The HP Prime is a graphing calculator introduced by Hewlett-Packard in 2013 and currently manufactured by HP Inc. It was designed with features resembling those of smartphones, such as a full-color touchscreen display and the ability to expand functionality by means of downloadable applications. It claims to be the world's smallest and thinnest CAS-enabled calculator currently available. The functionality of the HP Prime is also available as emulation software for PCs and Macs, as well as for various smartphones.
Design and software
The HP Prime's graphical user interface features two separate home screens, one of which contains an integrated computer algebra system based on the free and open-sourceXcas/Giac 1.4.9 engine, which evolved from that of the HP 49G and its successors. Both the standard and CAS modes function independently of each other and the calculator can quickly switch between the two, unlike some of its competitors, such as the TI-Nspire series by Texas Instruments, which comes in either CAS-supported models or non-CAS models. The G1 model calculator has a 1500 mAh battery, which is expected to last up to 15 hours on a single charge. The G2 model comes with a battery with a capacity of 2000 mAh.
Exam Mode
The HP Prime has a feature called Exam Mode. This enables various features of the calculator to be selectively disabled for a specific time, from 15 minutes to 8 hours. This can be done manually within the calculator's menus, or by using a computer with HP's connectivity software. LEDs on the top of the calculator blink to let the instructor see that the calculator is in this mode. Despite this feature, the Prime is still prohibited in many examinations, such as the US's ACT college-entry test. It is however starting to be accepted in other examinations, like those run by the Dutch CvTE, the Swiss IB, or Alberta education authorities.
Programming
The HP Prime's non-CAS home-screen supports textbook, algebraic and 128-level RPN entry logic. However, it uses a new operating system unrelated to HP's legacy Saturn and Saturn-emulated systems, which were used on HP's previous RPN/RPL graphing calculators; therefore, it is not compatible with any User RPL or System RPL, or with programming in Saturn or ARMv4Tassembly language. The calculator supports programming in a new, Pascal-like programming language now named HP PPL that also supports creating apps. This is based on a language introduced on the HP 38G and built on in subsequent models.
Hardware revisions and model variants
The first production model in 2013 reports its hardware revision as A. This model does not support wireless connectivity, unit-to-unit USB communication, or data streaming. The calculator is manufactured by Inventec Besta and utilizes a modified version of their Besta operating system. The second production model reports its hardware revision as C. It was introduced in May 2014. This model supports features lacking in the first production model, namely wireless connectivity, unit-to-unit USB communication, and data streaming. The wireless kit includes a base station connected to a PC and wireless modules to connect to up to 30 HP Prime calculators for use in a classroom. The third production model, which was introduced in August 2016, has a revised color scheme with darker blue and orange colors for an improved readability of the keyboard. It still carries the model number G8X92AA and reports a hardware revision of C, but the package shows a 2016 copyright. Introduced in July 2018, HP introduced a new hardware generation with model number 2AP18AA and hardware revision D. This version features an NXP i.MX 6ULL MCIMX6Y2 processor with ARM Cortex A7 core and is about three times faster. It provides more RAM and flash ROM and runs FreeRTOS. It is labelled "G2" on the back.
