Thirty-five years ago, a former Iowa farm boy led a team that produced probably the most successful product of the time, one that, thirty-five years later, it is still selling in its original form and is used by over 100 million people worldwide.
The product I'm talking about is not the famous IBM PC that was born the same year, now only a museum piece. I'm talking about a pocket-sized device that revolutionized the way financial calculations were made — the HP 12c Financial Calculator. The HP-12C is HP’s longest and best-selling product, in continual production since its introduction in 198
The Story Behind the HP 12c
The HP 12c was the brainchild of Dennis Harms, a former farmer boy who joined HP fresh from Iowa State with a Ph.D. in numerical analysis. Harms was given the task of creating a financial calculator that would fit in a shirt pocket, be reliable, and have a long battery life.
Unlike the ever-evolving technology landscape, the HP 12c has remained virtually unchanged since its introduction. While a newer version, the HP 12c Platinum, was introduced a few years ago, most HP 12c users rejected it. They preferred the original model because of its familiar design and functionality.
So, what happens when companies push too far with product development that favors the new over the old? The results aren't always positive. They violate one of the universal laws of marketing by creating products that their customers don't want.
Hp laptop battery: comprehensive guide & replacement optionsThe HP 12c: A Calculating Marvel
I fell in love with the HP 12c back in the 80's. As an engineering student, HP calculators were like pocket computers for us. The 12c was similar, but different. If you have never used an HP calculator from that era, you don't know what you missed.
The keys on the HP 12c were solid, providing a unique feedback and a mechanical click you could feel. They were expensive too, retailing for $150 in 198Today, you can find the HP 12c for $57 on Amazon and the HP web store, which is around 15% of the original price in today's dollars.
The designers of the HP 12c packed it with a suite of financial functions and made it so accurate that it gained the approval of the National Bureau of Standards. This approval made it suitable for the banking industry. The algorithms used to perform calculations, such as bond interest and partial payments on home mortgages, were critical for the calculator to be trusted by the financial world and meet U.S. standards.
There are some people who trust no other calculator in the market to do the job. Dale Kern, a Real Estate broker in Oregon, owns three HP 12c calculators. He keeps one in his briefcase, one on his desk, and another one as a backup. When he heard the rumor a few years ago that they might stop producing the HP 12c, he bought another one, just in case. stop making the hp 12c? not likely, he says.
Why the HP 12c Stands the Test of Time
One of the main reasons for the HP 12c's success is the way it was designed. It is no secret that Hewlett Packard was a big fan of calculators. The success of the HP 12c was the result of uncompromising quality and an enormous amount of work, forethought, and a certain amount of luck, as Harms acknowledges.
Hp printheads: all you need to knowThe designers wanted to use Reverse Polish Notation (RPN) logic in the HP 12c because it would make it easier to operate and program, and would save memory. However, the marketing people did not want a product that worked differently from the desktop calculating machines of that time. Harms says, we decided to force it. Surprisingly, it never became an issue with the customers. People were so glad to get the 12c and the power that it gave them that they taught themselves to use RPN. This is one of the main reasons why I love the 12c; RPN is the way all calculators should operate.
Battery life was also a crucial consideration for the HP 12c. The original design had two button cell batteries, but the team couldn't live with the worst-case scenario of a battery life of only three weeks. They decided to add a third battery, which required placing them vertically. As a result, the back of the calculator was thicker than the front, creating an angle that made it easier to read. People assumed it was designed that way on purpose. I never had to change the batteries of my 12c, but I wasn't a heavy user. HP used silver oxide batteries in the 1980s, which had a life expectancy of 10 years or more. Many users reported using their calculators for several years without needing to change the batteries.
The popularity of the HP 12c has led to the development of emulators for all major smartphone operating systems, including an official app from HP for the iPhone and iPad, as well as another one for Android phones. it can't be only nostalgia, says Paul Furber, a columnist for ItWeb. even people who weren't born when the 12c came out are devoted users, he adds.
If you have never used an HP 12c, I highly recommend giving it a try. You can also download an app for your iPhone or Android phone to experience the power of this financial calculator. And if you have never used RPN, you don't know what you are missing.
Hewlett packard financial calculator: the ultimate guideBy the way, the official user manual of the HP 12c is available on the HP website. It was written in 1981 and is an excellent book on basic financial math, which is worth reading as well.