Backlit standard or scientific calculators - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Access4all
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: May 03, 2018, 07:53:06 pm
content: Hi All -I am in search of either a standard or scientific (NOT Graphing or Phone app) calculator for student use in academia. Does anyone know of such a gadget that doesn't come in quantities of 3000?Thank you!

author: Mr. Scram
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 03, 2018, 07:58:05 pm
content: Quote from: Access4all on May 03, 2018, 07:53:06 pmThere's hundreds of viable options out there. What's wrong with those?https://www.casio.co.uk/products/calculators/scientific-calculators/https://education.ti.com/en/products

author: Access4all
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: May 03, 2018, 08:01:26 pm
content: It can't be a graphing calculator - (cheating)And it has to be backlit for a low vision student. There isn't enough contrast in a standard LCD screen.

author: Ampera
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 03, 2018, 08:39:09 pm
content: While a graphing, and in fact CAS calculator, the HP Prime has a feature where you can disable various parts of the calculator for a pre-determined amount of time. I believe you can disable various applications, and the CAS functionality to give you purely a scientific RPN, Ti style algebraic, or what HP calls Textbook entry. It will also blink lights at the top of the device to show it's in that mode. It's backlit, rechargable, and has uses well into college. If you intend to instruct this class, and are looking to give it to a specific student, it could be a very viable option.It is 100-130USD depending on where you pick it up and when, so it's possibly not an amazing option.I haven't seem many backlit scientific only calculators, and I am assuming if you haven't found on on the google machine, they likely don't exist in the specification you require. Options could include getting a cheap calculator that meets your requirements and slapping a frontlight in it, finding a rare and likely collectible LED based calculator (they haven't been made since the 1970's I wouldn't think), or look to see if someone has an open source calculator already designed, which which you can swap out the screen for something like a compatible OLED display or backlit LCD, and disable whatever features you wouldn't want in software.

author: Mr. Scram
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 03, 2018, 08:41:54 pm
content: Quote from: Access4all on May 03, 2018, 08:01:26 pmI missed the backlit part, as it was only in the title. Sorry.

author: rsjsouza
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 03, 2018, 08:45:39 pm
content: Pretty expensive, but it may just do the job:https://www.amazon.com/MaxiAids-Low-Vision-Scientific-Calculator/dp/B01N0NWYHW?SubscriptionId=AKIAILSHYYTFIVPWUY6Q&tag=duckduckgo-ffab-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=B01N0NWYHW

author: richard.cs
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 03, 2018, 10:02:32 pm
content: How about a VFD (vacuum fluorescent display) calculator? Searching "vfd calculator" on eBay I see lots under £10 and they're nice and bright with excellent contrast, though the digits may not be that large.There's a Casio fx19 scientific calculator on ebay at the moment for £25 - my dad's had one from new, they're pretty nice to use.

author: rsjsouza
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 04, 2018, 12:39:04 am
content: That is a good idea as well, although in my experience older Casio calculators tend to have faulty keyboards. A fx-39 or fx-140 are great calculators.

author: rdl
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 04, 2018, 04:17:42 am
content: Coincidentally, I was looking for something similar (a calculator with a light up display instead of LCD) and ran across some older Radio Shack models on ebay. They're not scientific, just basic, small desktop calculators. They apparently were meant to run off a couple of D cell batteries, but can also use an AC adapter. It takes a standard 2.1mm x 5.5mm plug at 6 volts, but unusual because it's center positive. The one I bought should arrive early next week.https://www.ebay.com/sch/Radio+Shack+EC-2010There's also an EC-2001 model that looks similar.

author: kj7e
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 04, 2018, 06:00:14 am
content: Go classic, original HP-35;