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Top three calculators ?
04-02-2018, 04:07 PM
Post: #1
Top three calculators ?
So what are your top three calculators, based on daily usage ? Here are mine currently:

1) DM42 - At the risk of being attacked for using a potentially illegal product, this is unquestionably the calculator that best fits my needs and RPN style. It basically retains all the good of the original HP 42s, while fixing all its shortcomings such as providing backup for programs and data.

2) HP 50g - A do anything calculator with both User and System RPL programming, as well as CAS that should satisfy 100% of the user population. I use it daily for mundane tasks, such as unit conversions. The fact that HP chose to discontinue this calculator in favor of the Prime speaks volumes as to their demise as a serious calculator company.

3) Free42 for iPhone - So, it’s not a “real” standalone calculator with a mechanical keyboard, but who cares, since it behaves just like one and gets backed up to the cloud daily. Once I got my first smartphone, I stopped carrying my physical calculators with me when I leave my house.
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04-02-2018, 04:37 PM (This post was last modified: 04-02-2018 04:40 PM by Sylvain Cote.)
Post: #2
RE: Top three calculators ?
My top two are very easy, I always carry them with me:
1) 41CLv5 -> the HP-41 is my main calculator since 1981
2) HP-16C -> I use it when I do embedded software development (bought my first HP-16C in 1982)
My third position is a lot harder:
3) DM42 -> because its new, normally I use a different calculator every week and it take around a year to go through all my scientific models.
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04-02-2018, 04:42 PM
Post: #3
RE: Top three calculators ?
My three are:

HP-41CL v5
HP-71B FRAM71
HP-29C LowPower by PANAMATIK
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04-02-2018, 04:48 PM
Post: #4
RE: Top three calculators ?
Based on daily usage:
  1. wp34s
  2. Free42 over Android (if it counts as a "calculator")
  3. Swissmicros DM15L
Although 2 or 3 weeks ago I bought an Elektronika MK 61 that I'm using intensively these days, until the set of batteries dies out.

Regards.
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04-02-2018, 04:54 PM (This post was last modified: 04-02-2018 04:55 PM by Maximilian Hohmann.)
Post: #5
RE: Top three calculators ?
It changes, but during the last couple of weeks it must have been:

1. HP-25 Low Power Panamatik
2. "Flight Time Calculator" - a smartphone app which is the calculator most often used by me during the last years and the only one I really need, the others I only play with...
3. Sharp EL-W506X - which I got recently from eBay for 2 Euros and which is a really good everyday scientific calculator with a large and well readable display. It's two main disadvantages are the overall glossy finish (even the keys are glossy and can be hard to read depending on the lighting direction) and the display of results as fractions which requires pressing the "change" button twice to get decimal places. But maybe that can be changed somewhere?
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04-02-2018, 05:39 PM (This post was last modified: 04-02-2018 09:04 PM by Michael de Estrada.)
Post: #6
RE: Top three calculators ?
(04-02-2018 04:54 PM)Maximilian Hohmann Wrote:  Sharp EL-W506X - ...and the display of results as fractions which requires pressing the "change" button twice to get decimal places. But maybe that can be changed somewhere?

I have several older versions of the Sharp EL-506 series, and they all default to decimal mode. You should be able to toggle results between decimal and fractional mode by pressing the a b/c key.

Edit - I think I found out how to turn off fraction mode on your calculator. Go to Set Up then Recurring Decimal and turn it OFF.
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04-02-2018, 06:09 PM
Post: #7
RE: Top three calculators ?
Assuming this is for total actual daily use for all reasons (work, hobby, study, etc.):

1. HP-71B/FRAM
2. DM-42
3. HP-17BII+ (running my business - I know, shudder, a finance calc.)

But the HP-25LP is a very close 4th, not used as much as it stays in a safe place on my desk only.

And when away from home, Free42 on Android is easily #1.

--Bob Prosperi
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04-02-2018, 06:22 PM
Post: #8
RE: Top three calculators ?
Only really have two right now:

1. HP 48GX
2. HP 71b

Trying to get used to 50G, but the keyboard and the location/size of Enter key are just not doing it for me.
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04-02-2018, 07:43 PM (This post was last modified: 04-02-2018 07:45 PM by hth.)
Post: #9
RE: Top three calculators ?
1) HP-41CX halfnut
2) HP-41CX halfnut
3) there is no number 3

On the table are also:
A HP-41CL is eating batteries and needs to be updated, so it has been out of batteries for quite a while now.
A HP-16C which is not being used as the HP-41 does it better.
The HP-48GX? I have no idea why it is even on my table, I should probably toss it in a drawer somewhere.

Håkan
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04-02-2018, 08:53 PM
Post: #10
RE: Top three calculators ?
1-HP-15C
2-HP 33C
3-HP-48GX
4-HP 71B
5-HP-41CV
6-HP-42S
7-HP 27S

Oops I Guess I missed something...whatever...

It is this on daily basis for weekly basis there's more...Smile

Cheers
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04-02-2018, 09:01 PM
Post: #11
RE: Top three calculators ?
1: HP 50
2: HP Prime
3: Free42 on my phone.
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04-02-2018, 09:43 PM (This post was last modified: 04-02-2018 10:52 PM by pier4r.)
Post: #12
RE: Top three calculators ?
Nice thread!

In terms of use I would say:

- sharp el-506w , it is really handy for most of the simple problems (thanks to the double line display)
- casio 9860G / GII . As discovered in another thread (n1) the casio basic is pretty limited (but see also n2) but the calculator is like an extended version of the 506w, and I love the keyboard. For little programs that the 506w cannot do, it is great.
- hp50g. The RPL is just extra versatile.
- Prime. Rarely, if the problem cannot wait.

On the android phone (not tablet, the tablets have the prime).

- handy calc
- n-calc
- free42

- n calc is the closer to the 506w. If someone knows something better like a 506w, I am interested.

(n1): http://www.hpmuseum.org/forum/thread-7955-page-14.html
(n2): until casiocal.org is up: http://community.casiocalc.org/topic/775...community/

Wikis are great, Contribute :)
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04-02-2018, 09:54 PM
Post: #13
RE: Top three calculators ?
Specifically in terms of use at present:

1: 50g
2: 12C
3: (puts on flame-retardant clothing...) 49G

Number 3 is a temporary thing, mostly because I've been testing some code that is intended to stay compatible with that system. #3 will probably shift back to a 48_ (something) when the testing is complete.
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04-02-2018, 11:05 PM
Post: #14
RE: Top three calculators ?
I only use the HP50g. Smaller things, I do mentally. Larger things, gaming computer (32g mem, i7 chip, HP, of course) using Silverfrost Fortran.
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04-02-2018, 11:23 PM (This post was last modified: 04-02-2018 11:24 PM by Raymond Del Tondo.)
Post: #15
RE: Top three calculators ?
This is easy:

HP 48GX (real and emulated)
HP-41CY
HP-41CX

-- Ray
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04-02-2018, 11:42 PM
Post: #16
My top three calculators
As others do, I mix around the ones I use at times. At present the most used ones are these:

1. HP 100LX - Only because I recently broke the hinge of my best 200LX
2. HP 17 BII - This one travels everywhere in my computer bag
3. HP 35s - It's the current top of the pile of calculators on my desk in the home office

Alan
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04-03-2018, 04:37 AM (This post was last modified: 04-03-2018 12:09 PM by Eddie W. Shore.)
Post: #17
RE: Top three calculators ?
(04-02-2018 04:07 PM)Michael de Estrada Wrote:  So what are your top three calculators, based on daily usage ? Here are mine currently:

1) DM42 - At the risk of being attacked for using a potentially illegal product, this is unquestionably the calculator that best fits my needs and RPN style. It basically retains all the good of the original HP 42s, while fixing all its shortcomings such as providing backup for programs and data.

2) HP 50g - A do anything calculator with both User and System RPL programming, as well as CAS that should satisfy 100% of the user population. I use it daily for mundane tasks, such as unit conversions. The fact that HP chose to discontinue this calculator in favor of the Prime speaks volumes as to their demise as a serious calculator company.

3) Free42 for iPhone - So, it’s not a “real” standalone calculator with a mechanical keyboard, but who cares, since it behaves just like one and gets backed up to the cloud daily. Once I got my first smartphone, I stopped carrying my physical calculators with me when I leave my house.

Mine vary, but there are two that always be the top two:
1. HP Prime
2. HP 12C

For 2018 so far, #3 is a tie between the TI-60, Casio fx-991EX Classwiz, and DM 41L.
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04-03-2018, 05:02 AM
Post: #18
RE: Top three calculators ?
(04-02-2018 04:07 PM)Michael de Estrada Wrote:  So what are your top three calculators, based on daily usage ?

1. HP-12C (Bought in 2016)
2. HP 50g
3. HP-15C (Original)
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04-03-2018, 05:26 AM (This post was last modified: 04-03-2018 05:47 AM by Graham D. Wilson.)
Post: #19
RE: Top three calculators ?
Free42 (iOS)
17BII+ (real + iOS)
48GX

Not asked: my most **favourite** calculator remains the 29C.
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04-03-2018, 06:58 AM
Post: #20
RE: Top three calculators ?
Hello friends,

3) 15c during my studies of physics
2) 32s while my professional life as a teacher, first 20 years
1) 50g while my professional life as a teacher, last 20 years, 10 years left.
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