The 20 Year Battery

The year was 1990 and I was on the cutting edge of technology. I purchased a HP 12C Scientific Calculator. Yes, a calculator! Do they still make calculators? Would a child know what one is? Other than the application that is built into each computer and phone?

The HP was a fantastic machine. Simple to use, once you mastered the entry sequences, and capable of calculating complex equations easily. Beyond simple math and percentages, most of my usage was devoted to calculating net present value and return on investment. I've used the same calculator for 20 years! Twenty years of usage sounds plausible for artwork and traditional furniture, but electronics? Quite a machine.

It died a few days ago. But Easter came early. I pried the back off to discover three small batteries, the gems that had kept it operating for 20 years, and wondered if they still sold that variety. Later that day my wife came back from the mall with three new batteries that a fellow in a kiosk assured her would work perfectly. They did and the HP 12C is functional again. I'm counting on another 20 years.

I don't have a clue about the technology that kept 3 batteries humming for 20 years, but that manufacturer knows how to build a quality product. I hope they are working on a battery for an electric car because they are apt to get its design right.