Re: HP48SX Lack of Laplace transforms Message #11 Posted by Ron Ross on 3 Oct 2005, 10:18 a.m., in response to message #10 by don wallace
You could buy an Hp48Gii for under $100, new.
It is nearly the same as the Hp49G+.
But you could buy the Hp49G+ for $130 new from Hpcalc.org also. At a bit more than $30 over the cost of the Hp48Gii you get a much more capable calculator in terms of memory and upgradability. Today they are nearly equalivant, but as more software becomes available and the OS evolves the gap between the two can only widen.
If you abandon RPN, you widen up your selection significantly. But for brute force abilities, nothing else matches up to the Hp49G series aside from moving to a PC and math software (ie a PDA loaded up with software). However you give up a dedicated keyboard, fast boot up time, and the lowcost of a calculator in comparision.
The Ti-89 is a good second choice. But at $150, it is 50% more than your stated price ceiling.
Third in capability (CAS wise) is probably a tie between the Casio FX2.0 and an Hp40GS (available only in Europe). These calculators are a distant third in comparision to the Ti-89 above. I would say the Hp40GS should edge out the Casio, but it isn't yet formally available to confirm.
I personally still use an Hp48G at work. I use and carry a 49G+ for its wealth of features and its speed. But for general number crunching, I like my 48G better (I am slow to trust the keyboard of my 49G+ for desktop use).
If you shop ebay, you should get a 49G+ or an older Ti-89 for less than $100. But with the HP, you would not get your 1 year warrentee. I suspect it is worth the $30 more to have one year of support/trade in for the 49G+ and buy it new.
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