Re: I'm looking to replace my 49G
- From: Wes <wjltemp-gg@xxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Fri, 6 Jun 2008 23:36:14 -0700 (PDT)
On Jun 6, 5:34 am, "Eric Rechlin" <e...@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
John H Meyers wrote:
The "newer 48" has, on the other hand, just like the "old 48":
o Smaller screen.
o Less RAM.
o No USB or SD card, just serial port.
o Not upgradeable (fixed ROM and no on-board user flash storage, IIRC)
o No free connectivity kit (i.e. no cable).
This was true about the first generation 48gII (though it did indeed come
with a serial cable for PC connectivity). However, HP silently upgraded the
48gII, yet almost nobody noticed or cared because the 50g is outselling the
48gII by a 100 to 1 margin (in my experience).
The second generation 48gII adds a USB port, replaces the PC-only serial
port with a 50g-style serial port, and comes with a USB cable instead of a
serial cable.
The new 48gII also has twice the memory and has an upgradeable ROM that
matches the functionality of the 50g ROM (the original 48gII ROM left out a
number of features so it could fit on a 1MB chip). In addition, the new
48gII has a hard slide-on case like the 39gs, instead of a soft black sleeve
like the original 48gII.
HP, however, only updated the product literature on the front of the
packaging (though they did update the copyright date on the back), so on the
new 48gII calculators, the specifications on the front and back of the
packaging are contradictory.
Now the only differences between a 50g and a 48gII are the screen size, CPU
speed, color, and case.
What a missed opportunity. This improved model would have been worth
promoting. It seems perfect for the typical high school student.
While I prefer the soft case and black color, students do not. When I
had my 49g+, my students would often comment about the cool colors.
After getting a 50g, I loaned the 49g+ out to a student. It came back
with evidence of being rather squashed from the incredibly heavy
backpacks they carry these days. It definitely would have benefited
from a hard case. (Not to mention that students are more likely to
lose a non-attached soft case.)
When the 48gII first came out, I was hesitant to list it on our "What
Calculator Should I Buy" handout that we send home to parents. The
early ROM issues precipitated the need for an upgradeable ROM.
Unfortunately, now that it is upgradeable, it appears that there may
not be any more upgrades available.
The cost is very competitive with other calculators available. Almost
all of our students have a TI-83+/84+. An Algebraic/RPN calculator
with a full CAS and soft-menus, at the cost of an 83+ -- seems to good
to true. I recall a couple of years ago a student commenting that my
49g+ must have been very expensive. When I told him that it was less
than a TI-89, he asked why the HP's don't outsell the TI's. My one
word reply: "Marketing."
Inertia is a difficult factor to overcome. The biggest reason my
students want the 83+/84+ is because it's what everybody else has.
The colorful exchangeable faceplates also add a "cool" factor. That
is the high school market. Look at the WEB sites. TI's site is
designed for teenagers, while HP's is geared towards adults. The 50g
needs to be marketed to the serious student and professional adult,
but the 48gIII needs to have something that catches a teenager's eye
and says, "Buy me!"
HP, however, only updated the product literature on the front of the
packaging (though they did update the copyright date on the back), so on the
new 48gII calculators, the specifications on the front and back of the
packaging are contradictory.
Even the HP web page still has the old specifications.
However, HP silently upgraded the 48gII, yet almost nobody noticed or cared
because the 50g is outselling the 48gII by a 100 to 1 margin (in my experience).
I'm curious about the overall sales ratio. I suspect your site
attracts the more serious 50g type folks to begin with. Then again, I
don't see many places at all that even carry the 48gII. Is is a
matter of nobody caring because sales are low, or is it that sales are
low because nobody in marketing cares?
-wes
.
- References:
- Re: I'm looking to replace my 49G
- From: sc_usenet
- Re: I'm looking to replace my 49G
- From: John H Meyers
- Re: I'm looking to replace my 49G
- From: Eric Rechlin
- Re: I'm looking to replace my 49G
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