Radio Shack PC-2

Datasheet legend
Ab/c: Fractions calculation
AC: Alternating current
BaseN: Number base calculations
Card: Magnetic card storage
Cmem: Continuous memory
Cond: Conditional execution
Const: Scientific constants
Cplx: Complex number arithmetic
DC: Direct current
Eqlib: Equation library
Exp: Exponential/logarithmic functions
Fin: Financial functions
Grph: Graphing capability
Hyp: Hyperbolic functions
Ind: Indirect addressing
Intg: Numerical integration
Jump: Unconditional jump (GOTO)
Lbl: Program labels
LCD: Liquid Crystal Display
LED: Light-Emitting Diode
Li-ion: Lithium-ion rechargeable battery
Lreg: Linear regression (2-variable statistics)
mA: Milliamperes of current
Mtrx: Matrix support
NiCd: Nickel-Cadmium rechargeable battery
NiMH: Nickel-metal-hydrite rechargeable battery
Prnt: Printer
RTC: Real-time clock
Sdev: Standard deviation (1-variable statistics)
Solv: Equation solver
Subr: Subroutine call capability
Symb: Symbolic computing
Tape: Magnetic tape storage
Trig: Trigonometric functions
Units: Unit conversions
VAC: Volts AC
VDC: Volts DC
Years of production:   Display type: Alphanumeric display  
New price:   Display color: Black  
    Display technology: Liquid crystal display 
Size: 3½"×8"×1" Display size: 26 characters
Weight: 16 oz    
    Entry method: BASIC expressions 
Batteries: 4×"AA" alkaline Advanced functions: Trig Exp Cmem Snd 
External power: 6VDC   Memory functions:  
I/O: Printer, cassette     
    Programming model: BASIC 
Precision: 13 digits Program functions: Jump Cond Subr Lbl Ind  
Memories: 1850(0) bytes Program display: Text display  
Program memory: 1850 bytes Program editing: Text editor  
Chipset: Sharp PC-1500   Forensic result: 8.99998153428  

pc2.jpg (38154 bytes)Whoops. This calculator looks eerily familiar. Of course, I know why. Despite the label that seems to suggest that this is a handheld version of Tandy's venerable TRS-80, in reality this machine is none other but the Sharp PC-1500 handheld computer in disguise.

And a solid, albeit somewhat bulky, BASIC programmable unit it is. Nobody complained that Radio Shack had bad taste when they picked the models that they chose to sell under their OEM brand name.

The PC-2's programming model is illustrated by the following example, computing the logarithm of the Gamma function to high precision:

10:INPUT X
20:Z=ABS X
30:G=2.506628275+6.3E-10+(225.5255846+1.9E-8)/Z-(268.2959738+4.1E-8)/(Z+1)
40:G=G+(80.90308069+3.5E-9)/(Z+2)-(5.007578639+7.1E-10)/(Z+3)
50:G=LN(G+(.011468489+5.435E-10)/(Z+4))+(Z-.5)*LN (Z+4.65)-Z-4.65
60:IF X>0THEN 90
70:RADIAN
80:G=LN (π/X/SIN (π*Z))-G
90:PRINT G,EXP G