How the HP 35 Calculator Killed the Slide Rule

In 1972, Hewlett-Packard released the HP-35, the first handheld scientific calculator that fit in a shirt pocket. It wasn't just a product — it was a revolution that made the slide rule obsolete overnight. In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore how HP's internal skunkworks team, led by Tom Osborne and Dave Cochran, defied founder Bill Hewlett's skepticism to build a calculator powerful enough to replace a profession's essential tool. They break down the engineering decisions — reverse Polish notation, the LED display, the custom chipset — and the marketing strategy that priced it at $395 (over $2,700 today) yet still made it a must-have for engineers worldwide. The HP-35 didn't just sell a million units; it reshaped how technical professionals worked and set HP on a path to dominate computing for the next decade. Lucas and Luna discuss why this story matters now, as we watch another wave of handheld devices — smartphones — rewrite the rules of professional tools. #HP35 #HewlettPackard #SlideRule #ScientificCalculator #ReversePolishNotation #BillHewlett #TomOsborne #DaveCochran #LEDDisplay #CustomChipset #1970sTech #EngineeringHistory #ProductDesign #TechPioneers #Technology #TechHistory #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo