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Imagine a world where complex calculations required a room full of equipment. Before the 1970s, that was reality. Then came the HP-35, the first scientific hand-held calculator, introduced by Hewlett-Packard on February 1, 1972. Suddenly, calculations that once took hours could be done in seconds, all in the palm of your hand.
Before the HP-35, the slide rule was king. However, this new device was sleek and portable, revolutionizing the way mathematicians and scientists approached their work.
At $395 (equivalent to about $2,500 today), the HP-35 wasn't cheap. Yet, for professionals who needed precision and portability, it was a game-changer.
With an array of buttons for trigonometric and exponential functions, the HP-35 was like a Swiss Army knife for numbers. It could handle complex calculations with ease.
Today, calculators are everywhere, from our smartphones to our smart watches. However, the HP-35 was the trailblazer that made it all possible. It was a statement that the future of technology was portable and personal.
The HP-35 wasn't just a calculator; it was a beacon of innovation, paving the way for the compact tech we take for granted today. Here's to the little calculator that could! π₯
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