Comparison of HP 10C, HP 11C and HP 15C Scientific Calculators

A comparison of three classic HP scientific calculators from the Voyager series.
In this video I talk through progressive functionality of the HP 10C, 11C and 15C scientific calculators. I talk through Reverse Polish Notation (RPN) and the basic scientific functions. I then move on to talking through the linear regression capabilities of the 10C and keystroke programming and an example program that generates the Fibonacci series. I move onto the improved programming functionality on the 11C such as the index register and show an example of how loop control works. I also demo the 15C's ability to solve roots of equations and do numeric integration, as well as it's support for complex numbers and matrices. The video finishes with a summary of all three of the models and talk about which is my personal favourite.
For more information about these calculators see the following links:
- www.hpmuseum.org/hp10c.htm
- www.hpmuseum.org/hp11c.htm
- www.hpmuseum.org/hp15htm
And for more calculator videos you can visit my channel / calculatorculture

[@jurjenbos228]

I used a HP15C when studying math late 80s. While everybody was using their fancy BASIC calculators, I computed zeroes of functions, matrix calculations and complex computations. They had to write software for that :-)

[@RandallHayter]

I still carry and use my 10C. When I bought it in 1983, I couldn’t afford the 11C, much less the 15C. Truth is, over the almost 4 decades since then, I haven’t really needed the features that would have been included in the more expensive models, but that doesn’t keep me from wanting a 15C.

[@paulholbach3716]

I love the "Voyager " Series...I have several 12Cs, 2 x 11C and one 15C. Like the 11C the most. Looking back, the 11C would have been offering more a bit more features than I needed at school / university and my profession.

[@garanceadrosehn9691]

I have two of the original 16-C's which are still working. The first one I bought myself when it was first released, and in the last 35+ years that I have owned it I've had to buy batteries for it only twice.

[@mrgadget1485]

Yep, in the original model, the battery consumption was the lowest. It's quite incredible really.

[@nezbrun872]

You're right the 10c is good enough nowadays, anything more than that I would typically do on the computer. However, that doesn't stop me using the 15c anyway!

[@mrgadget1485]

In terms of quality and overall value, there will never be anything like the Voyager series.

[@karlbergen6826]

Years ago I had an HP 11C that was unfortunately stolen I was able to trace it to the pawn shop it was sold to for about one tenth of its value. I was unable to recover it. The 11C was quite well publicised when it came out and in the late 1980's was a popular calculator. I think what killed the 10C, 11C, 15C was the HP42S which had a similar logic only you could see what you were doing. It also killed the HP41. The HP28S eventually murdered of the HP42S only to be killed by the HP48SX which would fall to the HP49G/GX (GX had expansion cards). The GX had a long life until about 2000 when the HP49G came out. It was soon replaced by the hp49g+ and then the HP50g. The HP50g lasted a very long time. I still have an HP50g. I also have android Emulators of the HP50g that I usually use saving wear and tear on my real HP50g. I still miss the HP11C that got stolen.

[@4034miguel]

Hi. Thank you for making these videos about these great calculators. I love my 10C. It was always a challenge to do programs with so little memory. I liked the idea to see if i could make a smaller Fibonacci and here it is, taken advantage on how the stack, LAST x and some instructions behave. Jus for the fun: 01 0 02 PSE 03 1 04 + 05 LAST x 06 PSE 07 XY 08 GTO 04 Note: PSE acts as an ENTER. Last x is great to keep the previous result, which the program accomplishes with 07 and 04. So, it is really always showing the previous result. Cheers.

[@Scanito]

Thanks CC for this great video. I currently have in my HP calculators collection: HP-12C, HP-15C, HP-16C, HP-32s-II, HP-41CV and HP-42s w/infrared printer. Love each of these models as they are part of history. I use the most my HP-42s and enjoy programming it.

[@mrgadget1485]

For some reason HP still makes the 12C, but not these scientific calculators even though they are almost the same. I would definitely buy the 15C if they made it.

[@eighteenin78]

You are probably aware that a company called Swiss Micro currently makes 11c and 15c reproductions for reasonable costs. I believe they function identically or better than the vintage original HPs but there are minor differences about them I am not partial to. I would prefer to find and buy a near mint original from the 1980s.

[@mrgadget1485]

@@eighteenin78 , thanks! I actually bought a used 15c. It was expensive but I love it :)

[@borlibaer]

This means, the 28C was the logic development of the 15C. Where the 11C was the robust scientific programmable for on site usage. The 48sx was the super programmable of the 42S and the son of the 41. Why the 32S and 32SII? Looks like there had been a constant upgrade development of hp calculators like VOLVO did.

[@MrWaalkman]

Big fan of the 15C. I've got several different calculators, mostly HP and TI, but I still use the 15C.

[@CalculatorCulture]

Yeah it's one of the greats.

[@paulmanhart4481]

I bought a 15C, or 12C (can’t remember) back in 1983. Loved that calculator. They have a HP emulator for this calculator so you can have it on your desktop. It’s free. In 2004 when my father passed away, I found a 15C new in box in his closet. I was so happy because mine had given out. These are excellent calculators and expensive to buy, even used.

[@MrTPF1]

I had an HP-11C when I first started in my mechanical engineering curriculum in the 80's, but then I shifted to a used HP-41C after my first year all the way to the end. Though the 41 Series was much more popular at my school, I missed the simplicity and ease of carry in a jacket or shirt pocket of my 11C. I just couldn't afford the 15C at the time.

[@CalculatorCulture]

Yeah there is something very appealing about the Voyager form factor.

[@MiltongoncalvesdoamaralA-lp7hi]

Onde eu consigo uma calculadora 11c

[@abdullahalajlan5663]

I lost my mind or this, Prof. Brain Cox !!

[@CalculatorCulture]

The Prof Brian Cox of calculators? Sure, I'm totally onboard with that :)

[@abdullahalajlan5663]

@CalculatorCulture your voice and the why you talk are really identical. Anyway, I bought it, Prof. Great content, BTW. I'm more into financial calculators, but I came across out of curiosity. Keep it up👍

[@andrewh3503]

about how much faster are trig operations on the 15C than the 11C?

[@CalculatorCulture]

They are the same speed - they have the same processor.

[@neffk]

The fry in the audio is literally vibrating the sides of my cheap-ass file cabinet.

[@CalculatorCulture]

Yeah the audio is my newer videos is a lot better.

[@mrgadget1485]

Most people would never need even all the functions of the 10C.

[@MiltongoncalvesdoamaralA-lp7hi]

Preciso de uma calculadora 11c

[@JaapVersteegh]

"How that worked"... It's still working, isn't it ;)

[@Theeshingles]

Hi I love calculators to and 1 comment atyyy

[@dogone7262]

If you have a Voyager calculator on your work desk - any competent person will respect you. It signals your care for quality and accuracy - and that you know what you're talking about. Make sure you stay on top on how to use it - especially 12C users, because you are surrounded by assholes on a daily basis. A 16C will kill all resistance if you are a serious programmer, and the 15C will rise admiration among the academically oriented girls. The 10C will not get you laid, but you might if you tell them that is the most rare (and desirable) calculator on earth. The 11C is more or less expected to be in the inventory of any serious friend.

[@CalculatorCulture]

😆

[@oldtechie6834]

I love old HP calculators for memorabilia but these old calculators are good only for simple arithmetics. the user interface is just too troublesome for complex number and matrix handlings.

[@CalculatorCulture]

Yes if you use complex numbers and matrices on a day to day basis you might be better off with a 42S or newer calculator.

[@karlbergen6826]

@@CalculatorCulture Let me recommend the HP50g. It can be had for free by installing Emu48 on an android device. The emulated device on android has a more visible screen because its backlit.

[@cosicave5179]

My hearing is not good but I caught every word of your evaluation of the Ti67. But here, unfortunately, the sound quality is far worse and I've stopped watching very early on - which is a shame because I really wanted to know the differences.

[@CalculatorCulture]

Yeah the sound on these early videos was very bad.

[@chrisblum8358]

The CC on this video works nicely if you want to read along...

[@SignalRauschen]

awful sound

[@CalculatorCulture]

Yeah I had issues with my sound quality on the earlier videos. Apologies for that.