DM-15L Review

[dm319]

(11-09-2024 05:03 PM)AnnoyedOne Wrote:  FYI the HP-15C Advanced Functions Handbook (AFH) has a program that will calculate the

Normal Distribution Function
Complementary Distribution Function

which should help. Both use the HP-15C numerical integratation function.

Yes, though the problem is calculators need cleared before exams to meet the UK requirement that nothing is stored on it that can be accessed during the exam. We'll have to see, maybe I'll need to get hold of some GCSE and A-Level maths papers and see if the DM-15L has the features for them!

(11-09-2024 05:40 PM)Jase Wrote:  Great post!
Loved the thoughtful commentary and the pro-level photographs!
Hope the kids enjoy math and do well.
Jase.

Thank you! I hope so too.

(11-09-2024 06:21 PM)AnnoyedOne Wrote:  BTW the DM15L has a 4kHz piezo (buzzer) which can be used to provide an audible key press function. I believe that the serial console BEEP command is used to control this.

The unit also has a RTC (real-time clock) chip, NXP PCF8563, which has an alarm function but I don't think that the current firmware supports it.

The documentation re: this is pretty poor IMO.

You're reminding me of those really old keyboards that used to fire, was it a lump of magnet or metal? whenever a key was pressed by switching on a solenoid. I have a keyboard with Kailh box white switches which are very loud and clicky. It may have been a bad choice. When I'm on a Teams call muted and typing notes, a warning comes up reminding me that my microphone is muted!

I use the date function on my DM42 all the time for calculating all sorts of things, would be nice if DM15L could access that.

(11-09-2024 06:51 PM)Thomas Klemm Wrote:  I might ask you in a couple of years how that turned out:

Yes, please do! Although I don't think this forum notifies you of replies, which means I've often missed replies because I didn't revisit the thread. I'll keep that other thread updated. It may be a short thread.

(11-09-2024 07:25 PM)Maximilian Hohmann Wrote:  This will turn out exactly the same way as it turned out for me: At some point you will get a letter from the school inviting you to join a discounted collective order for a Ti Nspire (*) because from now on the math/physics/chemsitry teachers will distribute their exercises and homeworks in a form supported only by that platform.

This would upset me the most! When I went through school in the UK, they didn't specify brands, and certainly ipads and phones are not allowed in exams, so they will need a calculator of some sort.

(11-09-2024 10:21 PM)Johnh Wrote:  Thats a really great review of this machine, from a great Dad!

I have just one thing that Id be watching out for: This is a valuable and unusual machine, potentially a great learning tool. But i would watch out that this doesn't make him feel singled out as being 'different' to all the other kids who are using their Casios in class and throwing them across the playground at recess. My kids are grown up, but if it was me, Id suggest to keep it at home to work on with you, wait to see what the school recommendations are for school calculators and get him whichever of those seems best for use in class.

Thanks John! I know already what the school recommendation is - the Casio-fx-85GT CW, or the 991 for later years (or if the kids want to show off). My eldest already started at a similar school, and he instantly wanted the school recommendeded. He hasn't minded at all that his younger brother has a fancy/weird RPN calculator and has never said 'please buy me a weird calculator, dad'. My other kid knows it's different and expensive, so I trust him to look after it, but I think he'll need to use it school if he's going to use it at all. But you're right, this could be a short trial!