Re: HP's best scientific calculator? Message #2 Posted by Eric Smith on 21 Jan 2011, 11:49 p.m., in response to message #1 by Jim Yohe
The 48/49/50 series (and the 38/39/40 series) are too big for a shirt pocket, so the contenders are arguably the 41C series, 15C, 32S/32SII/33s/35s, the 42S, and the 28C/28S.
If you need a way to save and load programs, the 41C series is your only choice, though it verges on being too big for a shirt pocket. The 42S is compatible with the 41C series, and better in some ways, but does not have any means of external input other then the keyboard.
The 28C/28S are the only compact RPL scientifics. They also lack external input, but have more powerful symbolic capabilities than any of the other listed models. They may be too wide for some shirt pockets.
For compact size, the 15C, 42S, and 32S/32SII/33s/35s are the best choices. I personally prefer the 15C, as it mostly avoids menus and such. You do have to remember the codes for matrix operations and conditionals, or look at the reference printed on the back of the calculator. However, the 15C also has the least available memory.
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