3 ms·

Interesting that using microprocessors in (simple) calculators was very short-lived, they were very quickly replaced by custom-made controllers: "While the 4000

by rob74 2y ago

Interesting that using microprocessors in (simple) calculators was very short-lived, they were very quickly replaced by custom-made controllers: "While the 4000 series microprocessor chip-set was being developed, the "calculator on a chip" MK6010 was developed for Busicom by Mostek.".

ninalanyon 2y ago
But the TI84 series uses a Z80 so it seems that the microprocessors won in the end.
- AnimalMuppet 2y ago
  If the TI84 were the only calculator, that would indeed be the conclusion. It's not, though. Perhaps we could say that the microprocessors didn't totally lose. Or is it more generally true that all high-end calculators use microprocessors?
  - nxobject 2y ago
    I'd argue that the most common calculators are the four-function calculators (plus GT, MR etc.) used by sellers worldwide in the non-Western world that don't want to use full-function POS systems and still use paper ledgers – the ones with solar cells and battery lifetimes in the order of months. While they used to have special-purpose controllers, sadly, they seem to be shoving Android in them now... perhaps for a good upgrade path, though. [1] [1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ui2UVUXiIzY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ui2UVUXiIzY
II2II 2y ago
Keep in mind that Busicom was pretty much asking for a custom made controller in the beginning (more accurately, a set of chios), but Intel suggested a simpler solution. In the end, calculators ended up being sold in such large volumes that it ended up being cheaper to have an application specific controller. (That said, more sophisticated calculators still use microcontrollers.)
em3rgent0rdr 2y ago
Counter example: People now use their smartphone's calculator app, and that is powered by a general purpose CPU core.
- ThrowawayTestr 2y ago
  The irony of course being that the GUI requires thousands of more calculations than the actual math problem you're calculating.
  - nom 2y ago
    it's the future, we made our calculators so big and complicated that we have to calculate a smaller calculator for our calculations
    - cbzoiav 2y ago
      You just need to ask Chat GPT then ask Gemini and CoPilot if the answer is right.

by rob74 2y ago

ninalanyon 2y ago

But the TI84 series uses a Z80 so it seems that the microprocessors won in the end.

AnimalMuppet 2y ago
If the TI84 were the only calculator, that would indeed be the conclusion. It's not, though. Perhaps we could say that the microprocessors didn't totally lose. Or is it more generally true that all high-end calculators use microprocessors?
- nxobject 2y ago
  I'd argue that the most common calculators are the four-function calculators (plus GT, MR etc.) used by sellers worldwide in the non-Western world that don't want to use full-function POS systems and still use paper ledgers – the ones with solar cells and battery lifetimes in the order of months. While they used to have special-purpose controllers, sadly, they seem to be shoving Android in them now... perhaps for a good upgrade path, though. [1] [1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ui2UVUXiIzY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ui2UVUXiIzY

II2II 2y ago

Keep in mind that Busicom was pretty much asking for a custom made controller in the beginning (more accurately, a set of chios), but Intel suggested a simpler solution. In the end, calculators ended up being sold in such large volumes that it ended up being cheaper to have an application specific controller. (That said, more sophisticated calculators still use microcontrollers.)

em3rgent0rdr 2y ago

Counter example: People now use their smartphone's calculator app, and that is powered by a general purpose CPU core.

ThrowawayTestr 2y ago
The irony of course being that the GUI requires thousands of more calculations than the actual math problem you're calculating.
- nom 2y ago
  it's the future, we made our calculators so big and complicated that we have to calculate a smaller calculator for our calculations
  - cbzoiav 2y ago
    You just need to ask Chat GPT then ask Gemini and CoPilot if the answer is right.