Do you still use stand-alone ("pocket") calculators? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: SiliconWizard
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 10, 2020, 05:56:54 pm
content: Nothing very original here, but I was curious about this and just thought I would make a poll.So do you still use a pocket calculator? I personally very rarely use one these days, as I have a few tools on computer that are way more powerful and ergonomic (to me). It can happen if I'm not in front of a computer (like working on some bench without one and needing a quick calculation), but it's very occasional. I still kind of like the "feel" of a real calculator (especially the older HP ones), but I just find myself not needing them much anymore.What about you guys? If you still use one, what model/brand is it?

author: jogri
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 10, 2020, 06:10:36 pm
content: I use mine almost daily when i'm in the lab, mostly for longer calculations that involve fractions (the Windows calculator just sucks when you have to run the same lengthy calculation a few times with different values). It's a Casio FX-991DEX Classwiz, i highly recommend getting one (even if you already have a calculator) as it has every function you'll need on a calculator (and a lot more) for 20 bucks.

author: Mr Evil
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 10, 2020, 06:26:32 pm
content: I don't physically use one, but on both my phone and PC I use software to emulate a TI-86, so I virtually use one.

author: shakalnokturn
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 10, 2020, 07:05:24 pm
content: There are a few hanging around in different places for different uses.TI-89 in front of the computer, I'll go to that rather than the windows calculator, I just like pushing dedicated keys then knocking the calculator off the edge of the desk rather than clicking around, mainly a question of habits.The others lying around are a French TI-82 stats, TI Collège plus solar, TI-30X, Casio Fx-92 College new.Only the TI-89 was bought second hand, the others are all dumpster saves.

author: george.b
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 10, 2020, 07:14:15 pm
content: I use a HP 48G+ and a Casio fx-82ms regularly.

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 10, 2020, 07:19:12 pm
content: The PC calculators all suck compared to a good 'pocket' calculator. I have been using the Casio ones for decades because they support editing long equations and also have suffixes like m,k,M etc.

author: Gyro
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 10, 2020, 07:48:00 pm
content: This was covered fairly comprehensively not so long ago...https://www.eevblog.com/forum/chat/whats-your-favorite-calculator/

author: jimdeane
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 10, 2020, 07:57:57 pm
content: A calculator is instant on, never changes, is durable, fast, cheap, and dedicated.Calculator apps on the phone can be OK...like the HP48g emulator on Android. Most of them are crap.Calculator programs on computers are terrible. If I'm not in python/matlab/maxima or something similar then I'm going to grab a physical calculator.

author: andy3055
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 10, 2020, 07:59:37 pm
content: I have a TI83 which I found on the road side years back! Also one of the first Casio scientific calculators which I bought at the time, among a few other basic calculators that were complimentary stuff from various sources. Hardly use any of them but on occasion. Mainly because I don't do heavy calculations and I do basic stuff just in my mind. I find it is rather funny to see the younger generation use calculators even for very basic stuff! By the time they punch the numbers in, I already have the answer.

author: Yansi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 10, 2020, 08:04:57 pm
content: Yes, if I am home I use my Casio fx-82ES which I have hacked years ago to the highest model from that line.I do not bring it with me at work - there I swear by using the dumb calc.exe windows application.

author: NivagSwerdna
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 10, 2020, 08:16:48 pm
content: HP35S when I am explaining homework, backwards, to my kids and checking the odd invoiceThe kids have CASIO FX-991EX which is really nice (but forwards) and pretty much standardised at school.(Had to add a quadratic solver program to the HP35S to compete with the FX-991EX)PSI have also have a WP 34S knocking about but can never remember how to use it!

author: Benta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 10, 2020, 08:18:33 pm
content: My trusty HP-15C is always on hand. I don't use it every day, but at least a couple of times a week. It turns on in a second and always provides the correct answer, depending on the userDuring my engineering studies at university i learned to appreciate RPN. And my HP-15C hasn't failed me yet (it has it's second set of button cells since 15 years).

author: fourfathom
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 10, 2020, 08:22:42 pm
content: I've had my HP15-C calculator for about 35 years and I still use it daily. I have an emulator on my phone, but the calculator is much more fun to use. One corner of the display is showing some creeping black pixel crud, so I really ought to find an ebay replacement. I can't recall the last time I changed the batteries, but it's been decades.

author: Sal Ammoniac
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 10, 2020, 08:33:26 pm
content: Yep. I've always been an HP man. RPN rulz!Still have my ancient HP-65, HP-25, HP-41C, etc.

author: vwestlife
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 10, 2020, 08:35:20 pm
content: Yes, and I am amused by how many calculators that appear to be solar-powered actually havefakesolar cells in them!

author: blacksheeplogic
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 10, 2020, 08:43:02 pm
content: My primary calculator is a Sharp EL-515S. The calculator is always at hand and beside me. Much quicker and easier than opening another desktop window or using my phone.

author: Terry01
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 10, 2020, 08:51:31 pm
content: I use a Casio fx-83GT PLUS most days. It does everything I need from it and loads more!It's just for my hobby stuff, i'm not a EE or tech or anything like that.

author: floobydust
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 10, 2020, 09:20:52 pm
content: Calculators are an app you have to download, they come with ads and want access to your contacts and geo-location. It's absurd.Windows calculator is just for dumb people, so much pain to do anything involved.I'll reach for an old TI or Sharp calculator (aluminium case! EL5103, EL9000) and pound through that way. At least they have several memories, answers in engineering units, playback function to make edits etc. From an era where people did math beyond on or two operations.Beyond that I use Excel for all my calculations.

author: ataradov
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 10, 2020, 09:25:51 pm
content: Have not used a physical calculator since university. On the phone I use RealCalc Pro. It does not want location and does not share the data.On PC I use some random command line calculator from linux repo. I think it is called AP Calc or something like this. Works fine and I have it setup to pop up on F1 key, so it is always handy.I don't get physical calculators. I can enter very complex formulas and then go and edit whatever I want. It would be a huge pain on a real calculator.

author: I wanted a rude username
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 10, 2020, 10:49:52 pm
content: The HP 48G was my pride and joy, but now mostly gets used forthe occasional game.We're on our computers all the time, being able to copy and paste numbers is an advantage. That and the advent ofspecialised online calculators. Plus spreadsheets can be useful for getting a bird's eye view of iterative calculations.

author: unitedatoms
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 10, 2020, 11:35:36 pm
content: ..Pockets. You are kidding. Nobody needs more than one pocket anymore, because all you need to carry is a phone.Gone are the days, when people carried things in pockets. Handkerchiefs, cigarette lighters or matches, port cigars, compasses, pictures of dear ones, perfume powder, watches, coins made of metal. There is only lint in my pockets and no calculator or small weapon will replace an empty space in my pockets. Pockets..

author: NiHaoMike
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 11, 2020, 12:04:22 am
content: Have been using a TI-89 Titanium for a long time, but SpeedCrunch on the PC is a good substitute.

author: VK3DRB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 11, 2020, 12:23:56 am
content: I still use the Farad 808 scientific calculator I purchased in 1976. Still on my desk. Why throw it out when it still does the job for some work?But for most engineering calculations and all hex and binary calculations, I use RealCalc on my Samsung S8. Nothing beats it, IMO. It also has RPN mode. Photos here.

author: 25 CPS
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 11, 2020, 01:35:24 am
content: I have an HP 15C at home and a second one at work, and it’s a rare day that goes by that I don’t use one of the, I also get out a 16C and 12C as the need for the programmer’s or financial functions arise but the two 15Cs are the go to number crunchers when I can’t frigate an answer in my head.

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 11, 2020, 01:37:40 am
content: Quote from: VK3DRB on January 11, 2020, 12:23:56 amThat is because you never tried a an engineering calculator (like the fx-115MS for example) from Casio. These can deal with hex and binary just fine. And they also keep up with typing with two fingers. I found that to be a problem with TI calculators.

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 11, 2020, 01:46:14 am
content: I use one when I happen to have it nearby. It's still much quicker to grab a calculator than it is to pull out my phone, unlock it, navigate to the calculator app and load it.

author: joeqsmith
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 11, 2020, 02:29:58 am
content: I still use my HP20S. Tossed out my old Sharp a while back after the LCD finally leaked enough that it was unusable.

author: mathsquid
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 11, 2020, 02:59:15 am
content: I have a lot of calculators, and I use them all the time. My favorites are the Casio FX-260, a one-line calculator that's great for quick computations; the Casio FX-115e, which is a great two-line calculator that handles fractions and square roots really nicely. I also like my TI-36 that I bought in 1991. It serves the same purpose as the FX-260, but it has a 1/x function that doesn't require a shift, which speeds some computations up.I have a few graphing calculators, but I almost never use them for graphing. Desmos.com is, IMO, the best thing out there for graphing functions. I sometimes use them for matrix operations, but but it's usually a lot faster to use Octave (or octave-online.com).

author: nigelwright7557
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 11, 2020, 05:26:27 am
content: Quote from: SiliconWizard on January 10, 2020, 05:56:54 pmI still use a Casio fx85 calculator. Its quicker to just pick it up than start looking through the PC for one.My biggest gripe with a handheld one is no backlight and LCD is not easy to read.

author: BU508A
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 11, 2020, 12:10:53 pm
content: I've bought a HP 48G / 32k RAM back in the ninties. A friend of mine bought one, too and he came up with the suggestion to upgrade it to 128k RAM.Result:I'm also using Wolfram Alpha for some stuff (e.g. calculating integrals etc.)https://www.wolframalpha.com/

author: Specmaster
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 11, 2020, 01:05:55 pm
content: I have a number of calculators within easy reach, but the one I use the most is a Commodore SR4912, it has a l overly red LED display and what I consider to be the nicest feel push buttons on a calculator that I've come across. I brought it in the late 70's, uses a PP3 and has a 3.5mm jack socket to accept a external power adaptor.

author: emece67
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 11, 2020, 01:53:40 pm
content: .

author: madires
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 11, 2020, 02:43:53 pm
content: I've collected a few inexpensive scientific Casio calculators over the years. Of course, one is kept on the work bench. The only high-end model I have is a fx-7500G.

author: MagicSmoker
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 11, 2020, 02:58:38 pm
content: Another vote for RealCalc (pro version) on the phone, but I still have various generic scientific calculators sprinkled around the lab which I use on a daily basis. I'm not a complete masochist / atavist, however: if I need to do a calculation involving more than a couple of nested parentheses then I usually open up a spreadsheet.I never had a graphing calculator or learned RPN, despite being old enough to remember their heyday.

author: SiliconWizard
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 11, 2020, 03:00:18 pm
content: Quote from: ataradov on January 10, 2020, 09:25:51 pmThat was the only post I can relate with so far (although I get all the others, no issue there, just that I'm closer to this one.)At uni I had a HP28S which at the time was great. I didn't "upgrade" to the 48S although it was available as the 28S was fine for me (and I didn't have the cash to spend yet more).I have RealCalc on my phone too, but use it rarely (only if I need some calculation while I'm on the go and have nothing else available...) I personally find touchscreen UIs to be terrible anyway except for the most basic tasks. (That could be an entire topic for later.)The interesting thing all in all I noticed in this thread is that most people still using a pocket calculator are doing this either just from habit, or also because they just don't know (or have bothered) to find decent tools on computer. Certainly tools on computer require being in front of a computer... but these days how often do you not have a computer in front of you, or near you, while working? It's pretty rare for most engineering jobs (except as I said the rare cases when on a bench with no computer, although it's still common to have a laptop on lab benches nearby...) But beyond that obvious requirement, there actually are tons of software that are, as I and ataradov said, much more powerful and usable than any pocket calculator. And no we are not talking about the basic calculators that come with your OS, they are just ugly toys. I personally also use a command-line calculator, 'calc'. It's available on many Linux distros, otherwise it's pretty easy to build. I have it on Windows too (and it opens its own console directly, so there's nothing to fiddle with).http://www.isthe.com/chongo/tech/comp/calc/index.htmlit's arbitrary precision, it's fast, it has an embedded C-like interpreted language (many calcs have something like this, but not quite as powerful and it's always pretty clunky to type programs on a small keyboards and small screen), it has virtually unlimited history (so actually seeing what you calculated before is all there, and redoing a calculation is just a keystroke away, you have also cut/paste...) OTOH I've tried, but wouldn't use any of the desktop apps that are just pocket calculators look-alikes; they serve no purpose except being toys IMO. Definitely a wrong approach. Apart from calc, I also use Maxima for symbolic stuff (and several other programs...)As long as I'm in front or close to a computer, it doesn't take any more time than firing up a physical calculator. I have desktop shortcuts for those, it's just a double-click away (and I usually keep them open anyway.)And after that, certainly that's also down to personal habits and preferences, but I would certainly recommend taking a look and trying at least one of those powerful CLI calculators (and don't let the CLI aspect deter you, it's every bit as easy to use, and a lot more productive, than any calculator.)Then I still have a HP48G+. (I don't have my old HP28S anymore, and bought this 48G+ after uni.) It's a great calculator and a great feat of engineering, but I just find using a computer calc (a good one again, not the toy apps) so much more productive that I see little use for it now, so I use it more on occasion out of nostalgia (and appreciating the object.) I also happen to own a HP39gII, which is kind of an oddity (got it for cheap at the time and it was the odd predecessor of the HP Prime, I was just curious to see where HP was heading with calculators. Like the Prime, it was more targeted at students than professionals, but apart from the fact it has no CAS, it's actually pretty usable and very fast. I fired it up lately just as I found it back in a drawer.) They are fun to "play" with once in a while, but always still feel a lot less productive to me than the calc programs I routinely use.

author: KL27x
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 11, 2020, 08:37:44 pm
content: Quote+1. Tactile keys, no lag, intuitive mode selection. If I have to look at a manual to do something, just cuz it's been a few months, then forget about it. FX 115 is my daily driver.The RealCalc is great in a pinch for certain things, when I'm away from home. But sometimes the touch screen is just not the right thing for the job. Heck, sometimes we (I do, anyway) use things like adding machines, even. No, an adding machine doesn't have any fancy math functions, but it has features and fuctions/ergos made to detect/avoid human errors and for ease of use when adding lots of figures.

author: blacksheeplogic
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 11, 2020, 08:42:01 pm
content: Quote from: SiliconWizard on January 11, 2020, 03:00:18 pmI did not reach this conclusion and I am not sure how you would from the replies. I suspect you are projecting your preferences and views in the conclusion which is fine when stating your position but I don't think when read objectively that it representative of the the group 'Most'.My preference for using a calculator ha nothing to do with access to software, a PC, alternatives, skill, or lack of knowledge. I have a preference that suites how I work. I also don't know from the replies the age group of those with a preference for a calculator over a smart device over a PC but it would not surprise me if there was a bias based on age.

author: KL27x
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 11, 2020, 09:14:04 pm
content: QuoteA lot of humans use calculators to do more basic things than algebra and integrals and graphing, 99 times out of the 100 we pick up the calculator.It would be a huge pain to do your taxes with a smart phone app.Also, RealCalc doesn't even show you what you punched in. It's the most old school calculator UI. 16 + 12... oh, what did you do, so far? The display says "12." This is using a mini computer and million color touchscreen to replicate the lamest scientific calculator ever made. It's a dollar store toy calculator that also does geometry and square roots and couple other basic things.On a lot of the modern calculators, you can see all the things you punched in as you do it, so you can doublecheck if you made an error. On the FX115, for instance, there's two lines. Even after you get your answer, you can still see your inputs, above it, and to scroll through the whole thing, even. Quantities, operations, parentheses. The entire both sides of the equation. So you can do a lot of things without writing things down, and still have 100% confidence in what you did.Modern 15 dollar calculator is so far beyond this, just in UI/useability. Casio. Check them out.

author: george.b
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 11, 2020, 09:56:05 pm
content: Quote from: KL27x on January 11, 2020, 09:14:04 pmRealCalc can show 4 lines of RPN stack:

author: KL27x
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 11, 2020, 10:21:15 pm
content: ^That sounds nice, but I don't even know what "4 lines of RPN stack" even means or what the x y z stuff on the left means.Honestly, first time I booted up RealCalc, I was stunned at what it was. All that display resolution. And 99% of it used to replicate push buttons. It was literally a 1970's basic calculator. I guess there are more features, but hell if I know them.Some TI calculators might as well require 1 year course to use. Casio makes a lot that are for normal human beings. I can rely on my 115. And when I spill coke on it, I can buy another. Punch in your figures and operations, see it as you "type", dozens/scores or operations, go back and edit mistakes before pressing "=".* The UI part is brilliant and using RealCalc/1970s calculator is ancient boat anchor in comparison.I don't know how many operations it can display at once, but is shows enough and scrolling through as it goes to show you where you are and keep your place. It is great as a light adding machine, even. I have a pricer Casio with graphic display and more lines. It will even show fractions as you write them, with the bar and whatnot. But it has a bit more complexity, and I didn't read the manual, yet. So I keep using the 115's.*Or you can edit AFTER you press equal, and the answer updates when you press "=" again. Sometimes you want to optimize something, but you don't need full graphing. You can play with the numbers and see how the answer changes. This is graphing-light, and it's completely intuitive. You don't need to real a manual to figure any of this out. Just move the cursor around and edit things, intuitively. Sad is the only word you can use to describe RealCalc. Even replicating the pixelation on the old school display, lol.This makes me wonder if SiliconWizard has used RealCalc, or if he just assumes that since it's on a smart phone, it is not completely archaic, basically emulating a real, retarded calculator that was obsolete decades ago. What he is describing on his computer (I presume) is nothing like RealCalc. RealCalc is like using a computer and printer to emulate a typewriter.

author: Gyro
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 11, 2020, 10:32:28 pm
content: Quote from: george.b on January 11, 2020, 09:56:05 pmSo can Neocal on my (everyday) Palm, as can the Android version.P.S. Camera colour rendition way off!

author: I wanted a rude username
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 11, 2020, 10:53:21 pm
content: Quote from: BU508A on January 11, 2020, 12:10:53 pmIn the '90s I had the desire toupgrade my 48G, but lacked the skills. Now I have the skills but lack the desire.The SRAM ICs are still available though, and even those with the slowest access times are fine since the 48G's RAM clock only runs at 2 MHz ...

author: george.b
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 11, 2020, 11:12:01 pm
content: Quote from: KL27x on January 11, 2020, 10:21:15 pmIt sounds like you've used RealCalc in algebraic mode, instead of RPN. In that mode, I'm inclined to agree, it is sad; then again, I think algebraic is sad in general.RPN (Reverse Polish Notation) is another way of entering data and operations on the calculator. Algebraic is the "natural" notation, Like 4+3. In algebraic mode, you'd enter 4 + 3 =, but in RPN, you'd enter 4  3 . You push 4 and 3 into the stack, and then specify the operation you want to execute between the operands in the first two levels of the stack (X and Y on RealCalc). The other levels (Z and 4 on RealCalc) are used as memory. Other calculators may have more levels, visible or not.It comes in handy when you need to do more complex operations, like, say, (1+2)/(3+4). In algebraic mode, you'd have to use parentheses, or, on a more simple calculator, you'd have to store one intermediate value in memory - extra steps/keystrokes. In RPN, that would be 1  2  3  4  .I very much prefer RPN.Quote from: Gyro on January 11, 2020, 10:32:28 pmHah, I think you're the second person I see who still actually uses a Palm! Cool

author: KL27x
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 11, 2020, 11:31:36 pm
content: ^Thanks. Did not know this. That's how adding machines work, more or less. I never used it on a calculator, though. I'm gonna play with this mode on RealCalc to see what shakes out; I assume you get used to thinking like that on complex calculations; so far I only trust myself to use RPN to add receipts, lol.

author: george.b
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 11, 2020, 11:45:40 pm
content: ...and I mean, it's not like I particularlylikeRealCalc, I think it's just adequate. If I must use a calculator on my smartphone, might as well use an RPN one, so RealCalc is what I use for that. I don't enjoy using my smartphone as a calculator, though. I just don't normally have my HP 48 on me all the time

author: SiliconWizard
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 11, 2020, 11:54:52 pm
content: Quote from: blacksheeplogic on January 11, 2020, 08:42:01 pmJust re-read every post made. Apart from ataradov, I haven't seen one that, when considering computer alternatives to calculators, wasn't only talking either about the basic Windows calc (an ugly joke) or mobile apps, which I also dislike as I stated (especially for the UI thing.) So obviously if your only reference to computer alternatives to calculators are these, I'd fully agree that they can't match a real calculator. But there are much more useful and capable software out there as I cited (and ataradov), and I haven't seen anyone talk about them apart from him. So this really looked like indeed "most" people here have this preference out of actually not knowing about better software tools, and I again strongly suggest trying. It's really hard to go back once you have.As I said, there will certainly always be a personal preference part in this. But just make sure you know all your options, that was my point.

author: ataradov
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 12, 2020, 12:07:31 am
content: Just as an example, here is a random snapshot from my calculator history.As you can see there is quire a bit of repetitive formulas where I want to tweak one or a few values. You would go mad doing using this a regular calculator. Even if displays some sort of a formula display, navigating that typically is not easy.Also note some pretty simplistic calculations (256/2). I do that all the time because it is way easier to just enter the raw numbers while occupying my brain with more important stuff when thinking about a problem. Using a regular calculator you would be compelled to do simple calculations in your head.Also I have the full history of requests and results. I don't need memory, I don't need RPM, I have all the history of all the calculations I ever made. I can copy-paste those things at will.All this stuff is for this projecthttps://www.eevblog.com/forum/projects/reverse-engineering-fnirsi-5012h/, in case anyone is interested.

author: sibeen
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 12, 2020, 12:50:17 am
content: I've got two calculators sitting on my desk, a large button 4 banger and a scientific Sharp EL-531XH. I'd very rarely touch either. I do quite a bit of stuff in Mathcad so it is always open on my computer and that's my go to for any form of calculation. If I'm out of the office I'll use my phone's calculator for anything simple, if it's not I'd open up my laptop and fire up mathcad.

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 12, 2020, 12:58:51 am
content: Quote from: ataradov on January 12, 2020, 12:07:31 amFor that kind of stuff you have spreadsheets.

author: ataradov
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 12, 2020, 01:00:51 am
content: Quote from: nctnico on January 12, 2020, 12:58:51 amIt takes a few ms to bring up and put back this calculator. Why would I use spreadsheets for this?I mean everyone has their preferences. I'm just sharing what works for me. I don't want to convince anyone to switch what they are doing.

author: floobydust
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 12, 2020, 01:07:51 am
content: I use spreadsheets now because all my engineering formulas are also stored in them.Example is the voltage divider equation- I have the four variables isolated and can solve for Vin, Vout, R1 or R2, and calculate resistor power dissipation - all at once.

author: JDubU
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 12, 2020, 01:08:56 am
content: I have an HP-42s that I don't use anymore. I also have an HP-25 that has not been powered up in many years due to a failed battery that is corroded in place.On Windows, I use Excalibur that I've always really liked:https://www.hpcalc.org/details/3650On my Android phone, I prefer Free42 over RealCalc since it is essentially identical to my HP-42.

author: David Hess
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 12, 2020, 01:18:23 am
content: I regularly use an HP-50g and before that regularly used an HP-48g. I also have a solar TI-35.A phone just does not compare in ease of use. A touch screen does not make up for a good calculator keyboard and the battery life is terrible in comparison.

author: JxR
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 12, 2020, 01:39:54 am
content: I still regularly use my HP 15C. Very nice layout, feel, and has a fantastic display. I also use a HP 42s. I prefer the 42s if I need to work with complex numbers. I have an HP Prime, which is also a good calculator but I honestly rarely use it. Obviously I prefer RPN format...I use Free42 (42s emulator) on my phone if out and about. PCalc "42" is also an excellent phone calculator that you can use RPN on.

author: SolarMan
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 12, 2020, 01:53:37 am
content: Yes absolutely! Even when I'm sitting in front of my computer and have a smartphone in my pocket I still prefer to use a physical calculator. I often find myself punching numbers into my calculator while doing reseach on my computer

author: tycz
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 12, 2020, 02:48:19 am
content: For engineering calcs I use a pocket calculator - a fairly ordinary Sharp EL-531WH. It has all the features I need and the interface is excellent. I find it easy to go back and make changes to a previous calculation because it has arrow keys, auto repeat, home/end. There's no history, but there are 8 memory slots which gets the job done.For (usually low level) programming calcs I find the pocket calculator useless and instead use the program Speed Crunch which has infinite history and copy/paste features. It was the only calculator program I could find that let me switch the output between hex, binary, decimal, and decimal engineering notation on the fly. I also use it for engineering when I've misplaced my pocket calculator, but I don't like it that much. Maybe it's part habit and part ergonomics... engineering calcs are full of symbols and parenthesis, and this isn't great to type on a PC keyboard which requires two hands and lots of key chords on my keyboard with no numpad.

author: Mr Evil
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 12, 2020, 12:30:21 pm
content: Quote from: SiliconWizard on January 11, 2020, 11:54:52 pmI can only speak for myself, but this isn't true. Since this was a topic about pocket calculators, I posted about the software related to that. Thatdoesn'tmean that I don't know about or use other software. I use everything from Windows Calc up to writing my own software for specialized tasks.

author: stefan_trekkie
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 12, 2020, 12:59:44 pm
content: I still use my Citizen SR-170 scientific calculator with the original photo cell on it. It was present from my grandma when become EE student ~13-sh years ago. Love it, it was 30€ and back then was a lot poorer and treated as fortune.I have calculator app on my smarty and it is almost the same and use it on the fly.. On my computer i don't using calc app (or programs) just because i work slowly on them. For some fast electrical calculations I have calculators in the drowning programs that using.

author: ogden
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 12, 2020, 01:10:52 pm
content: There is no single "best" calculator. People have different tasks, different preferences & habits. I use mostly Casio scientific calc. Sometimes I need Excel or Google sheets,https://www.wolframalpha.com/or GNU Octave. Thanx to this thread, I will definitely check Speed Crunch, thou it may reduce my woframalpha use, not Casio

author: iMo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 12, 2020, 02:06:18 pm
content: Speed Crunch - nice! Calculator forensic test (in degree mode):Code:arcsin(arccos(arctan(tan(cos(sin(9))))))= 9.00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000e0Here is PC-1251, HP-25, HP-48GX, WP-34s - not using them except charging NiMH batt in HP-25 (replaced in 2000) every 3-4y or so. Using Anitech SC-100 ("scientific and programmable", purchased new in 1991 for 4.99DEM), original batteries (2x LR-44) lasted for 28 years without leaking, btw..

author: david77
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 13, 2020, 10:11:47 am
content: I use a pocket calculator whenever I have one in easy reach. I still have the TI-59 on my bench at home and at work I usually use the cheap Toshiba LC-825 I fished from the dumpster and got working again or calc.exe. When neither a PC or a calculator are available I use the TI-59 app on my phone. It's quite close to the original.

author: tszaboo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 13, 2020, 12:19:56 pm
content: I have a Sharp EL520W on my desk at work. It is mainly to add/multiply stuff together. If I need anything more, I typically take Excel or Tina. But recently I've been playing around with jupyter notebook, and honestly, I think it will replace half the stuff that I'm doing in Excel.

author: tom66
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 13, 2020, 12:23:32 pm
content: Yes. Casio FX-83GT, inexpensive and handy for quick calculations. Not found a phone or computer application as good as a handheld scientific calculator.

author: GromBeestje
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 13, 2020, 06:11:49 pm
content: I've got a Casio fx-82 solar right here on my desk.

author: TimNJ
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 13, 2020, 07:04:10 pm
content: For those of you with iOS devices.http://www.archimedescalculator.com/

author: Someone
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 13, 2020, 11:08:08 pm
content: The usual extreme evangelism usually reserved for operating systems.Important requirement number 1 for me: enters and displays results in engineering units. But even thats not essential.There is no single tool for everything, being open minded and using the appropriate tool for the task to hand is far better....Why no RPN spreadsheets?

author: ferdieCX
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 13, 2020, 11:28:31 pm
content: I use regularly a Casio fx-991ES

author: KL27x
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 14, 2020, 12:10:34 am
content: This thread made me check on availability of my current fav. And damnit, they don't make my model, anymore. The new Casio 115 is slightly different, using the oval buttons and screen and sliding cover of the 991, which I also have. The screen is an bigger and has more resolution for displaying weird stuff (but the contrast is not as nice; the old 115, the background is perfectly clear; you can see the background partially darnkened as soon as you turn on the 991). The other two things, not so much, IMO. The oval buttons don't stay aligned and will sit crooked. And the cover is not as easy to use as the old snap on/off cover.

author: ogden
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 14, 2020, 05:34:02 am
content: Quote from: KL27x on January 14, 2020, 12:10:34 amDo you find any of those few extra functions in 115 useful? For those who are not familiar,brief intro of Casio 991EX by Dave.

author: KL27x
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 14, 2020, 07:18:28 am
content: ^Honestly, I don't use a lot of extra functions, but I'm pretty sure the 991's do nearly if not everything the 115's can, plus a lot more.There's just a few things that I had gotten used to, I think. The ergos. And the way in base (dec/hec/bin/oct) mode, my 991 fills all the spaces to the left with zeroes, for god only knows. Especially with binary, it means you sometimes have to scan a few extra spots to the left to make sure you are reading the entire number. It's better left blank, IMO, the way my 115 does it.

author: spudboy488
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 14, 2020, 12:30:54 pm
content: I still use a HP-11C purchased new in 1985.

author: Berni
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 14, 2020, 03:24:25 pm
content: Used to use some random TI scientific calculator, then also a TI Nspire CAS in uni. Now i just use SpeedCrunch on a PC.The PC keyboard numpad is nicer to type on that calculator keys while i can do everything that a scientific calculator can. But SpeedCalc also gives me a history in the same window that i can just look up at rather than having to scroll trough and it keeps calculating the result as you type, so its easy to jump back and change just one number in a long math expression and watch the result change live. It also takes hex numbers by simply typing 0xABCD.I don't see the benefit of having a physical calculator next to a PC. What does it do better? (Compared to SpeedCrunch that is, Windows Calc.exe is shit)

author: KL27x
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 14, 2020, 08:17:11 pm
content: QuoteYou might be using your computer for some combination of IDE, a datasheet PDF, PCB CAD, Youtube and Netflix, PC logic analyzer and/or scope, and emails and browser. How many monitors do you run, already, and how much of that extra monitor space did you allot to use just for a calculator?To me the calculator is part of my bench. The computer is the most important tool on that bench, but I have others on hand what help me work.

author: Berni
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 14, 2020, 09:35:45 pm
content: Quote from: KL27x on January 14, 2020, 08:17:11 pmI have been using two 1080p monitors for a really long time now (Both home and at work). I find it being enough space for me, occasionally a third monitor might come handy, but Win7 being able to tile a window across half of a screen with the Win+Arrow shortcut makes it easier to multipurpose one screen. I usualy have one maximized window of my main task on the main monitor and all the other things like documentation on the side.Something like SpeedCalc wouldn't be always open in a dedicated area of the screen for me, there is no significant benefit to that. To be able to type into its window you need to click it in order to make give that window focus, but in Win7 you can click a pinned icon of SpeedCalc, this will launch it if not running or bring it to foreground if it is running, ending up with that window in focus so you can start typing. When you don't need it anymore simply one more click to bring the window behind it in front, or click the taskbar icon once again to minimize the calculator.Id say its all mostly just a matter of habit. People are just used to doing things a certain way. Where i work right now pretty much nobody keeps a calculator on the desk, but then again the people that work here are not old graybeards.

author: ogden
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 14, 2020, 10:25:44 pm
content: Quote from: Berni on January 14, 2020, 09:35:45 pmIndeed it is habit and generation-related. If I see that there is no paper and pencil on the desk (of millenial), I do not look for calculator or ruler either. (no pun intended)I tend to use best tool for the job, use best I can learn from last and current century approaches. I have both Casio fx-991es and convenient/quick shortcut towindows calculatorSpeedCrunch in the right corner of windows popup menu.

author: floobydust
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 14, 2020, 11:41:40 pm
content: How is it my 36 year old Sharp calculators will give answers in engineering units SI such as micro, milli, nano etc so I don't have to convert 0.00003 or 3e-05 to 30uA?I looked atSpeedCrunchand didn't see it possible. It can't convert F or C either. Such rocket science.Where is this modern tech you speak of from this century, that drives smoothly.edit: added url

author: Mr Evil
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 15, 2020, 12:22:28 am
content: Quote from: floobydust on January 14, 2020, 11:41:40 pmSpeedCrunch has bothengineering notationandunit conversions.

author: rdl
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 15, 2020, 12:49:19 am
content: For simple, basic calculations I can't imagine why anyone would go through the hassle of using a computer if a capable calculator was within arm's reach. If it was something that couldn't be done in just a few seconds, then yeah, the computer might make sense.

author: floobydust
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 15, 2020, 02:51:07 am
content: Quote from: Mr Evil on January 15, 2020, 12:22:28 amI downloaded and tried SpeedCrunch yes it does eng units and round results. It would take some time to sort out the differences between functions, formulas and widgets.But trying the resonance equations, I mistakenly left an extra letter "f" and it gave me a wonky answer. It seems to have used memory "f" without an operator?C = 1 / (4 * pi^2 * 15.92e3f^2 * .1)= 62.81e-15It should be 0.1H and 1nF cap for 15.92kHz resonance. Meeehhh.

author: bsfeechannel
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 15, 2020, 03:56:47 am
content: I pretty much quit using calculators on a regular basis both at work and at home by 1995, when I had four of five of them. I switched to computer calculators, spreadsheets and, later, cellphone calculators, which I still use regularly.But after I started watching Dave's videos, I rekindled my interest in them and now I have a small collection of vintage calculators. Some of them are on my desk and they are fun to use.

author: blacksheeplogic
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 15, 2020, 05:07:13 am
content: My wife has found and 'put away' a lot of my calculators and no doubt she will eventually find these as well.....

author: Prehistoricman
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 16, 2020, 06:51:05 pm
content: Lots of hate for the Windows calculator here. I use it very regularly.It's important to note that I'm on about the Windows 10 calculator. I think Windows 7 and earlier had a very basic calc.I have a keyboard shortcut to bring up the calculator that I use a lot. With a numpad, using the calculator for basic operations is just like a physical one. There are lots of shortcuts that are unfortunately hidden from the user, but you can find ones online. I most often use alt+2 and alt+3 to switch between programmer and scientific modes. Copy and paste is immensely useful. Built-in unit conversions are a nice touch.I also have 3 Casio scientifics that I use from time to time and one Casio graphic that I use rarely.

author: Berni
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 16, 2020, 07:22:39 pm
content: Quote from: floobydust on January 14, 2020, 11:41:40 pmYeah this is the ONE thing i was disappointed to find out that SpeedCalc did not have. Being able to type "30u*2G" and get the result "60 k" would have been awesome, so instead i have to type "30e-6*2e9" and get a result of "60 000" in normal or "6e4" in scientific or my preferable result of "60e3" in engineering. I always used physical calculators in engineering display mode too since having a exponent that is not a multiple of 3 hurts my brain.But then again you have to type 1e3 instead of 1k in most calculators anyway so i have gotten used to memorizing the prefixes from pico to gigaAs for the windows calculator the only thing i like about it is the programmer mode because i can flip bits by clicking them, it also works even better on windows 10. With these 32bit ARM MCUs around its hard for me to manually convert between binary and hex because the numbers are getting so long.

author: I wanted a rude username
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 16, 2020, 07:33:26 pm
content: Quote from: Prehistoricman on January 16, 2020, 06:51:05 pmNoRPN? In the trash it goes.

author: Mortymore
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 19, 2020, 12:03:23 am
content: As with other tools, I tend to collect calculators and then scatter them all over. I live in the 2nd floor of a building, have a garage and an attic. Between home, car and work, I hate to have to go back to get something I need and forgot, so I have duplicates (triplicates...) of some tools I usually need. Assorted screwdrivers, pliers, multimeter... in some cases a calculator, is such of those things.Even though, I install in all my computers, some of the free HP calculator emulators, it's not very practical to keep mouse clicking on the calculator buttons. I may use the windows calculator on occasion, Excel or Microsoft Mathematics and once in a wile some online dedicated calculator for things like filters, 555, LM317...In conclusion. I have a lot more calculator options than brains.Gathered all my current calculators for a photo family.I have a few more at home, from wife and kids. From memory... HP19B II, HP10S, HP39G II, Casio FX-350ES plus, Casio FX-82MS, Casio FX-991SPX, Casio FX-82SPX, Casio FX-570SPXOut of curiosity, one of this daysrun a test on some calculatorsat homeIntegral ofln(x^2)dx, from-5to99(EDIT: as can be seen in the photo, on Casio FX-991ES display)Casio FX-991ES --------------------- 3m15s ------------- 717.9281095Casio FX-991ES PLUS -------------- 2m56s ------------- 717.9281095Casio FX-991W --------------------- 1m28s ------------- 718 (by smithnerd)Casio FX-991EX --------------------- 35s ----------------- 717.9281095Casio FX-570SPX II ----------------- 35s ----------------- 717.9281095Casio fx-9750GII -------------------- 7s ------------------ 717.9281094 (by Prehistoricman)HP50g --------------------------------- just seconds ------ 717.928109451 (by David Hess, "After resetting various CAS parameters")HP 39G II ----------------------------- 7s ------------------- 717.928109451HP 49G+ ------------------------------ 25m 38s ----------- 717.928325369HP 40GS ------------------------------ 20m48s ------------ 717.928325369HP 49G -------------------------------- 54m54s ------------ 717.928325369HP 48G -------------------------------- 53m40s ------------ 717.928325369HP 39GS ------------------------------ 20m28s ------------ 717.928325369HP35S -------------------------------- failed to compute due to the discontinuity (by rsjsouza)HP15C--------------------------------- 10m35s------------- 718.0021 (by DrGeoff)Microsoft Mathematics on a i5 --------------------- 0s ------------------- 717.928109450989848G emulated on Galaxy S8 (Droid48) ----------- 45s ----------------- 717.928325369 (by rsjsouza)When applicable, HP 40GS, 49G and 49G+ had to be configured for complex and approximation mode, otherwise they couldn't solve. Hence the difference in the results from the 4th decimal digit.HP 39G II (not in the photo) was a bit of a surprise. It was very fast. This calculator has a peculiarity I've never seen in any other battery powered device (excuse my lack of knowledge if that's the case). It has a compartment for 4 AAA batteries, but can run with only 1 AAA fitted.

author: Prehistoricman
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 19, 2020, 03:26:01 am
content: Quote from: Mortymore on January 19, 2020, 12:03:23 amInteresting test. I have a Casio fx-9750GII here that also takes about 7s to solve that and gives 717.9281094(50611 - these digits were obtained by subtracting 717.9).It also takes 4x AAA but doesn't run with only 1. I believe all 4 are in series. An old trick I used to do in school (I was the heart of the party) was to replace one of the batteries with a short pencil and show that the calculator would work.

author: aargee
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 20, 2020, 11:00:43 am
content: Would love one of these, more as curio than anything... but wow the price it ended at today!https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Casio-Fx-61f-Scientific-Calculator-Electric-Formula-27/293421709079as a general calculator, its physical condition probably wouldn't have gotten a second look in an op-shop.

author: Berni
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 20, 2020, 11:45:16 am
content: Ah yes having built in electronics engineering features would make it really nice. Especially being able to parallel resistors with just one operator.But dang that price.

author: IanJ
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 20, 2020, 12:12:22 pm
content: Quote from: blacksheeplogic on January 15, 2020, 05:07:13 amOooh, you have an EL-5155.......I have 2off EL-545 which use daily at work and in the workshop at home.Not sure the difference but physically identical just about.Ian.

author: ogden
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 20, 2020, 12:38:44 pm
content: I am not fan of look and feel (nor price) of it, but otherwise calculator running STM32F4 + TFT LCD with code onGithubsounds like good idea.https://www.numworks.com/. Disclaimer: not related in any way, found info in ST news releases.Online simulator here

author: chickenHeadKnob
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 20, 2020, 01:50:11 pm
content: Quote from: IanJ on January 20, 2020, 12:12:22 pmWhen Blacksheeplogic presented his collection my first thought was: " erm, that lad has issues", then I noticed the basic scientific sharp and thought " no he will be alright". I have a EL-540D in my desk drawer, purchased 1985. Last calculator of the hand I will ever buy. I extract and use maybe once every three months. 10 digits non-programmable should be sufficient for anyone.

author: smithnerd
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 21, 2020, 01:56:38 am
content: Quote from: Mortymore on January 19, 2020, 12:03:23 amMy FX-991ES does it in 2m56s - I must have an overachiever (or different ROM). My older FX-991W (c2000) does it in 1m28s, but rounds the result up to 718.

author: Cnoob
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 21, 2020, 06:37:53 am
content: I use a HP prime, 2 reasons, it has a nice clear display and it displays your equation so you can check if you made a mistake.I do use windows 10 calculator mostly for conversions.

author: george.b
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 21, 2020, 06:53:41 am
content: Quote from: Mortymore on January 19, 2020, 12:03:23 amMy HP 48G+finished it, took a long time (sorry, didn't measure it), but it arrived to a result of 717.928325369.

author: Messtechniker
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 21, 2020, 10:12:32 am
content: Still going strong - except for batteries of course - ismy Texas Instruments SR-56.Use it now occasionally to work out decibelsMy father bought it when it was new in the USA.Was quite a sensation at the time in Germany.Used it to do physics homework in no time,because math tasks had been set up with theintention of using a slide rule. Nowadays:This was eventually changed. Thankfully afterhaving completed my studies.

author: Mortymore
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 21, 2020, 11:57:44 am
content: Quote from: smithnerd on January 21, 2020, 01:56:38 amIt may well be a different ROM. In this little devices I believe that there will not be differences in hardware, like different revision boards or something. My lack of speed or accuracy, starting and stopping the stopwatch, would not justify 19s of difference between our results.Quote from: george.b on January 21, 2020, 06:53:41 amThanks for your information. Can you please describe how are your FLAGs configured (list of the active ones). I might have a FLAG wrongly configured in order to my HP48G be able to solve the problem.EDIT:info on HP48G FLAGs

author: taydin
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 21, 2020, 12:14:04 pm
content: Was a long time Casio FX5500 user. After discoverying Hiper Calc Pro for android, I have retired my 30 year old Casio FX5500 and never looked back.I'm still learning and discovering what features hipercalc has, but being able to type the equation exactly "as it is", just like an academic paper written in LaTeX, is a very big plus and is enough for me to ditch everything else.

author: george.b
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 21, 2020, 12:56:40 pm
content: Quote from: Mortymore on January 21, 2020, 11:57:44 amMy flags are all cleared. My calculator has been recently reset - funny story - I harvested the SRAM from it to upgrade a TDS2CM (TDS200 series oscilloscope expansion module) to a TDS2MM, then replaced it with a slower SRAM. Doesn't make a difference for the HP48G+, but could make a difference for the TDS2MM. So yeah, that means my calculator was reset, so all flags are set to their default value, that is, they're cleared.

author: Jeroen3
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 21, 2020, 01:24:19 pm
content: I have an Casio FX-991MS and also use Speedcrunch.Speedcrunch is a nice command line-ish calculator.

author: smithnerd
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 21, 2020, 04:38:04 pm
content: Quote from: Mortymore on January 21, 2020, 11:57:44 amIf you press shift-7-on (together), 9, then press shift 5 times, you get the rev. and ROM checksum.Turns out this one is my fx-991ES PLUS (I do have a non-plus model around here somewhere). GY455X VerE, SUM 8928.

author: Mortymore
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 21, 2020, 08:51:26 pm
content: Results forIntegral of ln(x^2)dx, from -5 to 99We can add:Casio FX-991ES PLUS -------- 2m56s -------------- 717.9281095Casio FX-991W --------------- 1m28s -------------- 718Casio FX-991EX ---------------- 35s ----------------- 717.9281095Casio FX-570SPX II ----------- 35s ----------------- 717.9281095HP 48G -------------------------- 53m40s ------------ 717.928325369HP 39GS ------------------------ 20m28s ------------ 717.928325369 (EDIT)Notes:My FX-991ES shows ROM 018. Given we were recording the 991ES vs 991ES PLUS, that would explain the difference. On the path of evolution we have, 991ES: 3m15 > 991ES PLUS: 2m56s > 991EX: 35sMy HP48Gis currently running (39 minutes and counting), with only FLAGs 02 and 03 set

author: emece67
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 21, 2020, 10:49:36 pm
content: .

author: iMo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 24, 2020, 01:36:42 am
content: I flashed my wp-34s 5-6y back. Is there any new binary somewhere available, plz?PS: here are thelatest binariesit seems.Andthe repo with the sources.

author: SiliconWizard
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 24, 2020, 03:14:03 pm
content: Quote from: Mortymore on January 19, 2020, 12:03:23 amSuccess with this integral and the time it takes will completely depend on the method used.If you have an HP prime, looks like the fastest would be to do this in CAS mode (which will give you the exact result almost instantly). Then you can copy it in home mode to get the approximate value.The Prime uses Giac for its CAS AFAIK, which you can also use on computers.https://www-fourier.ujf-grenoble.fr/~parisse/giac.html(There is a web version if you want to quickly test it:https://www-fourier.ujf-grenoble.fr/~parisse/xcasen.html)integrate(ln(x^2),x,-5,99)will give you: 5ln(25)+198ln(99)-208≈717.928109451I tried with Maxima (both symbolic with integrate() and numeric integration with romberg(), and both failed.)Also tried with Yacas (http://www.yacas.org/), that I rarely use. Contrary to xcas/giac, it fails to solve the symbolic integration (with: Integrate(x,-5,99) Ln(x^2) ), but manages the numeric integration (with: NIntegrate(x,-5,99) Ln(x^2) ), it takes several seconds though, and is not very accurate (gives 717.92810937).

author: rsjsouza
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 26, 2020, 01:52:14 am
content: I can't resist these posts. I love "physical calculators".I like the mechanical memory of the calculators I have, as well as the extended precision of the HP35 and HP48 for those bit and base conversions.A bit of my history on one of the previous threads:Quote from: rsjsouza on August 11, 2019, 10:23:34 pm

author: aqarwaen
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 26, 2020, 05:55:54 pm
content: got mine calculator from used electronic shop for 1$ only.only issue it had was old philips batteries had leaked and adter cleaning it work prefectly with new batties

author: David Hess
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 27, 2020, 11:06:07 am
content: Quote from: Mortymore on January 21, 2020, 08:51:26 pmThe HP 50G produces the same result, as it should, and takes about as long, 10s of minutes anyway, despite having a 50MHz ARM processor because it runs an emulator. I am not up to timing it accurately.It is kind of sad actually considering that a processor designed and built 20+ years later draws more power to do less.

author: Martin.M
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 27, 2020, 11:46:18 am
content: stand allone, yes, pocket, no... and full of Nixies

author: Mortymore
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 27, 2020, 11:58:02 am
content: Quote from: Martin.M on January 27, 2020, 11:46:18 amWe shouldn't have to beg...Photos please!

author: SiliconWizard
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 27, 2020, 04:45:16 pm
content: Quote from: David Hess on January 27, 2020, 11:06:07 amThe 50G was just emulating a Saturn processor to be able to leverage everything that had been written for the 48 series, so yeah it was not that much faster than the 48 in the end. It was faster for some tasks, and a bit slower for others. It was just a transition product IMO.The later 39gII and Prime were using 100% rewritten and native code. Eons faster. The nostalgic wish HP had ported more of what was available in the 48/50 to the Prime. But those address the student market rather than professionals. I guess this is related to the point raised in this thread, that professionals increasingly use computer tools rather than true calculators, so the market has shrunk and doesn't interest the major players that much anymore. It's not just with HP; all other major manufacturers (TI, Casio, ...) mainly release calculators for students (not to say they are not usable for professionals, but they are clearly not tailored for them as the old HP ones were.)

author: iMo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 27, 2020, 04:56:54 pm
content: There are also some limits on the calculator's functionality set by schools in most countries. So the vendors rather follow that rules.

author: rsjsouza
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 29, 2020, 12:49:47 am
content: Quote from: Martin.M on January 27, 2020, 11:46:18 amI love those as well, although I have only one: Casio AS-A.https://sites.google.com/view/vbeletronico/casio-as-a-vbe-014

author: worsthorse
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 29, 2020, 04:59:56 am
content: My daily calculator is one of two HP45s. The keypad is so solid and the display is easy to see (one is at my testbench, the other on my desk). My HP15C is always handy, too, and gets thrown into the bag if I am going to a coffeeshop to work. I also have an HP48 that I like but don't use much. I am pretty sure that my 11C and 12C are around here somewhere, too. Banging out numbers on a calculator is way faster than using a keyboard-based tool, for me, anyway.So yeah, I still use calculators. But then, I still use a slide rule once in a while just to stay in practice for the post-zompocalypse career.

author: blacksheeplogic
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 29, 2020, 05:58:07 am
content: Quote from: SiliconWizard on January 27, 2020, 04:45:16 pmThe 50G was slow and I never really got comfortable with it. I liked the 35S but after the Prime came out I switched over to it. For a basic calculator especially when working in assembler the Sharp EL-501X is my go to. I've tried a few others like the Casio's but find I always go back to either a Sharp or HP. When traveling it's the Sharp EL-515 / El-506 / El-512, they small and I've had these Sharps for several decades.* A few more of mine * My wife puts my calculators away if she finds them out of the office, I know I have others but where....

author: Mortymore
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 29, 2020, 11:51:01 am
content: Quote from: blacksheeplogic on January 29, 2020, 05:58:07 amThat's why you have so many calculators. Your wife hides them and you're always in need for another one.

author: KL27x
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 29, 2020, 07:14:40 pm
content: With so many different kinds of calculators, surely you end up preferring just one? I can't learn/rememberr how to use half the functions of one calculator. Then there's the adjusting to the various layouts/fonts/color schemes of the buttons.If I collected calculators, I'd have 6 of the same one.And for me, it'd be the one on the second column, second row. That fx-115MS. That's my workhorse. I still see it for sale, but the price is going up. Maybe I should buy a few.

author: Specmaster
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 30, 2020, 09:48:30 pm
content: Quote from: KL27x on January 29, 2020, 07:14:40 pmYou are so correct, I have many calculators that I have gained over the years, because it seemed that each one had a unique function / feature that I thought would be handy to have, and when the time comes to use it, I can't remember how to do it.

author: blacksheeplogic
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 31, 2020, 05:44:42 am
content: Quote from: KL27x on January 29, 2020, 07:14:40 pmThe HP prime is my primary calculator.

author: george.b
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 31, 2020, 02:37:22 pm
content: Quote from: David Hess on January 27, 2020, 11:06:07 amAnd this is why I dropped my 50g in favor of a 48G+. I couldn't keep up with battery usage. On the other hand, my 48G+ has been on the same set of non-alkaline batteries for almost a year now.

author: rsjsouza
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 31, 2020, 05:14:21 pm
content: Quote from: george.b on January 21, 2020, 06:53:41 amMy HP35S failed to compute due to the discontinuity, but the 48G emulated on my Galaxy S8 (Droid48) finished in about 45s with the same result of 717.928325369.

author: iMo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 31, 2020, 05:21:54 pm
content: Wolfram Alpha returns pretty fast tooCode:integral_(-5)^99 log(x x) dx = -208 + 5 log(25) + 99 log(9801)≈717.9281094509898092627895355906776568003602315201025607993418414430431075264665977171140098716913919681495082661877941703815724191636985154135955803770983087545993504943645229842801255561021282129275828309

author: DrG
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 31, 2020, 05:54:42 pm
content: Been using this one for many years. Quite handy, no battery issues and has helped me avoid a few facepalm moments.

author: Shock
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 31, 2020, 06:51:05 pm
content: These are mine, not a collection more a functional representation of calculators I like to use. Two RPN calculators, two for their EE functionality and one for VPAM. The rest are just models I own or used in the past, most of these were cheap.HP12C - RPN programmable financeHP12C - Spare donor for the HP15CHP15C - RPN programmable scientificTI 89 Titanium - Graphing and has EE software and an emulator appTI 84 Plus - Came free with the TitaniumCasio FX-100AU PLUS - Modern scientific with VPAMCasio FX-61F - EE functions built in scientificCasio FX-82 - Buried in a box somewhereCasio FX-100 - Might be in a box not see it for a whileCasio desk calculator - Work acquired non scientific

author: Zero999
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 31, 2020, 09:11:25 pm
content: Quote from: Prehistoricman on January 16, 2020, 06:51:05 pmI prefer the Windows 7 calculator to the Windows 10 one, because it's possible to go back and edit long expressions, which they decided to remove from the Windows 10 version and is a deal breaker for me. When I'm using Windows 10, I install the old Windows 7 calculator patched, to run on Windows 10.My favourite calculator program is MATE Calculator, but I think it has a Windows version.

author: David Hess
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 01, 2020, 03:27:00 am
content: Quote from: george.b on January 31, 2020, 02:37:22 pmI have two sets of AAA Enloops for my 50g and have not had a problem but I do not use it as much as I did my 48g. The original case wore out so now I have a hard case for it. My only complaint is the massively higher latency compared to the 48g.

author: Calambres
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 16, 2020, 03:39:15 pm
content: Quote from: VK3DRB on January 11, 2020, 12:23:56 amFunny... I still use occasionally the Hornet SR-30 I was given as a christmas present back in '76. It happens to be the very same calculator as yoursNowadays I use Free42 in my android cellular and in my computer. It is a fantastic emulation of a fantastic calculator (HP-42S).Love RPN.

author: PeteCal
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: May 20, 2023, 09:18:35 pm
content: Old thread but I just found this site.I have always used HP RPN calculators.HP-35, HP-28C, HP-48S.I can't find any anymore but I have the HP-48 app on my android phone.

author: Specmaster
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 20, 2023, 10:18:57 pm
content: What about the HP 50G and the HP 32SII? I have both of these among my collection.

author: Calambres
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 21, 2023, 07:07:54 am
content: Quote from: PeteCal on May 20, 2023, 09:18:35 pmHP just released the "new"HP-15C Collector's EditionBesides you can have the fantasticSwissMicrosreproductions. I have theirDM42based upon the venerable top-of-the-line HP-42s and, in a matter of weeks, they're going to release a newDM32based upon the HP-32SII.You've got a LOT of alternatives today...The SwissMicros' DM42 I've got is one heck of a calculator. Much better than the original IMHO.

author: RoGeorge
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 21, 2023, 08:49:42 am
content: While I have a Casio FX-991ES at hand, I found myself using a smartphone instead.Bigger buttons, bigger numbers, has backlight, and if you don't like the calculator app's look, install another one. Can have more than one calculator at once, and smartphones are usually smaller and flatter than a pocket calculator.Plus, even the out-of-use 10+ years old smartphones have many extra features useful in the lab:- camera- flashlight- chronometers/timers- WiFi, BT- mp3 player/radio- voice notes- the big screen ones are great to display a schematic or a datasheet, etc.I always keep 1-2 smartphones (without SIM) somewhere on the workbench.

author: RAPo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 21, 2023, 08:52:58 am
content: I use a physical calculator daily: DM42, DM41X and sometimes HP15C.(I have the complete HP1X series including HP15C LE, and bought the HP15C CE).

author: DiTBho
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 21, 2023, 10:39:58 am
content: sold my old fx9860gII, bought a new Casio fx9860gIII, used regularly every dayThe differences between them are more ram, faster, better keys, +USB-fs.

author: johnboxall
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: May 21, 2023, 12:25:24 pm
content: Yes. I spend a few hours a day in an environment where we can't have any radio signals, static, etc. So I take in a HP 35s.

author: Specmaster
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 21, 2023, 05:56:41 pm
content: Quote from: DiTBho on May 21, 2023, 10:39:58 amNot too sure in what way do you means the keys are better, to my mind the keys are OK.

author: Benta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 21, 2023, 08:36:00 pm
content: Quote from: Calambres on May 21, 2023, 07:07:54 amThe new "HP" has nothing to do with Hewlett-Packard, but Czech company Moravia Consulting, who apparently have gotten a license for this product.And there's nothing "fantastic" about the Swiss Micro HP-15C. The keys are really cheap andspongepad-printed. How low can you go?The new Czech one looks better on that point. Let's see when deliveries start.

author: SiliconWizard
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 21, 2023, 09:43:24 pm
content: Quote from: johnboxall on May 21, 2023, 12:25:24 pmThat would be a good reason. What kind of environment is it, if not too personal?

author: DrGeoff
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 21, 2023, 11:33:25 pm
content: Quote from: rsjsouza on January 31, 2020, 05:14:21 pmJust to add to the numbers. On an old (1980/81) HP15C this took 10m35s and evaluated as 718.0021.

author: Benta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 22, 2023, 12:12:40 am
content: Quote from: DrGeoff on May 21, 2023, 11:33:25 pmAnd it took you over three years to work that out?

author: DrGeoff
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 22, 2023, 12:16:04 am
content: Quote from: Benta on May 22, 2023, 12:12:40 amAnd it took you just a little bit longer to see the post...

author: RoGeorge
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 22, 2023, 08:25:52 am
content: Quote from: johnboxall on May 21, 2023, 12:25:24 pmThat's an interesting aspect. I wonder what would produce most RF leaks, a HP35s, or a smartphone (any model that has a metallic enclosure, on airplane mode, of course).Asking because I remember a trick from an old magazine, where an AM radio was taped back-to-back with a pocket calculator, so to improvise a detector for pipes/wires position in walls.The pocket calculator was acting as a source of RF noises, and the audio hissing and squeaking noises produced by the AM radio were changing their amplitude when the two devices taped together were swept across a metal in the walls.Anybody measured which one would produce more spurious RF, a metal case smartphone in airplane mode, or a HP35s?Is HP35s in a metal enclosure, or do you just turn it off during measurements?

author: johnboxall
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: May 22, 2023, 08:34:55 am
content: Quote from: RoGeorge on May 22, 2023, 08:25:52 amIt has a plastic enclosure. I usually turn it off after use, more of a reflex/OCD thing than anything.

author: pdenisowski
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 22, 2023, 10:44:47 am
content: All the time

author: David Hess
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 22, 2023, 01:31:20 pm
content: Quote from: DrGeoff on May 21, 2023, 11:33:25 pmAfter resetting various CAS parameters, HP50g took just seconds to reach the HP 39G II result of 717.928109451.

author: Ed.Kloonk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 22, 2023, 04:34:56 pm
content: As I mentioned previously in the purchased-today thread, I recently bought a exact pocket calculator like my own one from the mid 80's. It has some nice Hex/Bin/Dec features and I'm quite fond if it. And it's sure seen some battles.The battery in my old one is starting to go and rather than fix that, I just bought another one from some guy in Europe.So this thing arrived and compared to my old one, the 'new' one is in mint condition. I mean really remarkable good condition. It's still in the cardboard box it came and I'm too frightened to contaminate it.

author: kripton2035
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 22, 2023, 05:24:22 pm
content: HP prime (G1, a G2 would be faster)Integral of ln(x^2)dx, from -5 to 99took no time to calculate, 0s and gave 717.928109451

author: Calambres
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 23, 2023, 05:57:14 am
content: Quote from: Calambres on May 21, 2023, 07:07:54 amAnticipating another harsh comment from Bentathe newSwissmicros' DM32is already released and the first samples are sent.

author: HuronKing
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 23, 2023, 09:47:06 am
content: Interesting thread necromancy.I don't use a standalone calculator but I do use REALMAX FREE on my phone (no more than 3 ads per day which are very easy to close out of without waiting) and does a great job of emulating the feel of classic scientific calculators plus graphing and equation solving:https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.realmax.calc&hl=en_US&gl=US

author: pdenisowski
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 23, 2023, 02:34:45 pm
content: Quote from: Calambres on May 23, 2023, 05:57:14 amI like my SwissMicros HP15 clone (DM15L), but not sure why the DM32 costs 100 CHF more (149 vs 249).

author: Calambres
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 23, 2023, 03:31:34 pm
content: Much better HW platform and processor.

author: newbrain
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 23, 2023, 08:01:50 pm
content: A SwissMicro DM42 in Sweden, an HP35s in Italy, and Plus42 on my phone when I'm around.Frankly, the build quality and even the key feeling of the SwissMicro are better than the HP, and quite surely their quality controls: I had to send back the first HP35s as it was HDOA (Half-Dead On Arrival): only the left half of the keys was working.

author: SiliconWizard
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 23, 2023, 08:21:28 pm
content: SwissMicro products are very good. I do not like the keys as much as with the old HP's, but I guess no one else has really managed to do better anyway.

author: SiliconWizard
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 23, 2023, 08:34:45 pm
content: Quote from: johnboxall on May 22, 2023, 08:34:55 amYou can have a look at the internals here:http://www.finetune.co.jp/~lyuka/interests/calc/hp35s/There is relatively little doubt it has very low emissions. There is an internal shield, no sign of a switching power supply (that I can see at least) and the external oscillator is 32.768kHz.And the display is simple LCD, no TFT, no OLED.

author: blacksheeplogic
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 24, 2023, 01:25:12 am
content: I switched to the new TI-30X Pro. It is a lot faster than the older TI36X Pro similar to the Casio 991EX/991DEX.I don't need anything more than the TI30X Pro provides, sits on my bench, takes up little space, is quick & convenient.

author: Conrad Hoffman
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 24, 2023, 03:00:08 am
content: I love scientific calculators and RPN rules, but I mostly use an app on the PC these days for RPN. "Calculator.net" was the one, but the website is gone. You can still find it if you search around. I keep a TI30 in the machine shop because you always need one there and I don't care what happens to it. At the desk I have several classic HPs but also like the Sharp EL506W or similar. In my briefcase I keep an RPN and a Sharp EL-W516. The Sharps are inexpensive and do just about everything. Also have a few slide rules for backup.

author: Mr.B
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: May 24, 2023, 03:00:38 am
content: I have an HP50g for when I need it.Otherwise normally use “RealCalc” in RPN mode on my Android phone.

author: Smokey
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 24, 2023, 06:15:36 am
content: Daily.1) Casio fx-991MS on the desk (but I have to admit I almost never use any of the fancy features).2) Huge size basic calculator in the machine shop. Nothing like huge keys when you are wearing gloves.anywhere else = phone.

author: CosteC
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 24, 2023, 06:43:03 am
content: I get used to SHARP, now EL-W506.I particularly like engineering notation, physical constans and equation mode. Often faster than any math software/excel for quick calculations. BIN/DEC/HEX conversions also are nice.Phone ones are almost always garbage written by amatour softeware developer without understanding what calculator shall do.

author: dcbrown73
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 24, 2023, 11:00:27 pm
content: I keep a Casio fx-300es plus at the bench.

author: Infraviolet
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 25, 2023, 07:22:55 pm
content: No calculator which can't handle expressions with brackets is any use for anything important. And ofcourse basic calculators, and the sort which come preloaded in phones are even worse, many lacking not only bracketing but lacking square rooting, trig functions and exponentials.I can agree the Casio fx-whichever types are good for physical calculators when you don't want to turn a PC on, or when you need to type in a calculation without taking the cursor of the computer off something so as to use an on-screen calculator (can happen when doing CAD if you need to check something during a click-and-drag operation).I find the best option most of the time to be SpeedCrunch (on Linux) though, all the advantages of a casio type scientific calculator, but you can also copy and paste numbers or expression to and from whichver other program you're using them in. The only advantage the physical scientific calculator has is that you sometimes have to guess what letters to type in SpeedCrunch for the more rarely used functions, whereas all the function calling keys are simultaneously visible on the physical calculator.

author: Zucca
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: May 25, 2023, 07:30:07 pm
content: In case your were not informedhttps://www.eevblog.com/forum/chat/current-and-future-rpn-pocket-calculators-wp34s-dm42-wp43s-c43/

author: Sal Ammoniac
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 25, 2023, 09:32:53 pm
content: No, I gave up using standalone calculators. Now I use an app on my iPhone that emulates an HP-41CX. The look and feel (except for the tactile feel of the keys) is identical to the real thing. The app is much faster than the real calculator, which is nice.

author: Benta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 25, 2023, 09:44:05 pm
content: Quote from: Infraviolet on May 25, 2023, 07:22:55 pmI think the long series of HP RPN calculators will nullify such a sweeping statement.

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 27, 2023, 09:24:17 pm
content: Quote from: Infraviolet on May 25, 2023, 07:22:55 pmI can’t speak for Android, but the iPhone calculator becomes a reasonably complete (single line) scientific calculator when you rotate to landscape orientation. (I wish it were algebraic entry, though… I’ve long since forgotten how to use non-algebraic calculators, since it’s been almost 30 years since I had to use one…)