Re: HP 6S Solar - mini review Message #2 Posted by Norris on 22 Aug 2005, 6:12 p.m., in response to message #1 by John L. Shelton
I've pointed out before that the 6S Solar is a superb field calculator.
The 6S Solar is small, thin, and light, and fits easily in a folding clipboard. It's already on whenever you open the clipboard. The display is legible in any kind of light, from flashlight to direct sun. And it apparently never, ever, ever runs out of power.
People in this forum rave about the shirt-pocket size and long battery life of Voyagers. Yet a 6S Solar is clearly far superior in both of these respects.
Does the 6S Solar have drawbacks? Most certainly. There is no RPN or programmability. The keys rock -- but not in a good way. It is clumsy with sexagesimal math, and so it is not handy for timed tests or surveyed angles. And sadly, it is no longer readily available or cheap.
For comparison, I recently got a Casio FX-260 for field use. The Casio offers some advantages. It has a better keyboard (still not great, but better). It offers real sexagesimal math. And it is still cheap and readily available.
But the Casio still does not match the 6S Solar in other respects. Most importantly, it has no battery backup. This means that it is awkward or impossible to use in dim light. It also means that the contents of the display and memory are lost whenever you close the clipboard.
Furthermore, the Casio is a tasteful brown color, which makes it easier to lose if you set it down on the ground. It is much less conspicuous than the 6S Solar, which has a flashy metallic faceplate. I suspect that the 6S Solar can generate enough bling-bling to serve as an signalling mirror on a bright day, but I have not actually tried it.
Bottom line: the Casio FX-260 is OK, but the 6S Solar is still my #1 choice as the best scientific calc for outdoor use on foot. You can easily carry it anywhere, and you'll never have to worry about bringing extra batteries.
Edited: 22 Aug 2005, 6:22 p.m.
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