Clones, fakes, knock-offs, etc.

[ijabbott]

While we're all waiting for the influx of Swish Microbes DN42s to appear from China, I thought we could have a fun presenting the most egregious knock-offs we can find.

I'll start with this CTTTZEN fx-991EX SuperWiz, posed next to a miniature version of the container it is likely to end up in:

[grsbanks]

Casio sell OEM PCBs to alternative manufacturers and have been doing so for decades. This is a perfectly legitimate calculator.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4F873-zbyM8

[ijabbott]

(04-08-2018 02:11 PM)grsbanks Wrote:  Casio sell OEM PCBs to alternative manufacturers and have been doing so for decades. This is a perfectly legitimate calculator.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4F873-zbyM8

Yes, but I think the calc I posted takes it further by trying to pass itself off as something it isn't. They try mimic the look of the newer Casio ClassWiz models, but use the guts from older models. It looks like they've put something like an fx-300MS (not sure exactly) inside a ClassWiz-style case.

Also, I guess the brand name CTTTZEN is trying to pass off as CITIZEN?

[grsbanks]

(04-08-2018 02:19 PM)ijabbott Wrote:  Also, I guess the brand name CTTTZEN is trying to pass off as CITIZEN?

OMG, I completely missed that!

You see loads of "CSIRO" machines on TAS that look just like the fx-991ES but they're most likely legit. Your example is indeed trying to pass itself off as something that it is not!

[ijabbott]

(04-08-2018 02:23 PM)grsbanks Wrote:  

(04-08-2018 02:19 PM)ijabbott Wrote:  Also, I guess the brand name CTTTZEN is trying to pass off as CITIZEN?

OMG, I completely missed that!

You see loads of "CSIRO" machines on TAS that look just like the fx-991ES but they're most likely legit. Your example is indeed trying to pass itself off as something that it is not!

They even renamed the "MODE" button to "MENU" to fit in with the ClassWiz!

[Zaphod]

Just spotted another (clearly) Casio by sheer chance

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0761T8156/r...il_1?psc=1

[ijabbott]

(04-08-2018 09:15 PM)Zaphod Wrote:  Just spotted another (clearly) Casio by sheer chance

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0761T8156/r...il_1?psc=1

I've no idea what it's a clone of though, since pretty much all the Casio graphing calculators have a row of 6 function keys below the display, which are missing from this calc.

[Zaphod]

(04-08-2018 10:43 PM)ijabbott Wrote:  

(04-08-2018 09:15 PM)Zaphod Wrote:  Just spotted another (clearly) Casio by sheer chance

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0761T8156/r...il_1?psc=1

I've no idea what it's a clone of though, since pretty much all the Casio graphing calculators have a row of 6 function keys below the display, which are missing from this calc.

Something along the lines of :

[Waon Shinyoe]

HP SmartCalc 300s - it does not "look" the same as CASIO, but it is completely the same thing as fx-82ES.

[Chasfield]

That TY-TX800 graphic calculator is puzzling me. It has Casio like menus but is clearly not based on any of the second generation Casio monchrome graphic units. Neither does it resemble first generation Casio graphic calculators (FX7000G). I thought it might be related to the Lexibook GC2000 but the decrement/branch/compare type instructions aren't out there on the keyboard. It does seem to be programmable and has a USB port. Is it something new and original for the Chinese education sector?

Unfortunately it is a bit expensive for me to buy in just for a closer look.

[Zaphod]

(04-11-2018 03:53 PM)Chasfield Wrote:  . It does seem to be programmable and has a USB port. Is it something new and original for the Chinese education sector?

Unfortunately it is a bit expensive for me to buy in just for a closer look.

The amazon detail says it’s only been on amazon since late last year, but it might be older.

This says April 2016
http://en.tyjtw.com/products_detail/productId=121.html

There’s a chance Casio make it for them in its entirety?, or maybe they sell the boards and let the other brand make it with a different display .....
Also Casio might not want it to resemble one of their models (too much at least) for obvious reasons , it might even have a different display attached ?
I’m no expert , I just spotted it as typical Casio looks

Take a look at Fx83 or fx115 too

[badaze]

Who knows the brand SHRAP ?

[Thomas Puettmann]

Well, "SHRAP" rhymes with "CRAP", doesn't it?

Very entertaining thread. I have never seen any clone before.

[Manolo Sobrino]

"CTTTZEN" is a terrific dark pattern.

What about this one?




If you're into these things, AliExpress is a treat:



the "we only have this white plastic" calculator:



a fine example of Csiro:

[Zaphod]

Another Casio

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Scientific-Calc...12&sr=1-10

[eried]

Why is this 39GS so cheap? ($19 USD shipped) is it a clone too?

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1-Piece-...autifyAB=0

[Zaphod]

(04-18-2018 09:43 AM)eried Wrote:  Why is this 39GS so cheap? ($19 USD shipped) is it a clone too?

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1-Piece-...autifyAB=0

Worth finding out just for the price !
If only it was RPN

I wonder if the supplied hard cover fits the 50G ?

[grsbanks]

(04-18-2018 10:17 AM)Zaphod Wrote:  I wonder if the supplied hard cover fits the 50G ?

It doesn't. I have some of each model and I can say that the 50g lacks the "slot" down the side of the case that the 39gs (and 40gs, it's the same machine with a CAS bolted on) has for the hard case.

[rprosperi]

(04-18-2018 09:43 AM)eried Wrote:  Why is this 39GS so cheap? ($19 USD shipped) is it a clone too?

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1-Piece-...autifyAB=0

They seem to be plentiful in China, I've purchased more than 1 from China via eBay for $9.99/ea with free shipping to USA. I was initially skeptical, but they were indeed genuine and unused. It's an economical way to check out these Academic/Algebraic machines; they're much better than I expected, but still not to my taste.

[Claudio L.]

(04-18-2018 10:29 AM)grsbanks Wrote:  

(04-18-2018 10:17 AM)Zaphod Wrote:  I wonder if the supplied hard cover fits the 50G ?

It doesn't. I have some of each model and I can say that the 50g lacks the "slot" down the side of the case that the 39gs (and 40gs, it's the same machine with a CAS bolted on) has for the hard case.

The slots seems to be in the back cover (from pictures, I don't have a 39gs). If so, it should be easy to swap the back cover (machines are identical in size and shape, I bet the back cover molding is identical save for that slot).
You'd have to un-glue the piezo speaker, and desolder the wires that go to the batteries, then solder them back to the new back cover.
The back cover color of the 39 will probably go better with a blue 50g than the black, but if you want the hard cover... I think is doable, not sure worth it, but doable.
Here's a video showing what's attached to the back plate.