SwissMicros DM32 Review

[@alexandredeoliveirapenna198]

Hp32s is my calculator since 1987 when i start my electronic technician course, and and after that on my electrical engineering, with exception of 2 disciplines that i loan an hp48. Im glad that swissmicro make the evolution of this calculator, for me it is the best calculator hp made. Of course the dm32 batteries will not stand for years as hp32, but i see that rechargeable battery is a good replacement for that feature. Overall the new DM32 is the best calculator if you use the hp32 and always struggled on putting more programs on his 390 bytes of memory. Regarding the price, in 1986 it is around 70.00 (around 200.00 today) , a small batch product with much more functionality the price is ok.

[@arxaaron]

Great to find this channel and SwissMicros. Nice to see HP RPN living on. Great geek tech never dies, it just gets Re-tro-vitalized! 🙂

[@setharnold9764]

My God this is beautiful. My first HP was an hp48, I never really got into the forerunners, but they were clearly amazing machines built with love. And this is just an amazing homage. The hp48, especially with the metakernel system, would be one heck of an undertaking, but I'd probably have to buy one immediately.

[@josephgogan13-lu9dg]

😅

[@mokopa]

20:20 Yes, I can't agree more! The 35s was a missed opportunity and thankfully Swiss Micros was there to pick up that dropped ball, and run with it

[@john_hind]

More capable hardware with less capable software! Swiss Micros do like to make it difficult to decide which version to buy! I really wish they would give some attention to making a multi-personality keypad. With minor design tweaks and a commitment to supply, it ought not to be that difficult. Make the key-tops exchangeable, add some overlay retention features and supply overlays and key-sets so the DM32 hardware can be converted to run DM41X or DM42 firmware comfortably. Enable third parties to make conversion kits for their own firmware such as Christophe's DB48X.

[@N.A._McBee]

Couldn't agree more!

[@CalculatorCulture]

It is an interesting idea. When we buy a DM32 we are paying for the underlying hardware (both the platform and product specific hardware like the keys) and the software (both DMCP and the DM32 firmware). It’s possible to imagine alternative models where those are unbundled in different ways. Whether unbundling would be good commercially for SM is a matter of debate though. Probably better to discuss on the SM forums.

[@john_hind]

@@CalculatorCulture I suppose it depends on the balance between how many people would buy more than one model and how many (like me) buy none because we keep going to the web site and being unable to make a decision! But maybe I'm weird: I have the same problem with Apple and they seem to be doing well enough without me! With me 'fear of choosing wrong' is a more powerful motivator than 'fear of missing out'! I have a feeling though it would be more profitable to sell calculator and conversion kits separately even if they insisted on a large markup on the conversion kits to cover software costs. Conversion kits could comprise keycaps, overlay and a printed manual.

[@markusfischhaber8178]

The calculator is big disappointment. Very capable hardware but the restrictions applied are a letdown for me. Needs alternative firmware

[@N.A._McBee]

@@markusfischhaber8178 What do you mean by "the restrictions applied"?

[@tuppyglossop222]

I still use my HP32 on most days. I got it to replace my student HP33E sometime in the mid 90s. And I managed to get my employer to pay for it! I must say that I never really used it to the fullest as I did all of my heavy calculations using spreadsheets. I’m retired now, so there is no way I could justify buying one of these, but I would if I could…

[@docsnider8926]

I do my calculations with a hp11c since decades. But this looks promising, maybe i switch?

[@threadripper979]

Let us know when they're going to make a DM48 - just one more row of keys and some programming that is already being developed by Christophe de Dinechin.

[@CalculatorCulture]

Yeah there is no doubt a DM48 would be popular.

[@valuemastery]

That would be the one I'm definitely waiting for! Already having the DM42 and 41.

[@DarcyParker22]

I would buy a DM48 right away without a second thought. My HP48GX from the mid 90s has some bad keys... and I miss it. I have an emulator on my phone... it works, it is faster than the original, but I miss using holding my HP48GX and using my thumbs to tap out calculations. It is my most favourite HP calculator. I have some other swiss micro calculators... but I am more in love with the HP48gx. I hope they put it on their road map. I imagine there are many working engineers like me who can afford it and would buy a swiss micro hp48.

[@MartijnvanBuul]

​@@DarcyParker22 same here. My hp48 is failing, and the hp50 and hp prime i got to replace it just don't do it for me. The rpn mode on the prime seems an afterthought and doesn't do all that well. I could probably learn to live with the 50, but after having used a 48 for so long...

[@mgobluevictor]

I would love to see a review of the DB48x firmware on the DM42 (or DB50x on DM32)!

[@javaman4584]

Someone in the comments mentioned the idea of changing the keys. That may be possible, but it may not be necessary. Look at the functions on the keys themselves, ignoring the yellow and blue shifted functions. These are basic functions we would find on most HP calculators. Perhaps if the community could agree on a standard set of keys, that device could become a generic platform for all of the various projects being developed. Swiss Micro could sell the calculator with the basic key set and operating system but without a faceplate or software. The projects would have to provide their custom faceplate, ROM image, and optionally a bezel. Right now the DM42 is being used as a base platform for these projects, but IMO having two shift keys like the DM32 has is a better format. I understand it may be difficult for existing projects to convert their software to run on the new CPU, so it may be some time before any of this could happen.

[@matt92hun]

When there's a new competing standard.

[@meccano-oz]

The 32sii is one of my favourites.

[@markringrose230]

Anoter great review, thanks. I have Swiss Micros DM41X, DM42 and DM32. The DM32 ENTER key seems less robust - it "rocks" either left or right when pressed. Did you experience this with your DM32? Thanks.

[@CalculatorCulture]

I don’t have the review unit anymore but I didn’t notice that.

[@The.Doctor.Venkman]

Great review and thank you! I'm about to buy the DM32 as soon as finances allow 🙂

[@weekenddistractions]

This is great! The 32sii was my favorite calculator. I had two of them. The dog destroyed one of them, and I had several keys eventually stop working on the other. I'm definitely going to check this out

[@theedspage]

My favorite features of the DM32 are the state files and the four line display.

[@vladshcherbakov3112]

So how do you IR print on this calculator? There's nothing in the manual

[@dojimaryotaro6563]

Which of the three would you recommend for TVM, uneven cashflow and other financial calculations?

[@CalculatorCulture]

I’d recommend looking at HPs current financial calculators. They are all very good.

[@dojimaryotaro6563]

@@CalculatorCulture Thanks for the advice. I got the DM42 and will run C47 on it.

[@justamar]

man i didnt even know i liked calculators like that.

[@kingrex_srg]

Hello! Im currently using the calculator ti82 stats and Im trying to use nDeriv on the function 25*2^-0.3131x for x=5 but for some reason the ti82stats doesn't seem to handle negativ exponents. Same thing for functions like (4/x)+1 they work with nDeriv. Do you know why and if those are common errors for the stats?

[@jimyohe100]

When you mentioned that Swissmicros provides state files for all the programs in the original User's Manual as well as the HP-32S Engineering guide, I need to ask if the state files are already designed into the DM32 or if they are available for download someplace. If they need to be downloaded what URL are they found at?

[@henrygudalupeperezlandero5968]

I want to buy a calculator that is excellent but I think the claspad is already very old although it is still exceptional, which one would you recommend? I have no price limit and I like good experiences for the end user. In this case, I am between the Texas Instrument TI-NSpire CX ii cas, the HP Prime V2 and the Casio Classpad 2. Greetings from Mexico.

[@CalculatorCulture]

Out of those options my favourite is the HP Prime, mostly because of its hardware and simple interface. It’s not perfect but for me it’s the best graphing calculator on the market.

[@CZpersi]

I wonder, why not use e-ink screen in such calculators?

[@JohnUsp]

Maybe installing DB48X would be better than the stock program.

[@CalculatorCulture]

For those that like RPL yes you can load DB48X on it.

[@valuemastery]

@@CalculatorCultureGreat to know! Is that possible on other SwissMicros Devices as well?

[@JohnUsp]

@@valuemastery DM42

[@bicqtran]

DM48 please

[@davidswantek2295]

I love my old HP48GX that I bought while in engineering school, so now I have Droid48 running on my Phone and it is free. Sorry no sale.

[@keithrezendes6913]

Had the HP 16c

[@samuelarduino]

TOPNOTCH QUALITY! RPN should be the standard( put in the numbers first and then tell the C what to do with them) in schools, better understanding and a 30% timesaver on keystrokes / please do not say this is the last of the great calculators i guess this can very well be a new trend. maybe the company should make some apps available for kids so to play with numbers and get the idea.......

[@remainsmemories626]

By the looks of it: those are not e-ink, but Sharp memory LCD displays

[@itsfarseen]

Yeah I thought so too

[@dscott1524]

The problem with RPN calculators, and the main reason I switched to a TI-89 years ago, is the lack of calculation history. The calculator displays the result but forgets how it got there. You can't go back and revisit your calculation "That doesn't make sense, What did I put in?" To deal with this in an inexpensive package, I recommend the Sharp EL W516. I bought a HP35 back in 1972, It was wonderful and I continued with the HP65. 67, and the HP41. I loved my RPNers but now RPN is obsolete, I had to move on. I can't recommend this DM32. Time to move on. Sigh. Cheers.

[@CalculatorCulture]

You are probably not going to like the rest of my channel 🤣

[@PabloArduz]

250€ for nothing more than a mid-rsnge cientific calc???.....there are power for more, the OG HP33s is a better option than a good construction option

[@ultrametric9317]

Can you turn off the silly picture?

[@CalculatorCulture]

Yes there is a configurable folder of images the DM32 cycles through when it is turned off.

[@user-yk1cw8im4h]

That pcb is like one from a hobbyist project

[@CalculatorCulture]

Someone told me there are boutique synth makers who also do artwork on their pcbs.

[@MrFish1968]

Wow, 220 quid for a calculator!

[@LazerDon271]

Can it play Doom? Otherwise I'm not interested.

[@estebanvillalobos2303]

$280 is insane for this

[@lowellmccormick6991]

I paid $200 for an HP32SII 10 years ago and $200 again 4 years ago after the previous 32SII was stolen. Even though I'm close to retirement I'm considering buying the Dm32. Just because.

[@valuemastery]

@@lowellmccormick6991For this reason, I still have another brand new, unopened DM32Sii here, just in case. Bought two of them when they were still made by HP.

[@riendenboer6772]

Just figure out how many products you have to sell to actually make some money.. a totally different situation compared to the time every student or engineer needed one. It is a very decent price!

[@enginerdy]

Not at all. Go try to buy a professional pocket calculator now. You absolutely can’t.. the whole market is centered around SAT and other test restrictions or edu requirements. If you need a pocket calculator and a phone isn’t cutting it the DMs are great.

[@javaman4584]

I paid $360 for an HP-45 in 1974. Fifty years later I still have it and it works like new. Have a look at some of the videos about the F77 keyboard based on the IBM model F and what it took to make it happen. Manufacturing is difficult and expensive, especially in small volumes.

[@frankfirst6863]

I keep clearing my throat when listening to you speak 😮

[@CalculatorCulture]

Ahem, yes.