Shop OBEX P1 Docs P2 Docs Learn Events
Looking for a good calculator. TI / Casio? What's your favorite? — Parallax Forums

Looking for a good calculator. TI / Casio? What's your favorite?

RonPRonP Posts: 384
edited 2011-07-16 16:02 in General Discussion
Hello All,

As I am going through Chapter 7 in the PE Kit again. Trying to understand counters better. I've been using the Scientific/Programming Calculator in the computer. I really need a stand alone version I think it would make life a little easier. Been looking around and at $100 + its a small investment. If I am going to spend $100 + I might as well get the best suited for electronics/programing.

I know there are a lot of Electronic Engineers and others here who might know what some of the better ones are, so i'll ask what do you use? Whats your favorite? And maybe why?

Thanks :smile:

-Ron
«1

Comments

  • Mike GMike G Posts: 2,702
    edited 2011-07-09 12:44
    I'm partial to the HPs. I carry around an old 42S.
  • localrogerlocalroger Posts: 3,452
    edited 2011-07-09 12:53
    I wish my HP11C hadn't died *sniff* I'm apparently not the only one who feels that way, because the few available on eBay are being bid up well above what I paid for mine new. (then again, that was in 1981...)
  • Duane DegnDuane Degn Posts: 10,588
    edited 2011-07-09 13:11
    I forget the model number of the HP I had in college but I really liked it. I thought Reverse Polish Notation was idiotic when I first tried to use the calculator but now I don't see how any can use a calculator without RPN.

    My HP was one of those hinged models (it was probably about '84 when I purchased it). I've heard the hinge caused a lot of trouble but I really liked having so many keys without having to use multiple "function shift" keys.

    I'd also like to get a nice calculator again. I'm curious what others hear think about the ones they've used.

    Duane
  • Peter KG6LSEPeter KG6LSE Posts: 1,383
    edited 2011-07-09 13:44
    this is my baby http://www.amazon.com/Sharp-EL-506VB-Twin-Powered-Scientific-Calculator/dp/B00005BHPR

    this is a the hands down Best I have ever used . the play back is SO usfull as you can reuse a eqation .
    TI is WAY over rated .

    and DAL is ideal for geeks .

    Peter ..
  • max72max72 Posts: 1,155
    edited 2011-07-09 13:52
    My HP 42S is a great RPN calculator. Pity you cannot save the programs.
    Anyway an RPN calculator requires a little bit to get used to, but is is a great way to perform calculations.
    I have a very good RPN on my android, too, but the keyboard of the HP is simply awesome.
    Massimo
  • Mike GMike G Posts: 2,702
    edited 2011-07-09 14:23
    max72, I have saved programs on my HP 42S.

    To this day, it take me a sec to get going with a non RPN calculator.
  • train nuttrain nut Posts: 70
    edited 2011-07-09 14:23
    I still use an old HP41C that I used for work. It takes expensive type N batteries but still works like a champ. i get very frustrated with algebraic calculators.
  • Duane DegnDuane Degn Posts: 10,588
    edited 2011-07-09 14:32
    I found the model of HP I had. It was a HP-28S.

    The plastic around the battery cover on mine broke which according to the article was common.

    @Peter, The Sharp calculator is nice and cheap by I don't think it is in the same class as the HPs.

    The HP-28s could differentiate (and integrate) polynomial equations. If I used the correct sequence in entering an equation, I could use Newton's method on an equation without stopping to store part of the equation to access later. I just needed to use "swap" a couple of times and all the information in the stack would fall nicely into their place in the larger equation. I'd then "Store Equation" and use the solver feature to use the output of the equation as the new input. I thought the calculator would give me an edge in my Chemical Engineering class but I soon realized just about everyone in the class had the same calculator and the teach wrote the tests assuming all the students had a 28s. Those were hard tests.
  • RonPRonP Posts: 384
    edited 2011-07-09 14:37
    Thanks for all the input guys. Iv'e been researching and I must say it's mind boggling, all the features today's high end calculators have. Some play games on them.

    More confused than ever.

    I think Peter's calculator of choice would fit the bill right now, but I am still interested in high end calculators. I guess in the end 2+2=3 no matter how much you pay for a calculator. :smile:

    -Ron
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,259
    edited 2011-07-09 14:39
    I second Peter's $10 choice. Those new Sharp calcs are cheap and easy to use. I have a couple (home/work) and they're great. I view them like cheap sunglasses or those cheap but useful Harbor Freight $5 multimeters. Use 'em till you lose 'em or break 'em, then get another.

    I used an HP41CV back in the day, still have it but don't use it. Kinda neat, RPN isn't bad. Nobody ever asks to borrow your RPN calc, if that helps!
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,259
    edited 2011-07-09 14:41
    Wow, lots of Sharps on Amazon to choose from. This one looks nifty too: http://www.amazon.com/Casio-FX-115ES-Advanced-Scientific-Calculator/dp/B000A3IAHM/ref=pd_bxgy_e_text_b
  • Mike GMike G Posts: 2,702
    edited 2011-07-09 14:53
    Nobody ever asks to borrow your RPN calc, if that helps!
    LOL

    My HP 42S is 20 years old and still kicking... calculating.
  • Jay B. HarlowJay B. Harlow Posts: 79
    edited 2011-07-09 14:56
    I'm also partial to HPs! I carry an old 42S in my notebook case for the office. I have an HP48SX that stays at home.

    In college I used an HP 41CV with extended functions module.

    Jay
  • whickerwhicker Posts: 749
    edited 2011-07-09 15:01
    I can only comment on what I've used.
    The HP stuff, umm, where can you even buy them anymore? Plus the company has a history of bad CEO's and engineering-hostile business practices.

    I never understood the gang-up regarding younger people and their TI calculators. The "real engineers use" blahblahblah. That was old and stale back in 2000. Not trying to start a flame war, but if something gets repeated enough without question, it becomes "true".


    So here's a case for TI calculators:

    A TI-86 got me through high school. It had a convenient way of entering polar notation. The scientific notation could be switched to "engineering notation" so that instead of showing 2.2e-2 it would show 22e-3 which was really handy when working in units like milliVolts or microFarads. Unfortunately, TI killed this line. So I'm in the same boat as those with HP calc's.

    Later in college with as far as checking my advanced math work, the TI-89 series was okay. Wasn't great because there can be such a thing as too many menus and modes and options. Unit conversion helped. Pretty print (or whatever it was called) helped with those nasty formulas when I was at the point of sheer math exhaustion.

    I can remember the point when I realized that getting close to the right answer (in the ballpark) was enough for a lot of real world engineering and learned how to use a ruler and log tables.

    More personal stuff: RPN is kind of bleh, I tried it a billion times. Never liked it. It was never a selling feature for me. The main reason being that expression evaluators in most computer programming languages use infix notation, and it was just frustrating bouncing between the two. I would rather make it "harder" on the calculator's cpu rather than "translate" as I bounced back and forth. It was a matter of expedience, not mental laziness.

    DVORAK was arguably supposed to be a better keyboard layout, but sit down at any computer and what do you see? RPN was like that to me.

    The TI-calculators allow you to assign sub-calculations to variables (A, B, C, F, etc) with that arrow symbol along with printing the result. Then for the final answer type A / B or something to get the final result.
  • RonPRonP Posts: 384
    edited 2011-07-09 15:16
    I was looking at the TI Nspire with CAS (Computer Algebra System). Before I started this thread, the target down the street has the TI 89 titanium in stock. I try to buy local whenever I can, the only things i buy on the net are things i can't buy local. Staples has the TI Nspire and Casio's.

    Anybody have the TI Nspire?

    Ron
  • RonPRonP Posts: 384
    edited 2011-07-09 15:41
    For some one like me who doesn't commit electronic formulas to memory and probably never will, apps like this for the TI series seem like they would help.

    Ron
  • schillschill Posts: 741
    edited 2011-07-09 16:03
    My current day-to-day calculator is an HP 35s. I think it's the best of the current HPs. It's RPN and the keys are as close as anything to the old HP keys.

    My favorite calculator of all time is my HP 41cx. I don't use it that often because it can never be replaced if something happens to it.

    I've had numerous HPs, TIs, Casios, and Sharps over the years. All of them have been pretty good calculators so I don't think you can really go wrong with any of them. Although I have a few, I don't really think it's worth paying a lot for a large screen graphing calculator unless you really have the need. I haven't found them that useful, but that may just be me.

    I do definitely prefer RPN.
  • icepuckicepuck Posts: 466
    edited 2011-07-09 16:56
    My old TI85 got me through collage, used for about ten years before the display quit. replaced it with a TI89 because at the time some one had a really stripped down linux for it.
    The collage I went to would only allow certain model TI's to be used during tests, thats why I got the TI85.
    The TI89 has lots of apps and games;)
    http://www.ticalc.org
    -dan
  • Spiral_72Spiral_72 Posts: 791
    edited 2011-07-09 20:58
    HP48G, it's old now you can buy them for $35 used, maybe cheaper. It will do more than you could possibly ever use. Built in electricity calculations, Ohm's law, power, resistors & caps in series & parallel, inductors, etc, units (u, n, p, M, k, etc) whatever you want. Mine is about 12yrs old and I use it regular. The RPN takes getting used to, but you will.....after that a standard calculator is annoying :)

    It's also good for accounting, calculus (directly entered)... Pretty amazing stuff.

    IMO, Casio is just ok, but I can't stand the TI's I dunno if it's the look, the feel, the function..... just can't stand em'
  • Mike GreenMike Green Posts: 23,101
    edited 2011-07-09 21:06
    I had an HP41CV when they first came out and later replaced it with an HP48G. There's a nice HP48 emulator for the iPhone and probably for Android as well. The same emulator is also available for the Mac and Windows (probably Linux as well).
  • SRLMSRLM Posts: 5,045
    edited 2011-07-09 21:33
    I like the TI-89. In particular, the combination of pretty print and matrix math was really handy. I don't think it has too many functions: in the seven years that I have had it, I have used just about every function on it.
  • Martin HodgeMartin Hodge Posts: 1,246
    edited 2011-07-09 22:28
    Don't forget, if you have an iPhone/iTouch, there are any number of calculator apps. Some free. There are several HP emulators too.
  • Duane DegnDuane Degn Posts: 10,588
    edited 2011-07-09 22:52
    Martin Hodge wrote: »
    Don't forget, if you have an iPhone/iTouch, there are any number of calculator apps. Some free. There are several HP emulators too.
    I have one of Rayman's Propeller Touchscreen Platforms. I've added a second Prop and a krypad to it. I use it to control a bunch of different things.

    One feature I plan to add is a calculator. I've often wondered how many of the funtions of my old HP I could reproduce. Would the limiting factor be the Prop or my ability to program the Prop? I have a strong suspicion it's the latter.
  • LoopyBytelooseLoopyByteloose Posts: 12,537
    edited 2011-07-09 23:42
    HP-41CX is just about the best calculator ever.

    Now I have an HP-50g and it is a bit over the top with features and software. The complete manual is something like 700 pages and only in a PDF file.

    Frankly, now that each and every computer OS has a calculator included, it is a bit crazy to buy one.

    The HP-35S that others mention as being available is likely their best. I believe that you can switch between RPN and Conventional calculator mode, but it is a shame not to learn and use RPN. My PDA and computers have an RPN emulator installed.

    At times I miss my log-log slide rule.
  • RonPRonP Posts: 384
    edited 2011-07-10 12:11
    Well I went to Staples last night for some other stuff and to look at the calculators and a TI-89 fell into my shopping cart. oops To many choices. So far I like it. I has some kind of Basic it can be programmed in ASM also, don't think ill be doing much of that though. Still learning the Propeller don't want to get side tracked, like I often do.

    I do appreciate all the feedback. I am aware of all the apps for Android I have a G2. And you can get most of the Android apps in the Chrome Web Store maybe all of them not sure, which is nice Angry Birds with your mouse. :smile: I wanted a stand alone calculator. The TI-89 even has a Resistor Color Code thing. :smile: , no I don't have the colors committed to memory.
    Well thanks again I need to take some pics of my current project and post it in the Project Forum as an in progress project, hopefully by doing that it will help me stay focused and actually finish it, and of course to share.

    -Ron
  • TorTor Posts: 2,010
    edited 2011-07-10 14:10
    I got a TI-30 back in 1975, at that time it was revolutionary in that the price was much lower than anything comparable before it. just in time for the start of my electronics education high school level. It was a very simple calculator of course. A couple of years (I think) later some other students showed up with HP calculators, and I would borrow one in between lessons and learn RPN and how to program these calculators. Since then I have prefererred HP and RPN. I had a 16C for many years, that's the model with support for binary/hexadecimal/shift/rotation and other bit-level support functions. Great for programmers, until you learn to do all that in your head.
    What I use now is 'Free42' which is an emulation (model should be obvious) running on my Nokia N900 phone. I looks exactly like the real thing, but I can switch it from 'portrait' to 'landscape' form as I wish. This serves my needs. I'll probably try to get my HP-16C running again at some point - there was a problem with the battery connection and the calculator ended up in a drawer.

    -Tor
  • piguy101piguy101 Posts: 248
    edited 2011-07-10 16:42
    My calculator is not scientific, but I love its huge display; it has four rows. It is the Sharp EL-W535.
  • WhitWhit Posts: 4,191
    edited 2011-07-10 19:36
    I am still using an HP11C that I have had for close to 30 years. I also have an HP42S and an HP20S (Non RPN).

    RonP, you said 2+2=3. For us RPNers, that is 2 enter 2 +. My HP keeps coming up with 4! ;-)
    The TI-89 looks really good. Fell in your cart, huh?
  • RonPRonP Posts: 384
    edited 2011-07-10 20:17
    So far its working out OK, I think it helps me to visualize whats going on, though paper would do the same thing. I did look up the RPN method on wikipedia when it was first mentioned, interesting I didn't know it existed. I struggle with math as it is, I avoid it as much as I can but with this Hobby I think its time I embrace it so I can really understand whats going on.

    Oh yeah, the RPN thing reminded me of something. If you guys would stop bringing stuff up that goes right over my head. I wouldn't spend so much time searching for what your talking about and maybe I could progress a little further with the Propeller. :smile: I must spend half my time trying to follow what you guys are talking about in these Forums. Learning a lot.

    Whit maybe it was a little tremor or someone bumped the shelf. :smile:

    Ron
    SCREEN01.BMP
    BMP
    BMP
    SCREEN01.BMP
    421K
  • LoopyBytelooseLoopyByteloose Posts: 12,537
    edited 2011-07-11 08:51
    The primary advantage to RPN over a conventional mode calculator is that it uses a STACK.

    Why so? You can enter all the numbers once and review them as you go. Then you can run a total. In that way, you don't find yourself repeatedly entering and summing until you get answers that you are sure you are right.

    The original 10-Keys had a paper tape and you would verify accuracy by checking the tape after the fact, but now many calculators don't offer any review.

    So, you can either go RPN with concurrent verification or Conventional with after-the-fact verification.

    In input keys on the TI or Casio are not anywhere as good as those on an HP for tactile feedback.
Sign In or Register to comment.