HP-15C


The HP-15C is a high-end scientific programmable calculator of Hewlett-Packard's Voyager series produced between 1982 and 1989.

Models

HP-15C

The HP-15C is a high-end scientific pocket calculator with a root-solver and numerical integration. A member of Hewlett-Packard Voyager series of programmable calculators, it was produced between 1982 and 1989. The calculator is able to handle complex numbers and matrix operations. Although out of production, its popularity has led to high prices on the used market. The HP-15C was a replacement for the HP-34C.

HP 15c Limited Edition

After showing a prototype labelled "HP 15c+" at the HHC 2010, HP announced the HP 15c Limited Edition on 1 September 2011. It is based on a flashable controller utilizing the same ARM7TDMI core already used in the 2008 revision of the 12C but in a different package, an Atmel AT91SAM7L128-AU running an emulator written by Cyrille de Brébisson to execute the old HP Nut code much faster than on the original hardware. The calculator was released alongside the HP 12c 30th Anniversary Edition. This model is powered by two CR2032 batteries, and can easily be differentiated from the original model by the "Limited Edition" script below the company logo as well as the black text on brushed metal back label, as opposed to the white text on black of the original.

Bugs and problems

HP-15C:
HP-15c Limited Edition:

Legacy

Emulators

An official PC emulator for the 15C is available as freeware from Hewlett-Packard. Another version is commercially available for Android and iOS devices.

Clones

On 6 February 2012, SwissMicros introduced a miniature clone named DM-15CC approximating the size of an ID-1 credit card. It closely emulates the functionality of the original HP-15C by running the original ROM image in an emulator on an ARM Cortex-M0-based NXP LPC1114 processor. Newer DM15 models feature a better keyboard and more RAM. With a modified firmware, the additional memory allows for up to 129 or even 230 registers and up to 1603 or 896 programs steps. A DM15 Silver Edition in a titanium case is available as well in three color variants. Deviating from the original, these calculators feature a dot-matrix display, switchable fonts and clock speeds, and, based on a Silicon Labs CP2102 converter chip, they come with an USB serial interface to exchange data with a PC etc. for backup purposes and possibly to communicate with applications or to update the firmware. In September 2015, SwissMicros introduced the DM15L, a version of the calculator about the same size as the original HP-15C. It still comes with a USB Mini-B connector. Powering via USB is not supported.