🚀 go-pugleaf

>So there I was this morning, sitting in the middle of an exam and I
>reach for my 41cv and ack!  It does not turn on - a students ultimate
>nightmare.

What are the symptoms?  Have you checked your batteries?  First try replacing
the batteries.  If that doesn't work, try holding the ENTER key while pressing
ON; that will get the calculator out of any software lockup condition it may
have gotten into (the calculator can get into a software lockup because of 
electrostatic discharge - ESD can induce signals in some of the wires or PC
traces between chips which are indistinguishable from valid logic signals and
can force the program to jump into the middle of a 2-word instruction or a
ROM table or just a loop which was not initialized in a way that will
guarantee exit).  If that doesn't work, try holding the <- key while pressing
ON.  This will clear memory, which will allow the calculator to recover from
lockups caused by an inconsistent memory structure which could have been
created by ESD and could cause a software loop to never exit.  If none of these
work, remove anything you have plugged into the calculator and then remove the
batteries and hold the ON key down for several minutes to drain the 
"keep-alive" capacitor (which preserves memory while batteries are being
changed).  Then replace the batteries and try again.  If none of these steps
work you'll need service.

>Does anyone know if hp still has a mail in repair shop?  Can you post
>or mail a response?  How much does a cv or cx go for these days?  I
>paid > $200 a couple of years ago for the cv.

HP still services all calculators, on a parts-available basis for calculators
which have been discontinued more than 5 years ago.  Since the 41CV is still
being sold it is still being serviced.  Your local HP dealer can tell you how
to get the calculator repaired.  The list price for the 41CV today is $175,
though you can get substantial discounts from some mail order shops.

>All I really need in a handheld is 1) rpn, and 2) capabilities similar to
>the 41cv + math pack offered.  What are my choices these days?

You might consider the 42S, which has the same user interface as the 41C but
more memory and lists for $110, or the 27S, which is also RPN, but has a
different user interface for the same price.  Both calculators have more
memory than a fully-loaded 41CX, but neither supports plug-ins.  Alternately,
you may want to look at the 28S, which has everything (except plug-ins).