker, infrared communication, expandibility by SD cards, ASM programming on-calc. Oh wait, they just put that calc out like two days ago. It's called the HP-49g+.

[ross8653]

i would like an expansion slot of some kind (pcmcia?) where people could add wifi cards or anything they like
and a larger lcd with backlight and many sizes of text so you can read 15 lines of code at once

[huhn_m]

I aggree to bytefish! I wouldn't like the features you suggest. I don't see why you would need more cpu power.
You can do nearly everything now.

-You want windows?
Are you crazy? Do you want to take the calc
2 minutes to boot if there are more then 3 progs installed?

-You want a speaker?
Already possible via comport.

-You want a mouse?
Possible with a PC->CALC adapter with battery support.

-You want a raedon 9800?
Do you want the calc to messure 25*20*10 cm without the screen?
Do you want it to work with a car battery?

-You want more HDD space:
I understand this but I think a expansion slot for flash memory cards would be enough.

-You want cd-rom / floppy drives?
Floppy should again be possible with PC->Calc cable with battery. There are floppy drives that can be
connected to a comport for ~50 Euro.

-You want asm support on-calc?
Write an assember! You are so many intelligent ppl. why don't you try it. (I began one but when my windows
crashed it deleted the opcode file i wrote and I wouldn't want to write it again since it took me 20 hours!)

I think the thinks you would want are unrealistic and unnecessary. If you want them buy a PS2 and a mobile Screen.
I only understand the need for more discspace

[CrimsonCasio]

oh, come on you have o understand the desire to be able to compile basic, that would be great.

[huhn_m]

Ok I admit this would be great but not at all necessary if one wrote an assembler / c compiler.

[CrimsonCasio]

its great for begining programmers and people who dont know enough C/ASM to program with them (like me), I think BASIC is a great way to start programming, it provides a good foundation for the principals of programming, and when you do start to learn another language you can apreciate how good it is.

[betoe]

"I began one but when my windows crashed it deleted the opcode file i wrote and I wouldn't want to write it again since it took me 20 hours!"

@huhn_m: One more a reason so that you are a "official Microsoft hater"

I agree with Crimson, also i think that the ross idea is good.

[AlephMobius]

>I don't see why you would need more cpu power.

Games are nice but some of us actually use our calcs to, well, calculate. When it takes several minutes to rotate a matrix or graph a 3d equation you will see how this is necessary. We dont have calcs with 256 color screens, huge resolutions and stereo sound so maybe the smaller processers we use are OK for the games that can be made. But when you want to use your calculator for what it was meant for then something as strong as the HP-49g+ is a good idea.

>and a larger lcd with backlight and many sizes of text so you can read 15 lines of code at once

Yes, a back light is a great idea but it would devour your batteries. Plus, I think the people who design calculators expect them to be used in well lit classrooms or labs.

> oh, come on you have o understand the desire to be able to compile basic, that would be great.

Heh, I dont think in the history of basic has there been a non interpretted basic. All the ones I can think of (GW, QB, TI, VB, HP, Apple) are interpretted at runtime. I can see how you would want to make it faster but I dont think we will ever see basic compiled to machine code on the calc.

>What you _want_ is a handheld computer for the price of a calculator i think...

I believe we talked about it on here once but have yall seen the HP-200lx? It is about the size of a calculator and has a LCD screen but it runs DOS 5.0 so you can run many DOS programs on it. It has a pcmcia slot so you can add extra memory and network cards or modems like you ask. It truly is a handheld computer.

[Andy.Davies]

but what about the IR link? that could be handy for chating, and data transfer, and it shouldnt be too hard 2 make, after all Gamboy colour and advance both have IR capabilitys...

[2072]

that could be handy for chating, and data transfer

Did you make a spelling mistake? I think you forgot a 'e' it's "cheating"

[AlephMobius]

Thats why the range of the IR on the HP-48 was purposely shortened to just a few inches. Not sure how far it reaches on the 49g+, the 49g didnt have an IR port.

[Andy.Davies]

lol, yes i can see ur point about cheating...

but i really did mean chating

the IR link im building i think will only work from calc 2 pc

[betoe]

In google i was investigating about the Classpad CPU frequency, and i read this about HP49(the new HP model), it was in spanish but i translate it:

"This is the most powerfull graphing calculator till now, even more that the new Casio Classpad . The reason is that the HP CPU frequency is 75 Mhz and the possibility of expand the memory until (theoretically) 64 MB."

Which is the clock frequency of the classpad CPU? only by curiosity...

[AlephMobius]

You cant compare mhz directly so if the ClassPad turns out to be 66mhz or something it doesnt necessarily mean it is not as fast. Secondly, the new HP calc emulates a 4mhz CPU. That means it will be much faster than the old chip but it will not be the same as a 75mhz CPU devoted solely to the functions of the calculator. Part of the power of the CPU is taken up with emulating the old chip. Anyways, I have aksed several times what the speed of the classpad is but no one has responded to my knowledge. Doesnt Crimson or someone have one?

[huhn_m]

Crimson has but noone is able to do a benchmark until we can
program in asm on it.

Maybe i'll buy it if this day comes ...

[betoe]

" You cant compare mhz directly so if the ClassPad turns out to be 66mhz or something it doesnt necessarily mean it is not as fast"

I dont know how the casiobasic compiler works in the classpad, but I think that a faster CPU in classpad would be very good, casiobasic would be faster

[CrimsonCasio]

there is no compiler, its just like all the other calcs except it doesn't use tokens... I have a feeling that when you "compress" a program it just tokenizes it and removes comments and spaces.

[Kaugex]

Hmm... what would I want?
As you know, I own a 7000GA, so the basic thing that I want is: MORE MEMORY! 512kB onboard and a CF expansion board would be enough (hmm... I can allready imagine a "library" of many 16MB flash cards, labelled: Adv. statistic graphs, biology, organic chemistry, nonorganic chemistry, physics, math, analysis/calculus, games1, games2 ). A PCMCIA port also would be a nice addition -- there are virtually unlimited devices supported by pcmcia. These would be enough for me. One thing is that I don't want to see: a color lcd

PS: A wireless chat feature would be nice on boring classes / seminars later