(Feedbackto.hp)
Item: 220 by _Guest_ at hpcvbbs.cv.hp.com
Author: [name withheld  -jkh-]
  Subj: HPSX-40
  Date: Mon Dec 02 1991

[Note: The average user of HP's BBS is intelligent, curious, and the
 sort who enjoys a challenge.  But once in a while somebody logs on
 who... uh... well, read this, and you'll see what I mean...   -jkh-]

Have just bought a HPSX-48 and have found it extremely difficult to
use.  The problem seems to be the RPL language which requires the user
to know the stack manipulation characteristics of any operation before
it is safe to push that operation button.  RPN was an excellent
language because everyone already knew the stack manipulation
characteristics of operations like plus and factorial.  The RPL
language does not have its origins in mathematical characteristics
that everyone already knows, but is based upon new functions and
commands invented by HP engineers and hence must be learned by the
user.
  
Unfortunately the college bookstore where I purchased the item will
not take it back in return.  Hence, I will be trying to resell the
item myself.
  
Considering all of the good experience I have had with HP calculators
and products in the past, this present experience with the 48SX comes
as somewhat of a surprise.
  
[Name witheld to protect the blissfully innocent.  -jkh-]

----------
  Resp: 1 by akcs.joehorn@hpcvbbs.cv.hp.com
Author: [Joseph K. Horn]
  Date: Tue Dec 03 1991

Have just bought an airplane and have found it extremely difficult to
drive.  The problem seems to be all the controls which require the
driver to know the spatio-temporal impact of every control surface
before it is safe to move that control.  Street driving is an
excellent means of transportation, because everyone already knows the
forces required and caused by acceleration and turning.  But the
physics of driving an airplane does not have its origins in automotive
characteristics that everyone already knows, but is based on new laws
and controls invented by the airplane manufacturer and hence must be
learned by the driver.

Unfortunately the dealer where I purchased the airplane will not take
it back in return.  Hence, I will be trying to resell the item myself.

Considering all the good experience I have had with cars and bicycles
in the past, this present experience with the airplane comes as
somewhat of a surprise.

-Joe Horn-    -and the manual is too damn big-