HP 49G
Released in August 1999, this calculator was the first HP unit to break from the more traditional subdued coloration. In addition to having a metallic blue color, the keyboard material was rubber and did not have the traditional HP calculator hinged keyboard feel. In addition, it lacked a large ENTER key which was seen by many as the defining characteristic of an HP calculator. These changes were disliked by many traditional HP calculator users.
The 49G incorporated many of the most powerful interface and mathematics tools available on the HP-48 series into the firmware of the new 49G, including the ability to easily decompile and compile both SysRPL and Saturn assembly code on the unit.
The 49G was the first HP calculator to use flash memory and have an upgradable ROM. In addition, it had a hard sliding case as opposed to the soft pouches supplied with the HP-48 series. The last officially supported ROM update for this calculator was 1.18, but several unofficial ROMs were released by the developers. The final ROM version was 1.19-6.
In 2003, the CAS source code of the 49G ROM was released under the LGPL. In addition, this release included an interactive geometry program and some commands to allow compatibility with certain programs written for the newer 49g+ calculator. Due to licensing restrictions, the recompiled ROM cannot be redistributed.
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