The HP-Xpander was to be HP's newest graphing calculator

Graphing calculator

A graphing calculator typically refers to a class of handheld calculators that are capable of plotting graphs, solving simultaneous equations, and performing numerous other tasks with variables...

, but the project was canceled just months before it was scheduled to go into production. It had both a keyboard and a pen-based interface, measures 162.6 mm by 88.9 mm by 22.9 mm, had a huge grayscale screen, and ran on two rechargeable AA batteries. It had a semi-translucent green cover on a gray case and an expansion slot.

The underlying operating system was Windows CE

Windows CE

Microsoft Windows CE is an operating system developed by Microsoft for embedded systems. Windows CE is a distinct operating system and kernel, rather than a trimmed-down version of desktop Windows...

 3.0. It had 8MB RAM, 16MB ROM, a geometry

Geometry

Geometry arose as the field of knowledge dealing with spatial relationships. Geometry was one of the two fields of pre-modern mathematics, the other being the study of numbers ....

 application, 240x320 display, Hitachi SH3 processor

SuperH

SuperH is a 32-bit reduced instruction set computer instruction set architecture developed by Hitachi. It is implemented by microcontrollers and microprocessors for embedded systems....

, and e-lessons. One of the obvious omissions in the Xpander was the lack of a computer algebra system

Computer algebra system

A computer algebra system is a software program that facilitates symbolic mathematics. The core functionality of a CAS is manipulation of mathematical expressions in symbolic form.-Symbolic manipulations:...

.

In 2001 HP's design group in Australia was disbanded. HP decided to release the HP-Xpander software, named the Math Xpander, as a free application that runs on Windows CE

Windows CE

Microsoft Windows CE is an operating system developed by Microsoft for embedded systems. Windows CE is a distinct operating system and kernel, rather than a trimmed-down version of desktop Windows...

 based Pocket PC devices. The Math-Xpander software is hosted by Saltire Software Inc..

External links

• Math Xpander – The HP Xpander software which runs on Windows CE 3.0
• xpander
• XPander on HPMuseum – A good description of the Xpander on HPMuseum.com
• HP-Xpander
• HP-Xpander
• News of Xpander Canceled – Article on CNET describing the cancellation of the Xpander

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