It’s not the same as an original due to the lack of real keys, and, frankly, I don’t think the phone holds as well as the original calculator. Phone also feels heavier.
However, having the backlight is a vast improvement. I’d enjoy the original with a backlight. My modern eyes just can’t read the original screen well any more.
Mind the other benefit of the app is simple ubiquity being part of the phone. All reasonable trade offs.
But I can’t see using the phone for extended work compared to the original. The overall ergonomics just aren’t there.
If I could use my Android screen with a dedicated keyboard, that might be a compromise. A keyboard is maybe a week's worth of work, all-in (PCB design, installing firmware, etc). I'm not sure how much software work it would be to make it happy with an emulator -- probably much more.
I really wish the HP48 software were released as open-source. It'd be a huge good will gesture right now. Right now, this whole ecosystem is quasilegal. iHP48 is one DMCA takedown notice from ceasing to exist. With that uncertainty, it's not a place I want to devote my time.
In 2024, I'd really like to have crisp fonts, more than 4 items in my stack, and ideally, touch for the menus, and simple upgrades like that. I think that would, practically, require source code rather than just emulation.
It’s not the same as an original due to the lack of real keys, and, frankly, I don’t think the phone holds as well as the original calculator. Phone also feels heavier.
However, having the backlight is a vast improvement. I’d enjoy the original with a backlight. My modern eyes just can’t read the original screen well any more.
Mind the other benefit of the app is simple ubiquity being part of the phone. All reasonable trade offs.
But I can’t see using the phone for extended work compared to the original. The overall ergonomics just aren’t there.