Old PC Technology

[a9127]

Originally Posted by ila

I couldn't help but notice the ℼ key. I checked my handheld calculators and none of them, including the scientific versions, has that key. The various calculators on my computer do. Even my old slide rules had ℼ marked on them. It's so much faster to do a lot of calculations if the key/mark is there rather than having to remember 3.1416 or divide 22 by 7.

I never paid attention to that before but you are right. I have a "TI-84" in a drawer in my office that I never use. Think you have to press the "2nd" key to get ℼ.

Anyway, here's the "real deal." It still works. Hardest part was finding 4 "AA" batteries around the house. All our remotes take "AAA." Came to life right away. Not bad for 45...

On this calculator, ℼ is 3.141592.

The instructions are yellowed and crumbling. Hope I don't forget how to use it.

And you can see the "little zeroes" I was talking about.


To put this all in perspective. In 1974:

Skylab was still active. It would fall back to Earth in 1979.

The US speed limit was 55 MPH (about 88 kph).

Nixon (US President) was embroiled in the "Watergate" scandal and facing impeachment. He would resign in August.

In April, tornadoes caused many fatalities in the mid-west United States during what was known as the "Superoutbreak." It wouldn't be surpassed until 2011.

"California Jam" took place featuring many hard rock bands of the era. Black Sabbath featuring Ozzy was one of the headliners. You can find the entire thing on YouTube.

"Streaking" was popular around the world.

ABBA was very popular. "Waterloo" was #1 in the UK (Agnetha ).