Today, the thing that makes the HP48 series much less useful is simply that they lack a backlight.

I find them simply difficult to read and use today because of that.

So, I just use a HP48 app on my phone. It's not as good, lacking the tactile response of the keyboard. But it's close.

I used to program the 48's. You think laptops are convenient, wait until you try coding in bed on a 48. Very comfortable, if you can stay awake :).

Dunno man, I did just fine with my 48 and I do just fine with the crappy lcd scientific calculator I have now, but it’s basic and doesn’t hold a candle to the 48.

Did do a fair bit of programming in the 48 too :) fun shit.