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Calculators: Handheld: Novus 650 (aka Mathbox)
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| Size (approx): |
70mm
x 125mm x 23mm (max) (w x h x d) Weight 66g not including batteries. |
| Power: | 9.0V DC using 1 x PP3 size battery. It accept an adapter (undefined) through a socket on the left side about half way up. |
| Case: | The two-piece light buff matt plastic case has rounded edges and is very lightweight. An extra stuck on keyboard surround panel is textured copper coloured plastic. A slightly tilted and inset red display filter makes the best of the small LEDs. The small keys are short travel squishy type but work well enough. The top area has a small recess that houses a black printed copper metallic sticker with the model number. A large sticker on the rear reminds you of the keying procedures. |
| Display: | 6 digit red LED with bubble lens and no seventh digit for extra indicators |
| Features: | Standard four function, RPN logic |
| Age: | c1975 |
| Manufacturer: | Novus – Consumer Products from National Semiconductor, Novus-NS (Pte.) Ltd. Made in the Malaysia, serial number 094883. |
| Comments: | Cheap feeling calculator under the brand name by National Semiconductor. My particular example starts up in overflow mode so always needs (CE/C) pressing first. Notice the lack of an equals key as it is RPN logic. Notice also the lack of decimal point. With fixed two-decimal system, negative zero and negative zero bug is this basic or what! Minimal components, in fact just two ICs and a display! This calculator was also available in a black case version. |
| Components: | 1 x cpu; Unknown resin coated 1 x 6 digit red LED module with bubble lens 1 x resistor |
| Boards: | The tiny main cpu board (NS604 605) consists of an IC covered in resin and a display - that's all. It is connected to the keyboard assembly via a 17-way ribbon cable, of which only 11 connections are used. |
| Construction: | Remove the four screws from the rear section and the back will lift off easily. You will have to undo the power socket to completely separate the sides. |
| Logic comments: | The (CE/C) key is used once to clear the last number entered whilst a second time clears the whole calculator. |
| Strangely, the display defaults to two digit decimal places; i.e. entering (5) will result in the display of ". 5". | |
| Overflow on number input is not suppressed inputting a seventh digit causes an unrecoverable overflow. | |
| An overflow shows the result with the first digit showing "E" and is not recoverable. | |
| Divide by zero results in "EEEE.EE" and is not recoverable | |
| There is no constant ability on any function | |
| Negative numbers are shown by a "-" in the immediate left digit but as there is no seventh digit to travel into, you are limited to five digit negative numbers. | |
| It operates Reverse Polish Notation which takes a little getting used to: to perform 3-4 key in (3)(+)(4)(-) to give"-1". You will find this is a "true" RPN as even the multiply and divide operate the same way; i.e. to do -3 X 4 key in (3)(-)(4)(X) | |
| The calculator suffers the negative zero bug; key in (1)(+=)(2(-) to give "-1" now add one with (1)(+=) to give "-0" |
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The plain and simple box measures 70mm by 132mm and is 25mm deep. Thus it is just big enough for the calculator and manuals. Printed in black and red it is a double tuck-end construction stating Made in Malaysia. "Consumer Products Division. National Semiconductor Corporation, NS Electronics Sdn. Bhd." This last paragraph appears to refer to the Malayan company. |
The manual measures 67mm by 123mm as shown in
this scan. However, it actually opens up to give a manual twice
the width. This gives 32 pages in a 16-page booklet.
In five languages it actually just gives you a guarantee sheet, feedback form, and just four pages of instructions. "Quote: For decimal accuracy in division, enter number to be divided (dividend), then fill display with as many zeros as it will hold. Then enter the divisor, eliminating insignificant zeroes, and touch (÷). To determine the proper decimal place in the answer, just remember this rule: the number of decimal places in the dividend (numerator) minus the number of decimal places in the divisor (denominator) equals the number of decimal places in the answer (quotient)." Printed in Malaysia, reference NS216EFGSP. |
This scan shows the very odd extra included
booklet entitled "Trouble-shooting Tips." The same size as
the manual it is 16 black and white printed pages and covers five languages
Most of the text is designed to try and stop you returning a calculator as, apparently, 20% returned do not have a problem. Quote: "Have you plugged in an AC adaptor with your calculator turned on? This can prevent you from being able to clear your machine. Simply turn it off for ten seconds or so and then back on". Quote: "Did you do the problem correctly? Novus models 600, 650, 900, 950 and Whiz Kid calculators give only whole number answers in division unless you key in extra zeroes behind the numerator." Printed in Malaysia, reference NS-210EFGSP |
