HP 48

Revision as of 02:50, 12 February 2022 by Liamur (talk | contribs) (Started work on this page. Added 48SX, 48S, and 48GX so far.)

The HP 48 series is five RPL graphing calculators first introduced in 1990.

HP 48SX
HP-48SX.jpeg
Introduced1990
PredecessorHP 28S and HP 41C
SuccessorHP 48GX
CPU
ProcessorClarke (2MHz Saturn)
Programming
Other
HP 48S
SuccessorHP 48G
CPU
ProcessorClarke (2MHz Saturn)
Programming
Other

Overview

All models are based on the Saturn processor. The HP 48 has RS-232-compatible serial and bidirectional infrared, and the expandable ("X") models have two slots for a ROM or RAM expansion card. The screen is a traditional 131x64 twisted nematic LCD.

User RAM is 32 KB in the S, SX, and G models and 128 KB in the GX and G+ models.

HP 48SX

HP 48GX
PredecessorHP 48SX
SuccessorHP 48G+
CPU
ProcessorYorke (4MHz Saturn)
Programming
Other

The HP 48SX was the first model of the series, released in 1990. It expands on the features of the HP 28S, expanding upon the RPL system. It adds several new object types, a new powerful unit conversion system, a graphical equation editor (the first of its kind on a calculator) and matrix editor, more graphing options, serial and IR communications, and a clock and alarm system. The model number comes from a combination of the HP 41 and the HP 28, as it bridges the best features of both systems.

Both the SX and S series use a 2 MHz Saturn processor known as Clarke. These models have 256 KB of ROM and 32 KB of RAM.

HP 48S

HP 48G
PredecessorHP 48S
SuccessorHP 48G+
CPU
ProcessorYorke (4MHz Saturn)
Programming
Other

The HP 48S was introduced in 1991 as a lower-cost alternative to the 48SX. It is identical in every way to the 48SX except that it is missing the two expansion slots of the SX.

HP 48GX

HP 48G+
PredecessorHP 48G, HP 48GX
SuccessorHP 49G
CPU
ProcessorYorke (4MHz Saturn)
Programming
Other

The HP 48GX was introduced in 1993 and was designed to address some of the issues with the 48S series. For one, it has 128 KB of RAM built-in for user data. It also uses a 512 KB ROM with many new features, including the Equation Library (which was an expansion card for the 48S series), a new GUI interface, XModem serial transfers, and a new case design.