Buyers remorse of HP 48

[edryer]

Disclaimer: I am currently attempting a Maths degree in my forties, I know I shouldn't be using a calculator....

I do a lot of Linear Algebra and Multivariate calculus (symbolically) - for that the 35 is useless (and the 15C excellent apart from obviously the symbolic aspect), the 48 S/SX are slow, but worse still is the display contrast (although you'd never believe that viewing the promo material around at the time!). It is however a West Coast color style beauty ))) Best looking HP there is!

If you are doing College level Math best bet in my opinion is a 50G, or a TI-89 Titanium if algebraic entry inclined (a fine calculator as well), both have extensive functionality, I own both and they are pretty well equal Math/Stats functions wise, possibly the 50G has a slight edge but very difficult really to say. Actually the 50G has so many ways to skin a cat it is unbelievably flexible.

Forget about dismissing graphing as an option- having that real estate on the screen when using the stack is pretty sweet, and a great benefit, also to view equations... I never use graphing but use the 50G/TI-89 to view symbolic results and Matrices as well as tables (stats)... also of course you can't get a small LCD graphing calculator (unless you think back to pre-48s devices the 28C/28S).

Also one-liners usually don't have advanced functionality (Eigen functions for example) that you see with very few calculators (think 50G/TI-89/possibly Prime) nor Symbolic manipulation.

My advice:
Core Math - 35S
Symbolic Math/Vector/Matrix/Stats Work - 50G (or TI-89 Titanium but font size is fixed and tiny) <-- the two best Maths oriented Calculators on the planet )))

Others to consider: 48G/48GX (esp. Black Display) or even the Prime (ughhh).