A little bit of something.

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Digging further into the HP 48G, the calculator I bought long ago and never really had time to learn, is an experience.  I have already found one of the first problems I had with the calculator.  I figured it out back when, but couldn't remember how I had done it.  Yes, I tinkered with it just a bit.  Changing the menu system on the calculator is sort of a trick.  You don't actually change menus, or back out of one.  You simply hit a menu button.  Of course, getting into the menu, but without a clear way out, I didn't want to just go pushing other buttons.  The manuals I downloaded, from HP, aren't searchable.  So... I had to hunt and peck.  Even then, the menu system isn't explained.  The buttons are not listed as to what they do.  It is simply that I understand what some of these tech nerds are talking about and figured the rest out on my own.

And, following along in the guide, I was trapped several times.  They suggested that pushing this and that button would get to this or that, then didn't describe how to get out of this or that.  I actually think the thing was set up as a trap to either shoo people away who were just curious or make those who were reading with intent dig.  Nerds are passive-aggressive, mind you.  I did figure out several things.  First, how to get out of several operation types, second, not to trust passive-aggressive nerds.  They sort of lead me to follow what they were doing, then up and stopped guiding how to undo things.

In my search for answers, I did some side research on the device.  Honestly?  It is a full blown computer, with alpha-numerics, many forms of mathematics easily arranged, tables for constants with room to easily add others.  This thing, for mathematics, along with the graphing capabilita, is truly a serious little device.  Time will tell how it compares with the TI-89.  My guess is that they are quite similar.  The thing is, if you are used to one form of data input, the other will always be sort of out of reach.  Which is another part of the reason I didn't dig into, while in engineering school.  It could have ended up being more confusing than helpful, throwing off my better function.  Now I can play.  Oh, it is even quite programmable.  As is the TI 89.  They might be the right tools for me to experiment in that area.  I have wanted to learn, but... classes weren't really all that good at teaching, either too fast or too slow, and I simply never had the time.  I don't know if I will, but the option to tear into things on my own, at least a bit, is now available.

I opened the windows, pulled the curtains, opened the doors, and turned off the furnace.  It is a bit chill.  But the light is amazing.  I was having a great deal of difficulty reading the buttons on the calculator.  I guess, with light, my eyes aren't as bad as I had thought.  :p  Hmm...  On to something or other else.  The calculator, and manual, were as frustrating as my computer game!  Bleh.  Later.