Hewlett Packard HP-97 Calculator - Magnetic Cards - Calendar Functions and Conversion Program

Demonstrating the magnetic cards, Calendar Functions and Conversion program, stored on magnetic cards and read into the HP-97 via the built in card reader. These programs are part of the Standard Pac that came with the calculator when new.
Some of these cards are also compatible with the HP-67 calculator.
Because the HP-97 loses its memory contents when the power is turned off, it relies on magnetic cards to quickly load programs as required.
They are two sided and if a program uses up more than one side, the user is prompted to rotate the card as to use the second side.
Cards can be write protected to stop cards from being overwritten.
Index:
0:00 - Introduction
0:41 - A look at the Standard Pac card pack
2:07 - Calendar Functions
9:52 - Conversion programs
12:13 - Conclusion and thanks

[@commtechengineer612]

Man this thing is cool! You pull that thing out in Math class and people know you mean business!

[@MattMcIrvin]

TI calculators used similar magnetic cards and I remember thinking this was so futuristic when I saw the ads for them. I suppose it speaks to how tiny these programs were that this was even feasible with the magnetic tape of the time--you usually think of this kind of thing, on credit cards and farecards and such, as just storing a serial number that is an index to something else.

[@computeraidedworld1148]

I love seeing it run though the calculations, apparently using the display register like another I'm guessing.

[@MattMcIrvin]

The calculator really looked like it was doing something when it chewed on your problem.

[@waterup380]

Thanks and that did explain what I read in magazine has a kid

[@gobalik]

I've actually inherited one of these. When I turn it on I see "error" on the screen - it's a bit of a vague message. Since I can see that when you turn yours on you see 0.00 I know it can't be that it expects a card to be loaded. Can it be the thermal paper not loaded properly or something like that?

[@miked4377]

i enjoyed that..that is a cool machine..i never knew that they read cards like that...hp is a great company...i collect japan retro hatdware..but i like what your into on here as well..

[@RetrospectiveNZ]

Thanks.

[@gaius_marius]

HP was a great company. Unfortunately, they left the calculator business a few years ago.

[@miked4377]

@gaius_marius yeah there interesting company!

[@MattMcIrvin]

@@gaius_marius Yeah, HP isn't what it used to be. Modern HP calculators aren't really made by HP.

[@ultrametric9317]

Geez I'm spoiled. That is SO ...S....L...O....W... Yes this is Y2K compliant, it's a famous algorithm which was only discovered in relatively modern times.