Advice on Programmable and Graphing Calculators

Just a general impression, I would go with either an HP or TI. Casio is more of a consumer electronics outfit, so their calcs might not measure up to higher end engineering needs.

Consider what your needs are: What kind of math will you use it for? How often will you use it? Will you need to input data by means other than the keypad? Will you be developing applications, or using applications others have developed? Will you need to export data to a computer? Do you need the calculator for field work, or just in the office?

You will have to answer these questions for yourself. Once you have those answers, look at specifications that meet your requirements. Also, consider how your needs might change. Look at those that you can add memory or applications to.

I have three (3) of these beasts. I have a Casio FX-9750G Plus (lower end type of unit) and a TI-83 and TI-84. I keep buying a different calculator as my eyes are failing and I need a unit with a large display, buttons, and symbols. I am almost looking forward to cataract surgery this fall!

The units made by TI are perhaps the most popular, and there are many tips for using them on the world-wide web. I am not at all familiar with the HP models. Maybe I need to make a good look! I understand that the new TI-89 is the "hot ticket" now, but I cannot vouch for that.

Believe it or not, I like both the Casio and either of the TI units for different reasons. Certain types of problem statements are easier to enter in the Casio, and vice-versa. I bought the two (2) TI units from eBay, so I will offer a bit of advice here. Be careful of the programming left by the previous user-you may get answers that just don't work for you.

Best Regards,

Ing. Robert Forbus

Thanks to all those who replied - all good advice... I'm now leaning towards a really nice HP I was looking at in the shop the other day - the tax office have been kind to me for some reason (suspicious I say). They wrote today to say they wanted to give me back some money they calculated I had overpaid last year... so I'm thinking the extra couple of hundred dollars for the top of the range calculator will be a good investment

I have found that (1) you do not need programming skills to use an HP, at least for the built-in functions. Also, many programs applicable to engineering already exist; for example, on www.hpcalc.org, there are a large number of programs available.

(2) My programming skills are not great, but I have written several programs for both engineering and mathematics applications. It can be done in the calculator or on a PC (in Word, for example) and trnasferred to the HP. It's not really hard; it just takes practice.

(3) When you master the HP notation (RPN), it becomes second nature to the operator. It also forces you to actually consider and think about what you are asking for, instead of just stroking keys and getting a number.

Again, most engineers I have worked with who have been using programmable /graphing calculators for years tend to have a preference for the HP. It is more "real world" applicable to the engineer.

I think you are in same position than me few days ago:Iwas happy with my pencil and old scientific calculator,now i bought a hp 50g.Let me tell you something: completely free of chrge you can download in your pc the SCILAB program.I thought it was so hard with the great numbers of things to remember to use it "put comma here dot and comma overthere enter again parentesis for this and square parentesis for the other..."you know.But hp 50g is much worse with that i'll take an year to use it properly.Out of that is wonderful.Take care if you have not a legal windows to download your calculator's work in your pc :may be you will loss much of those capabilities.Good luck friend.

How good are you at programming? The HP is great only if you can program it. If you're in school, are you allowed to take it to exam? I always wanted a HP-48G but My Casio FX-4500 works just fine. Never needed to do any graph.

Beside the calculator, I found MathCAD to be more useful on daily work.

Hello, I have the TI89 and I like it. The ti can be programed and computer down loaded

also. There are some good programs on TI site for different uses also.

I spent some time looking at the different calculators and settled on the TI just because

it handled entry in different formants.

ONE BIG THING IS TO BE CAREFULL IF BUYING USED...The ti 89 are gutted and a lower

model i.e. ti83 is installed in place of the original guts. The model and operation version

can be checked on the display.

hope this helps a little.

Charles

I'll add this, concerning the HP 49/50 series; the calculator can also be set up for different formats regarding entering data.

It all comes down to what you are comfortable with using. Different strokes for different folks. I found it best to try out the different models and consider your needs and desires.

You might want to consider a graphing calculator add on to a PDA: I've used Russ Webb's superb RPN calculator on my (very underpowered) palm m515 for years. It has very basic graph capabilities. I believe his non RPN calculator EQUATE is better (for graphs and solving).

http://www.nthlab.com/

I haven't looked at other platforms.

Randall brings up a good point. When you get into the higher price range, you might also look at PDA's and low-end laptops. As to which you need, consider your needs, as I said in my earlier post. With laptops and PDA's, consider which of the extra capabilities you will need or use. Think about how and where you will use the unit before deciding which kind to get.

(not logged in here)

thanks for all the advice & assistance - I have gone for the HP 50g - if I keep it as long as I have my old Casio fx550 it will work out as a good investment. (trying to drive the thing at the moment ... keep denting the fender).

I have classes in statics/dynamics and calculus - the calculus lecturer allows no calculators in tests, the statics/dynamics allows any calculator (but not PDAs or laptops). So I keep my pencil and paper work fresh in maths, but get the benefits of a graphing / programmable calc in engineering... exams in 2 weeks!

Quick update...

So I bought the HP 50g...

Took some mucking around to understand it, but within a couple of weeks it has become a very powerful / helpful tool. Worth the extra $$ for the full set of features / functions etc - amazing what it can do. Haven't used any others for comparison, but I highly recommend this one on its own merits.