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Comment by fmajid | Hacker News Reader

The originals (I still have my 1987 HP-15C) used silicon-on-sapphire technology, normally used for space, that ensured the amazing battery life. The keyboard domes had a complicated fabrication process to ensure optimum feel. The keycaps were double shot for durability. No modern calculator is going to be made to that standard, it would cost at least $1000.

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I loved the keyboard on my HP-48G. It had such a nice crisp tactile feel to the key presses - a bit of snap - that I got to where it could usually operate it by touch without looking.

(These days it's stored safely away with batteries removed, so I don't use it that much anymore. For convenience, I usually just use either Droid48 on my phone, or Emacs Calc at my computers.)

The LCD screen polarizer may eventually detach[0][1], effectively ruining the screen. Unfortunately, it's not easily replaceable. I think it's not impossible the enthusiast community will eventually come up with a solution, but until then I'd use your 48G as much as you can. After it's done, either get a Prime while they still sell on eBay or get a SwissMicro 42n for similar keyboard feel and nostalgia factor.

[0] https://www.hpmuseum.org/forum/thread-18710.html

[1] https://www.reddit.com/r/calculators/comments/1r8gtvr/hp_48g...

I’d pay that much, but alas.

They can be found on ebay.

I have two originals, which is why I could make the comparison, but they are not in pristine condition like a new one would be.

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