PALO ALTO, Calif., Apr 20, 2004 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- HP (NYSE:HPQ)(Nasdaq:HPQ) today unveiled the world's most powerful RPN scientific programmable calculator currently available - the HP 33s.

Preferred by many engineers, scientists and students for its efficiency, RPN - which stands for Reverse Polish Notation - is HP's exclusive time-saving, consistent method for entering and solving mathematical problems.(1)

The HP 33s is HP's most advanced, programmable scientific calculator, packing 31 kilobytes of user memory along with the powerful "HP Solve" application into a shirt-pocket-sized unit weighing only 119 grams (4.2 ounces). It can be switched between HP's exclusive RPN input mode or the traditional algebraic mode. It also conforms to many new exam requirements that call for calculators without text or communications capabilities.

The high-performance HP 33s is the first RPN scientific calculator since the HP 32sII was launched in 1991 and continues the company's 32-year legacy in pocket-sized, scientific calculators.

With its power and portability, the HP 33s is designed to appeal to engineers, surveyors, college students, scientists and medical professionals - people on the go who need a highly accurate, reliable, full-featured calculator able to compute statistics, base-N, mathematical functions and fractions.

"The predecessor to the HP 33s calculator, the HP 32sII, was extremely popular. Of all the calculators that we have made, the HP 32sII has been the one most mentioned by name by our customers," said Fred Valdez, general manager, calculators, Personal Systems Group, HP. "With the HP 33s, we've added the algebraic or more traditional entry mode and boosted performance and speed, while retaining the attributes that made the HP 32sII so popular. This ensures that new users can take advantage of its powerful features while learning about its unique RPN features."

HP 33s: Part of a comprehensive range of calculators for all users

The HP 33s brings to 11 the total number of scientific, graphing and financial models that HP makes to meet the needs of all calculator users. HP now offers three scientific calculators - including the HP 9s and HP 30s - with prices and features for every level of user.

The HP 33s traces its ancestry back to 1972, when HP invented the HP 35, the world's first handheld scientific calculator. It includes a stylish design and the most modern capabilities. The HP Solve feature makes it possible to write, store and solve equations for an unknown variable without having to rewrite the equation. The crisp, two-line display offers easy readability in the challenging on-the-job and exacting computer science and engineering school disciplines where HP's scientific calculators are used.

With a U.S. suggested retail price of $65(2), the HP 33s is expected to be available at selected retailers worldwide by late spring. In the United States, the HP 33s will also be available online at www.hp.com/calculators and at HP's Small & Medium Business online store at www.hp.com/buy/hpcalculators as well as www.walmart.com and other online outlets.

HP offers a comprehensive range of calculators designed for math and science students, engineers, scientists, medical professionals, and financial and business consultants. More information about HP's entire range of calculators as well as a list of resellers and retailers are available at http://www.hp.com/calculators. Also available on this Web site are step-by-step learning modules for HP's current range of calculators.