General > General Technical Chat

What's your favorite calculator?

<< < (17/26) > >>

Benta:

--- Quote from: dunkemhigh on October 18, 2022, 09:25:33 pm ---App calculators can calculate, but they don't have physical buttons you can press. I think that's a big part of what makes a calculator - if you don't care about no buttons there are much better calculator apps that aren't emulations.

--- End quote ---
The real problem is, that with app calculators, you have to boot or wake the thing, find the app, and then "Oh dear, there's an OS update that just started, this will take a little time..."
I put my hand in the breast pocket, whip out my HP-15C, and in a few seconds have a result.

MikeK:

--- Quote from: Benta on October 18, 2022, 09:55:47 pm ---
--- Quote from: dunkemhigh on October 18, 2022, 09:25:33 pm ---App calculators can calculate, but they don't have physical buttons you can press. I think that's a big part of what makes a calculator - if you don't care about no buttons there are much better calculator apps that aren't emulations.

--- End quote ---
The real problem is, that with app calculators, you have to boot or wake the thing, find the app, and then "Oh dear, there's an OS update that just started, this will take a little time..."
I put my hand in the breast pocket, whip out my HP-15C, and in a few seconds have a result.

--- End quote ---

Yep, and this follows with my general regard that a device specifically made to do X is better than a general device that can do X, Y, and Z.  A computer, or phone, does many things... so its acuity is thinned out amonst them all.

PlainName:

--- Quote --- this follows with my general regard that a device specifically made to do X is better than a general device that can do X, Y, and Z.
--- End quote ---

Usually, yes. But the general device scores by actually being in your pocket. Don't know about you, but I don't walk around with a calculator and camera and satnav and all those things filling my pockets. Well, I couldn't - I'd have to take a bag. Things tend not to be too useful, no matter how brilliant and single-minded they are, if you don't have 'em :)

helius:

--- Quote from: MikeK on October 18, 2022, 09:23:26 pm ---Of the ones I can't have I'd say the Curta is my favorite...It's just so cool.
--- End quote ---
If you do find one, remember that it will most likely take many hours to rebuild, with expert hands, in case there is any mechanical issue.

The Curta is super cool because it is so small, but there were a wide variety of mechanical (or electro-mechanical) calculators over the decades. Friden and Brunsviga had some cool models.


--- Quote ---I've wanted an HP-15C, because I've never had an RPN...but I can't justify the high used prices.

--- End quote ---

There are a couple of companies making replica 15Cs, including a full-size and a compact. https://www.swissmicros.com/product/dm15

My favorite is the one I used most in school, the HP 48GX. I've been aware of follow-on models that are supposedly faster, but each time I held one in my hands I was disappointed in the feel. Not just RPN entry, but RPL programming is really nice on the 48.

Picuino:
Casio FX-4500PA
Very old and difficult to find in the market.

https://www.casio.com/latin/scientific-calculators/product.FX-4500PA/



Navigation

[0] Message Index

[#] Next page

[*] Previous page

There was an error while thanking
Thanking...
Go to full version
Powered by SMFPacks Advanced Attachments Uploader Mod