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        Science & Technology >> Science & Gadgetry >> The Handheld Calculator Turns 40 Years Old
        
(Message started by: ReeBop on Sep 27^th, 2007, 6:41pm)

Title: The Handheld Calculator Turns 40 Years Old
Post by ReeBop on Sep 27^th, 2007, 6:41pm

The handheld calculator that we all take for granted today is celebrating its 40th birthday today.

http://www.geeksters.org/modules/news/article.php?storyid=699

I remember my first handheld calculator was a TI SR16II from 1975. I really didn't need a calculator yet in junior high school but it was fun to play with. It got stolen in college and I used a slide rule until I could afford something better later, which I did get a TI that had a magnetic strip you slid into the calculator to do special functions. That thing was neat. I don't remember the model number or price, but it was well over $100. It was also not the easiest thing to use and sometimes the rechargeable battery would die on me so I supplemented it with a cheaper TI calculator. That cheaper one had the worst buttons on it and wore out within a year. The expensive red LED TI though lasted a very long time and I ended up giving it away years later in working condition. Those were the days...

[smiley=new_birthday.gif]