Sinclair Scientific Programmable Calculator

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The Sinclair Scientific Programmable calculator was released in mid-1975, and is housed in casing similar to the later models of the Sinclair Oxford series of calculators. In the early 1970s the handheld/pocket calculator market was moving very fast as the IC technology was improving at a similar rate. The first handheld scientific calculator (HP-35) had been released in 1972, and the first handheld programmable calculator (HP-65) had been released in 1974.

The advent of the handheld programmable calculator meant that calculators became a lot more powerful and could be used in many different applications. In an advert in New Scientist from 18th September 1975 for the 'new' Sinclair Scientific Programmable it advertises how "With a programmable calculator, the number of functions which can be performed is unlimited. It becomes a true miniature computer."

The Sinclair Scientific Programmable calculator allowed programs with up to 24 steps to be entered. It had a library of over 400 standard programs. It featured full scientific notation, with a floating-point entry option. It used reverse Polish notation entry. It had a nine-digit VFD with five-digit precision. It was powered by 9v alkaline battery or mains adaptor.

When released the Sinclair Scientific Programmable cost only £29.95 including VAT. In February 1975 the HP-65 cost £442.80 (including VAT) in the UK. However, the Sinclair model did not have the same capability or power as the HP model.

Manufacturer: Sinclair Radionics
Date: 1975

Other Systems Related To Sinclair Scientific Programmable Calculator:

Item Manufacturer Date
Sinclair Executive Type 2 Sinclair Radionics 1972
Sinclair Executive Type 1 Circuit Board Sinclair Radionics 1972
Sinclair Executive Type 1 Sinclair Radionics 1972
Sinclair Executive Memory (Possible Development Model) Sinclair Radionics 1973
Sinclair Executive Memory (Development Model) Sinclair Radionics 1973
Sinclair Cambridge (Type 1) Sinclair Radionics July 1973
Sinclair Oxford 100 (Type 1) Sinclair Radionics 1975
Sinclair Cambridge (Type 3) Sinclair Radionics 1975
Sinclair Oxford 200 (Type 1) Sinclair Radionics 1975
Sinclair Oxford 200 (Type 2) Sinclair Radionics 1975
Sinclair Oxford 200 (Type 1 - Early Style) Sinclair Radionics 1975
Sinclair Oxford Universal Sinclair Radionics 1975
Sinclair Oxford 300 (Type 2) Sinclair Radionics 1975
Sinclair Cambridge (Type 4) Sinclair Radionics 1975
Sinclair Sovereign (Gold) Sinclair Radionics 1976
Sinclair Enterprise (Early Prototype Model) Sinclair Radionics 1976
Sinclair Sovereign (Black) Sinclair Radionics 1976
Sinclair Cambridge Scientific Calculator Sinclair Radionics 1976
Sinclair Enterprise (Possible Prototype Model) Sinclair Radionics 1977
Sinclair Sovereign (Silver Jubilee) Sinclair Radionics 1977
Sinclair Enterprise Programmable Sinclair Radionics 1978

This exhibit has a reference ID of CH31308. Please quote this reference ID in any communication with the Centre for Computing History.

 

Sinclair Scientific Programmable Calculator


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