The HP-80, launched in February 1973, was Hewlett Packard's second handheld calculator after the HP-35. This calculator was designed for business rather than scientific/engineering use, and was the first of its kind. Unlike the "equation-solver" scientific calculator, the HP-80 was designed to be an "answer machine" and solve problems that didn't require its user to know the formulas needed. As a result, the user could simply enter the parameters of a business problem and get an answer with a single keystroke. Its price on introduction in the US was $395.

The HP-80 had functions for business and finance calculations including:

• All types of simple and compound interest calculations
• All types of percentage calculations
• Statistical applications (mean and standard deviation)
• All types of present value, future value, and effective rate calculations
• Sum-of-the-digits amortization (finance charges, depreciation)
• Add-on interest to effective annual rate conversion
• Effective yield calculations
• Mortgage calculations
• Discounted cash flow analyses
• Bond price and yield-to-maturity calculations
• Time interval, future date calculations
• Linear regression analysis (trend line forecasting) applications
• Square root calculations

The HP-80 used the same technology as the HP-35, and its size and batteries were the same. The biggest difference is that the HP-80 had seven 256 word ROMs whereas the HP-35 had just three. The HP-80 also replaced the HP-35's x'y with y'x, relabelled the ENTER key SAVE, and was HP's first pocket calculator to have a shift key.

All features of the HP-80 can be seen at http://www.hpmuseum.org/features/80f.htm

Our calculator together with power supply and cables, Quick Guide, and Manual were very kindly donated by David Robertson.

Manufacturer: Hewlett-Packard
Date: 1973

This exhibit has a reference ID of CH17272. Please quote this reference ID in any communication with the Centre for Computing History.

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