A dive down the history of programmer's calculators of the 1970s and 1980s. These devices are calculators for programmers distinct from programmable calculators.
https://innovintageblog.wordpress.com/2026/01/05/programmers-calculators
Discussion
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@amoroso
I have a 16c since new, and a used TI Programmer.
The 16c is beyond good. It will do 2s complement, 1s complement (only one variety), unsigned math. Variable words size as mentioned.
But it has a full set of logical operators and shift and rotates. I had programs written that did disk table calcs, CPM disk skew calcs, etc.
One of those sweet spot in a lifetime devices.
The TI seemed a bit half done honestly.
@tomjennings Does the 16C still work?
A bit beat up, but it was in constant use til 10 years ago. The 2 key misses occasionally; I need to look up disassembly and cleaning, or maybe pay someone to do it.
Back in 93 or 94 the guy I worked for, Neil Colvin, thought they were so neato he bought all three or so employees one.
I just put my last three fresh 357's in it.
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@tomjennings All in all not too bad.
It's kind of a perfect Object. I don't own a lot of things like this. The spiral bound manual is lovely too.
@tomjennings And the design of HP alculator keys is unique.
Yes! Battery life was great, like over a year or two, with the old battery chemistry. Today, they last days or weeks.
I'm considering an external battery pack, something sleek,a buck converter to make the right voltage.
@amoroso When my HP 22S finally went to digital heaven a few weeks ago, there wasn't much thinking. I got myself a new HP 15C Collector's Edition.
@amoroso hmm, I remember in 1980 helping a friend who had a TI calculator that could be programmed, and could save its programs onto little thin cards.
We wrote a prime number seeker (prove N to be prime then try the next number ad infinitum) but that's all I can remember.
I had to switch my thinking a bit because I'd already been used to my brother's HP-45 - not a programmable but I'd set myself sequences of actions for it (i.e. I was the program).
@geraldew Back in the day I never could afford a programmer's or programmable calculator.
@amoroso me neither. I quote my early calculator experiences in my "coding history"
https://dev.to/geraldew/my-coding-history-part-1-3onb
(for which I see some of the image links now have bit rot, so I should take the time to update them).
