Knockoff calculator, or just cheaper production run?

[smithnerd]

This fx-82solar, which is the same model for the UK market, is identical to your ebay rubber keyed version.

I bought this one to replace an identical model (also rubber keys) that I gave away after my sitting my university finals in 1997, so it's pretty ancient. Made in China rather than Malaysia. Same list of patents.

Perfect for workshop use. I keep mine stuck to the lathe cabinet with a magnet.

[MikeK]

This got me to thinking about something else...Why do some calcs use the '=' key to allow repeating an operation and other calcs don't?  I find it a useful feature to be able to keep hitting '='.

[rockzzstud]

I also looked at the new redesign (that has the textured body and no mode legend below the display) and it too has no patents listed.  So why does that one [suspiciously changed] unit do it?

panoramacharter.ltd

router admin login

[EEVblog]

Turns out, though, that this new one is slightly different than the other one.  It's not the completely new redesign that Casio did that has the weird patterned/textured body.

I prefer the Solar II 
Always wanted to get a custom EEVblog branded Casio FX-260 but they ignored my requests 

[EEVblog]

The good news is you got a more accurate one. The bad news is, this mystery continues even more... according to the table linked above, the only known calculators to give that result are 3 Casios (not the same model)  and 2 Radio Shacks.

All Radio Shack/Tandy calcs are indentical rebranded Casio models.

[MikeK]

I prefer the Solar II 
Always wanted to get a custom EEVblog branded Casio FX-260 but they ignored my requests 

Interesting.  Your "original" FX-260 is the one that I'm calling the knockoff.*  Made in Malaysia, soft keys, shorter LCD height, poor LCD readability at an angle, and slower (69 factorial test).  Get the "original original"*...It's the best of all; it's as fast as the Solar II, has hard keys, better display, and the easier to read key labels.  I now have two of these and I'll get another off eBay...They're great for keeping in my messenger bag, and by my lathe.

* What I'm calling the knockoff might actually be the original?  Since the other two have the same LCD height, same type of hard keys, and both made in China.  And what I'm calling the "original original" is probably the final version of the Solar before the introduction of the Solar II.

[DavidKo]

What I see from the pictures - smaller display, smaller PCB, smaller case - cheaper to produce. Don't forget that if you save 10 cents on million batch device you will earn USD100k. Next reason can be supply chain, worn off tools for plastic (even steel one need the maintenance), new calculator chip etc. Don't forget Casio is Japanese firm - they like to improve.

[EEVblog]

What I see from the pictures - smaller display, smaller PCB, smaller case - cheaper to produce. Don't forget that if you save 10 cents on million batch device you will earn USD100k. Next reason can be supply chain, worn off tools for plastic (even steel one need the maintenance), new calculator chip etc. Don't forget Casio is Japanese firm - they like to improve.

My biggest commercial project was 300k boards. Shaving 10 cents off the cost of each board was worth $30k in time and effort to focus on that one thing.