HP-10B
| Industry | Electronics, Computer hardware, Calculators |
|---|---|
| Founded | January 1, 1939 |
| Products | HP-10B, HP-10BII, HP-10bII+ |
The HP-10B (F1636A) is a financial calculator designed primarily for students, introduced in 1987 as a competitive alternative to the more advanced HP-12C. Two distinct editions were released: the initial model featured orange key labels and utilized an 1LU7 HP Saturn processor, while a 2000 update presented teal-green key inscriptions; both versions maintain the same core features.
Launched in 2001, the HP 10BII (F1902A) brought both design and internal enhancements, including a transition to a Hitachi H8 CPU. This iteration's firmware exhibits minor differences from its predecessor, such as an updated keyboard layout and a reduction in storage registers from 15 down to 10. Initial manufacturing defects were subsequently addressed. There are two aesthetic variants: the original 2001 "10BII" model with a gold-toned bezel and purple highlights, and the 2007 "10bII" version sporting a silver bezel paired with blue accents; functionally, these are identical.
In 2011, the HP 10bII+ (NW239AA), internally known as "Bluestar," introduced expanded functionality with dual input modes—supporting both chain input for backward compatibility and algebraic input that honors operator precedence. This model incorporated additional financial calculations such as bond valuation, break-even points, and depreciation methods, alongside improved scientific capabilities including trigonometric functions and statistical regression analysis. It operates on a flash-programmable Atmel AT91SAM7L128 processor featuring an ARM7TDMI core.
A hardware update in 2015 enhanced the HP 10bII+ by replacing its processor with an Atmel ATSAM4LC2CA unit based on an ARM Cortex-M4 core. Despite this internal change, the part number and external design remained consistent except for a "Rev 2" identifier. Serial numbers for this revision begin with "PHA," and the flash programming interface protocol was upgraded to USB.
None of these five calculator models provide support for Reverse Polish Notation.