Re: [MLUG - DISCUSSION] beginner slide rule wanted

[Michael <EMAIL:PROTECTED>]

> Believe it or not, I used the slide rule often for several years from 7th
> grade until 11th grade.  In 11th grade (1974-1975) the price of good
> calculators came down enough that I could buy one with all the neat stuff,
> even trig functions, for $125, down from $179.  It was my biggest purchase
> by that age.  It amazed all of my friends -- how could it compute eight
> significant digits almost instantly?  It was called the "Sears Electronic
> Slide Rule".  All the other kids were stuck with slide rules, but I had
> more advanced technology.  I think I put down my slide rule after buying
> that calculator and I never looked back.
> 
> I suppose it is possible for some people to compute more quickly using a
> slide rule than using an electronic calculator.  It might also be possible
> for some people to do addition quicker using an abacus than using a
> numeric keypad.  It certainly isn't true for most people though.  That's
> why Jon King is finding it hard to find a slide rule -- they are
> practically extinct and justifiably so!

I wouldn't say they are extinct.. they just seem to be used for 
speciality problems now. I found a lot of sliderules designed for a 
specific problem domain when I Googled on it. I've even seen them used 
recently in wood shops for quickly calculating simple problems.

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