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geekhack Community => Other Geeky Stuff => Topic started by: inteli722 on Thu, 14 November 2013, 21:46:59

Title: CALCULATORS (the remake)! (also slide rules)
Post by: inteli722 on Thu, 14 November 2013, 21:46:59: Since the old calculator thread is very clearly dead, and I don't think it would be a very good idea to necro it, how about another?

What calculators do you guys use/have? Do you enjoy them? Do you have any personal recommendations after using a bunch?

I personally have a TI-84+ Silver Edition and a TI-Nspire CAS, though neither gets a ton of use. I'm also looking into an old HP 48G or 48GX, based on the assumption that I found I really like Reverse Polish Notation, general reviews of the newer RPN calculators aren't very fair, and I really liked the buttons on the older HP calculators I've used. Very tactile, though they also are very short throw, decently stiff, and feel very well made.

After using the Nspire CX, I cannot say I recommend either the 84 +SE or the regular Nspire, because the buttons, except for the letters on the Nspire (in alphabetical order :( ), are just not up to snuff. They feel very cheap, wobbly, and rubbery compared to the HP calculators.

Also, if anyone here has an HP 50g and can compare it to a 48g, that would be very much appreciated.

EDIT: Now includes Slide Rules, since they're related and someone brought them up.
Title: Re: CALCULATORS (the remake)!
Post by: catnipz0098 on Thu, 14 November 2013, 21:51:57: I use the TI-83
Title: Re: CALCULATORS (the remake)!
Post by: Hak Foo on Thu, 14 November 2013, 21:58:08: I have a Casio 9850 in my drawer, but I haven't touched it in years. Threw a RPN calculator on my phone for the twice a year I can't get by with mental approximating.
Title: Re: CALCULATORS (the remake)!
Post by: demik on Thu, 14 November 2013, 22:37:41: calculators is one of those words that if you type it a lot you start to question if you're typing it correctly
Title: Re: CALCULATORS (the remake)!
Post by: ComradeSniper on Thu, 14 November 2013, 22:57:08: Just a Ti-84 Silver Edition. Found it at a yard sale for $20 a while back. It does everything I need it to do, though I would kind of like a color screen...
Title: Re: CALCULATORS (the remake)!
Post by: inteli722 on Thu, 14 November 2013, 23:10:38: Quote from: ComradeSniper on Thu, 14 November 2013, 22:57:08
Just a Ti-84 Silver Edition. Found it at a yard sale for $20 a while back. It does everything I need it to do, though I would kind of like a color screen...

They actually just released a TI-84 Silver edition in Color. Kinda weird, considering the resolution of that screen is slightly lower than that of the HP 48G, which came out a good 5 years before.
Title: Re: CALCULATORS (the remake)!
Post by: tp4tissue on Thu, 14 November 2013, 23:20:50: um.... real world... we use excel.. and matlab.. maybe some other stat pack for tradition but, the handheld has really been relegated as merely a "learning-tool" for children..
Title: Re: CALCULATORS (the remake)!
Post by: okooko on Thu, 14 November 2013, 23:23:19: No substitute for slamming a few calculations out when its not efficient to punch it on the calculator than opening a spreadsheet.
Obvious uses during Uni/College and I was a tutor for Maths for many years so it was a must.

I use a Casio fx-CG10. Doesn't take commands as quickly as my older one (forget the model but was a Casio)
Title: Re: CALCULATORS (the remake)!
Post by: rowdy on Thu, 14 November 2013, 23:32:55: [attachimg=1]
Title: Re: CALCULATORS (the remake)!
Post by: tipo33 on Fri, 15 November 2013, 10:50:55: I have an old TI-81 lying around. I'm sorry to admit, I generaly use my phone.
Title: Re: CALCULATORS (the remake)!
Post by: McWilloughby on Fri, 15 November 2013, 10:54:58: I do what I can on paper and do some trig in my head if it doesn't need to be accurate (1 or 2 dp). I use a boring Casio fx-991ES+ in my exams, spreadsheets/Mathematica/Matlab in the lab and a Casio 9850 that almost never gets used as the aforementioned software have superceded it somewhat and programmable calculators are banned in exams here.
Title: Re: CALCULATORS (the remake)!
Post by: Computer-Lab in Basement on Fri, 15 November 2013, 11:33:32: TI-83+ Silver Teachers Edition (with the ViewScreen port) and a TI-86.
Title: Re: CALCULATORS (the remake)!
Post by: CPTBadAss on Fri, 15 November 2013, 11:43:36: TI-83 is my weapon of choice at work.
Title: Re: CALCULATORS (the remake)!
Post by: jdcarpe on Fri, 15 November 2013, 11:44:12: TI-81 that I bought direct from TI, before they were available in stores.

Really want an HP 11C, but I'm wary of buying one from eBay.
Title: Re: CALCULATORS (the remake)!
Post by: SpAmRaY on Fri, 15 November 2013, 11:49:28: I still have my trusty TI-92 somewhere, a TI-86 and I think maybe even a TI-84, but these days the HP 35S gets the job done.
Title: Re: CALCULATORS (the remake)!
Post by: inteli722 on Fri, 15 November 2013, 15:41:17: Quote from: jdcarpe on Fri, 15 November 2013, 11:44:12
TI-81 that I bought direct from TI, before they were available in stores.

Really want an HP 11C, but I'm wary of buying one from eBay.

I've got a couple of HP calculators around here. I know I have a 22S, and I think there's an 11C around here somewhere as well. If not, it's an HP calculator that looks absurdly similar.
Title: Re: CALCULATORS (the remake)!
Post by: longweight on Fri, 15 November 2013, 15:50:16: Quote from: tp4tissue on Thu, 14 November 2013, 23:20:50
um.... real world... we use excel.. and matlab.. maybe some other stat pack for tradition but, the handheld has really been relegated as merely a "learning-tool" for children..

lol
Title: Re: CALCULATORS (the remake)!
Post by: CPTBadAss on Fri, 15 November 2013, 15:53:38: Speaking of old calculators...anyone know where I can get a decent slide rule?
Title: Re: CALCULATORS (the remake)!
Post by: jdcarpe on Fri, 15 November 2013, 15:55:44: Quote from: CPTBadAss on Fri, 15 November 2013, 15:53:38
Speaking of old calculators...anyone know where I can get a decent slide rule?

If you had asked this before I moved, I would have given you one. I gave it to an acquaintance who collects them.
Title: Re: CALCULATORS (the remake)!
Post by: CPTBadAss on Fri, 15 November 2013, 15:56:43: Today I have the sad :(
Title: Re: CALCULATORS (the remake)!
Post by: inteli722 on Fri, 15 November 2013, 15:57:18: Quote from: tp4tissue on Thu, 14 November 2013, 23:20:50
um.... real world... we use excel.. and matlab.. maybe some other stat pack for tradition but, the handheld has really been relegated as merely a "learning-tool" for children..

Pff. Reverse Polish Notation, man. Love it.
Title: Re: CALCULATORS (the remake)! (also slide rules)
Post by: CPTBadAss on Fri, 15 November 2013, 16:00:53: Reverse polish notation hurts my head....but somehow slide rules dont.
Title: Re: CALCULATORS (the remake)! (also slide rules)
Post by: inteli722 on Fri, 15 November 2013, 16:02:20: Quote from: CPTBadAss on Fri, 15 November 2013, 16:00:53
Reverse polish notation hurts my head....but somehow slide rules dont.

I used it for a little bit on a 48g emulator, and I really liked it.
Title: Re: CALCULATORS (the remake)! (also slide rules)
Post by: CPTBadAss on Fri, 15 November 2013, 20:07:02: So seriously, anyone know where I could find a slide rule? I kinda want one for giggles. And 'cause they're cool.

Funny how I want one now...I didn't even know they existed until high school haha.
Title: Re: CALCULATORS (the remake)! (also slide rules)
Post by: inteli722 on Fri, 15 November 2013, 20:25:29: Quote from: CPTBadAss on Fri, 15 November 2013, 20:07:02
So seriously, anyone know where I could find a slide rule? I kinda want one for giggles. And 'cause they're cool.

Funny how I want one now...I didn't even know they existed until high school haha.

I knew about them, but never really understood how the worked until high school.

I figure Fleabay would have some. Other than that, you'll probably have to ask google.

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=Slide+Rules
Title: Re: CALCULATORS (the remake)! (also slide rules)
Post by: SpAmRaY on Sat, 16 November 2013, 00:32:42: Quote from: inteli722 on Fri, 15 November 2013, 15:57:18
Quote from: tp4tissue on Thu, 14 November 2013, 23:20:50
um.... real world... we use excel.. and matlab.. maybe some other stat pack for tradition but, the handheld has really been relegated as merely a "learning-tool" for children..

Pff. Reverse Polish Notation, man. Love it.

+1
Title: Re: CALCULATORS (the remake)! (also slide rules)
Post by: rowdy on Sat, 16 November 2013, 04:15:11: At home:

[attachimg=1]

I also have a slide rule somewhere. Me and a mate went to the trouble in high school of learning how to use them.
Title: Re: CALCULATORS (the remake)! (also slide rules)
Post by: mnpikey on Sat, 16 November 2013, 10:50:56: Have had my HP 48GX since new and still works perfectly.

(http://www.samsoncables.com/catalog/products/HP48GX640.jpg)

Been thinking about getting on of these new HP Prime calculators though!

(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/6/67/HP_Prime_Graphing_Calculator.png)
Title: Re: CALCULATORS (the remake)! (also slide rules)
Post by: CPTBadAss on Sat, 16 November 2013, 11:06:42: Quote from: inteli722 on Fri, 15 November 2013, 20:25:29
Quote from: CPTBadAss on Fri, 15 November 2013, 20:07:02
So seriously, anyone know where I could find a slide rule? I kinda want one for giggles. And 'cause they're cool.

Funny how I want one now...I didn't even know they existed until high school haha.

I knew about them, but never really understood how the worked until high school.

I figure Fleabay would have some. Other than that, you'll probably have to ask google.

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=Slide+Rules

Yeah I did the standard eBay/Google search but I was hoping someone knew off the top of their head. Oh well, the hunt goes on XD.

Quote from: mnpikey on Sat, 16 November 2013, 10:50:56
Have had my HP 48GX since new and still works perfectly.

Show Image
(http://www.samsoncables.com/catalog/products/HP48GX640.jpg)

Been thinking about getting on of these new HP Prime calculators though!

Show Image
(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/6/67/HP_Prime_Graphing_Calculator.png)

Wow that new HP Prime calculator is so fancy @.@.
Title: Re: CALCULATORS (the remake)! (also slide rules)
Post by: inteli722 on Sat, 16 November 2013, 11:14:56: Quote from: mnpikey on Sat, 16 November 2013, 10:50:56
Have had my HP 48GX since new and still works perfectly.

Show Image
(http://www.samsoncables.com/catalog/products/HP48GX640.jpg)

Been thinking about getting on of these new HP Prime calculators though!

Show Image
(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/6/67/HP_Prime_Graphing_Calculator.png)

I've actually been debating between the two after I found out about the Prime. When/if you get one, please post a comparison as far as quality and button comparison between the two. RPN and CAS? Yes please!

EDIT: Not exactly debating, since I know I want a 48G (I like those older HP calculators. They have a sort of charm to them), but I'd like to know if a Prime would be a suitable replacement in the meantime, since I also need a CAS calculator in a couple years for Calculus.
Title: Re: CALCULATORS (the remake)! (also slide rules)
Post by: davkol on Sun, 17 November 2013, 08:05:12: I have a TI-89 Titanium in the closet, but never use it. I don't need it in classes, and don't have time to play with it at home. And Casio fx-570ES, that I have had since high school, is a bit easier to use.

In the end, I just keep a Python shell and GNU Octave on my desktop.
Title: Re: CALCULATORS (the remake)! (also slide rules)
Post by: Melvang on Sun, 17 November 2013, 08:17:49: I have a Ti-86 for home when I am doing my CAD stuff. At work I use a Ti-36X.

Would like to add that calculators still very much h have a use outside of learning tools for kids.most of the stuff I use it for is trig when I need a conveyor at a specific angle and need to figure leg lengths and shaft alignments especially when the plant wants sub .002" tolerance.
Title: Re: CALCULATORS (the remake)! (also slide rules)
Post by: fohat.digs on Sun, 17 November 2013, 09:48:25: It looks like a ton of slide rules on ebay. I am so old that I learned on them in both high school and college. They are surprisingly accurate, as long as you can keep the decimal in the right place.
Title: Re: CALCULATORS (the remake)! (also slide rules)
Post by: ideus on Sun, 17 November 2013, 09:52:36: 80's engineers are used to RPN HP calcs. I was a collector of them for some time. Now I stick with an HP10BII+ for handy calculations. In general PC handy makes a calculator almost not required, so it is just a sort of nostalgia thing.
Title: Re: CALCULATORS (the remake)! (also slide rules)
Post by: Melvang on Sun, 17 November 2013, 10:35:03: Could someone explain this RPN?
Title: Re: CALCULATORS (the remake)! (also slide rules)
Post by: fohat.digs on Sun, 17 November 2013, 11:05:22: "Reverse Polish Notation" is a joke name.

Instead of "one plus one equals two" you go "one enter one enter plus" and the answer "two" comes up.

Personally, I hate it.
Title: Re: CALCULATORS (the remake)! (also slide rules)
Post by: inteli722 on Sun, 17 November 2013, 11:11:08: Quote from: fohat.digs on Sun, 17 November 2013, 11:05:22
"Reverse Polish Notation" is a joke name.

Instead of "one plus one equals two" you go "one enter one enter plus" and the answer "two" comes up.

Personally, I hate it.

It's not a joke name if you look up the origin. Polish notation is a way somebody came up to write equations, where you say the operator, and the operated digits ie + 1 1, which would give you two. Reverse Polish Notation puts the operator at the end.

You don't have to like RPN, but that doesn't mean that others don't. I think it's great, as do many engineers. Once you learn it, it makes solving longer problems quicker, but it makes solving short equations like 2 times 2, 40 plus 5, etc longer. Some swear by it, some hate it.
Title: Re: CALCULATORS (the remake)! (also slide rules)
Post by: CPTBadAss on Sun, 17 November 2013, 11:24:49: My team lead's calculator at work uses reverse Polish notation. I remember spending like 20 minutes trying to figure it out. I couldn't get it to work and he told me he couldn't get "normal" calculators to work anymore lol.
Title: Re: CALCULATORS (the remake)! (also slide rules)
Post by: davkol on Sun, 17 November 2013, 11:38:42: LISP master race... well, without the parenthesis.

Anyway, pre-/postfix is way more efficient than infix.
Title: Re: CALCULATORS (the remake)! (also slide rules)
Post by: rowdy on Sun, 17 November 2013, 15:45:33: This one time we had a programming exercise to convert an expression from infix to RPN.

Or was it the other way?
Title: Re: CALCULATORS (the remake)! (also slide rules)
Post by: Dubsgalore on Sun, 17 November 2013, 16:25:50: TI-84 Plus, ever since 6th grade
Title: Re: CALCULATORS (the remake)! (also slide rules)
Post by: inteli722 on Sun, 17 November 2013, 16:26:41: Quote from: Dubsgalore on Sun, 17 November 2013, 16:25:50
TI-84 Plus, ever since 6th grade

Ya gotta hop on that RPN train, man!
Title: Re: CALCULATORS (the remake)! (also slide rules)
Post by: zemp on Sun, 17 November 2013, 22:07:12: alot of people in canada have a ti83/84 due to the fact they are the standard(one of the standards) in canadian tests.
Title: Re: CALCULATORS (the remake)! (also slide rules)
Post by: rowdy on Mon, 18 November 2013, 03:42:55: Quote from: inteli722 on Sun, 17 November 2013, 16:26:41
Quote from: Dubsgalore on Sun, 17 November 2013, 16:25:50
TI-84 Plus, ever since 6th grade

Ya <enter> RPN train <enter> gotta hop on, man!

FTFY

You <enter> an RPN fanatic <enter> call yourself?
Title: Re: CALCULATORS (the remake)! (also slide rules)
Post by: SpAmRaY on Mon, 18 November 2013, 15:16:39: Quote from: CPTBadAss on Sun, 17 November 2013, 11:24:49
My team lead's calculator at work uses reverse Polish notation. I remember spending like 20 minutes trying to figure it out. I couldn't get it to work and he told me he couldn't get "normal" calculators to work anymore lol.

If your used to using RPN it is hard to use a 'normal' calculator again. I'm always thinking I'll just use windows calculator but it never works right for me :P
Title: Re: CALCULATORS (the remake)! (also slide rules)
Post by: rowdy on Mon, 18 November 2013, 16:11:45: Quote from: SpAmRaY on Mon, 18 November 2013, 15:16:39
Quote from: CPTBadAss on Sun, 17 November 2013, 11:24:49
My team lead's calculator at work uses reverse Polish notation. I remember spending like 20 minutes trying to figure it out. I couldn't get it to work and he told me he couldn't get "normal" calculators to work anymore lol.

If your used to using RPN it is hard to use a 'normal' calculator again. I'm always thinking I'll just use windows calculator but it never works right for me :P

I bet Yoda can only use RPN calculator :))
Title: Re: CALCULATORS (the remake)! (also slide rules)
Post by: SpAmRaY on Mon, 18 November 2013, 16:17:10: Quote from: rowdy on Mon, 18 November 2013, 16:11:45
Quote from: SpAmRaY on Mon, 18 November 2013, 15:16:39
Quote from: CPTBadAss on Sun, 17 November 2013, 11:24:49
My team lead's calculator at work uses reverse Polish notation. I remember spending like 20 minutes trying to figure it out. I couldn't get it to work and he told me he couldn't get "normal" calculators to work anymore lol.

If your used to using RPN it is hard to use a 'normal' calculator again. I'm always thinking I'll just use windows calculator but it never works right for me :P

I bet Yoda can only use RPN calculator :))

number enter first then number enter you must
Title: Re: CALCULATORS (the remake)! (also slide rules)
Post by: Findecanor on Mon, 18 November 2013, 17:08:41: I use the Python console.
... or my vintage TI-1200 with tiny LED digits under a magnifying lens strip.
Title: Re: CALCULATORS (the remake)! (also slide rules)
Post by: ekw808 on Mon, 18 November 2013, 19:51:16: HP12C
Title: Re: CALCULATORS (the remake)! (also slide rules)
Post by: SUPER432 on Wed, 20 November 2013, 01:32:15: I think RPN makes a lot more sense with calculators that have more than one line of numbers. The single line LCD RPN calcs presume that you already know numbers get pushed into a stack and how everything works. Or that you'll read a manual to figure out basic arithmetic operations on a calculator, which is preposterous in 2013.

With regard to the timeframe, I think RPN made a lot more sense in the time it was invented. There probably weren't calculators capable of automatically decomposing huge nested equations, and I feel like it is easier with RPN.

For those who like RPN and use *nix, Orpie is a cool command line RPN calculator that you should check out if you don't already use it!
Title: Re: CALCULATORS (the remake)! (also slide rules)
Post by: jdcarpe on Thu, 21 November 2013, 12:16:04: This thread made me all nostalgic, so I went on eBay and found the first scientific I ever owned, and bought it. I probably paid more for this one than my original one back in 1986.

Sharp EL-506P
(http://i.imgur.com/FbnJG40.jpg)
Title: Re: CALCULATORS (the remake)! (also slide rules)
Post by: SpAmRaY on Thu, 21 November 2013, 12:26:05: ^^ A good buddy of mine has a similar model except it is laid out in landscape instead of portrait, it is very old and he still uses it.
Title: Re: CALCULATORS (the remake)! (also slide rules)
Post by: SUPER432 on Mon, 25 November 2013, 21:56:11: HP did re-release the 15c earlier last year or so, I think it was $100 which was cheaper than the old stuff you could buy. They said limited edition but I'm not sure - they might still be around? It's an option if you want old HP without paying a ton for something that may be in questionable condition.

Not without its flaws though, I'm pretty sure it's got way worse battery life, among some other problems.
Title: Re: CALCULATORS (the remake)! (also slide rules)
Post by: CPTBadAss on Mon, 25 November 2013, 22:00:56: In addition to a slide rule, I now also want a mechanical calculator like this Remington (http://imgur.com/ki7B2Wf) or this Curta calculator (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curta). #Baller****.