Ah nostalgia.   I can match the IBM 360 story.....

I think in retrospect the most impressive and lasting technology I have come 
across was a Sharp scientific calculator I brought around 1976.     Has a 
bit mapped LCD display, and forget normal calculator or RPN logic - this one 
used simple agebraic input

eg

(1 +  2 + 3 + 4*6 + SIN 30) EXP 2

 - that is how you enter calculations and thats how it displays them on the 
screen

5 memories called A B C D E  which could be used in calculations

Programmable (48 steps program could be stored - was enough to write a full 
lunar module moon landing program).
statistics mode too.

Still have it and still use it.   Its a very good calculator.   Still much 
more elegant than almost all calculators today.   Can't argue with the 30+ 
years lifespan.  Even had a switch fixed by Sharp some years ago - (bad 
connection after years of use).

In fact when I wrote my own calculator program (Delphi) I based it mainly on 
how that Sharp worked as haven't still after all these years come across any 
calculator programs as simple and elegant, most still mimc plain hand held 
calculators  - (and someday it will give out, hence the program)

http://jbclnz.googlepages.com/jbclcalc

(Thats a free giveaway if anyone is interested)

John 

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