The Museum of HP Calculators

HP-17B

HP's first pocket business calculator with full algebraic logic including precedence. This model had an unusually sparse looking keyboard with a single shift key and shifted functions on only about 40% of its keys. Most of its functions were in menus. It had a two line dot matrix screen like the HP-27S but it always showed a menu on the bottom line. (Usually the main menu with its FINancial, BUSiness, SUM, TIME and SOLVE submenus.)

Algebraic (With a Stack)

The calculator used a rather nice form of algebraic logic in which pending operations were left in the display. For example if the user pressed 1+2*3, the calculator would show that expression in display. On pressing +6, the calculator would evaluate the part that it now could and display 7+6. Raising numbers to powers used the syntax used in many computer languages like 5^6. (Like the majority of algebraic calculators, however, most unary functions were postfix (RPN) so you still typed 5 SIN not SIN(5).

Even though it was algebraic, it also had a four level stack with roll up and roll down commands. This was called the "history stack" and the equivalent of X on an RPN model was called the "calculator line". The number on the level above could be retrieved into the current expression on the calculator line with the LAST key.

Other features included:

• Basic four math functions plus logarithms, reciprocal, factorial etc. (Some hidden under the MATH menu.)
• Algebraic solver.
• Basic business/financial functions including Time Value of Money, cash flows, bonds, depreciation business percentages etc.
• Basic statistics.
• Time and appointments.
• A beeper which beeped on appointments and optionally on errors.
• Infrared printing.
• 6.7K Bytes of user memory.

Picture (~56K)

HP-17B features

Saturn Architecture

Dimensions and Weight

Price: $110

Introduction-Discontinuation: 1988-1990

Go back to the main exhibit hall
Next Calculator Made
Previous Calculator Made