why prime has two modes? RPN and CAS?

[DrD]

While you are considering if purchasing another calculator makes sense for you, perhaps considering how much you will use a *portable* calculating device will help.

Will you actually be using a calculator when a computer is readily at hand? If so, maybe using a spreadsheet will suffice. If you feel you want to stay in a calculator environment, perhaps the emulator(s) would serve your needs.

Sure, there is the pride of ownership, which somehow makes having a new device worthwhile, in spite of the practical matter that perhaps all it will be used for is giving you yet another battery to keep charged, and draining a few more milliwatts from your nearly full, ac power surge-protected, multi-outlet device.

There are things that don't work as expected, and likely frustration trying to remember how to do things you once knew how to do, these reasons might help stimulate you to purchase another calculator. The emulator can help you capture the moment, in the meantime.

You likely have a lot of free desk space, perhaps next your coffee cup or snack tray. It's possible you can keep the calculator and it's USB / charging cable next to or along side of those. They won't interfere with each other, very often.

Fortunately, there are online reference manuals around. Oftentimes, it's handy to print out certain frequently referred parts, or even the entire manual(s). Kept close by, you can access them as you put your coffee cup down. Sequences were recently discussed here regarding the hp Prime, by the way, and it's moments like this that gives striking definition to that concept.

Hopefully, this is of value in your decision making. Like Joe, perhaps others will share additional insight.

-Dale-