Cost of "Calculated Industries 4080 Construction Master Pro Trig "

[pier4r]

https://www.amazon.com/Calculated-Indust...r=8-8&th=1

Why does a calculator that seemingly is no better than a scientific calculator costs 90$ ?
Only because it is sturdy? I cannot believe that having ad hoc buttons for conversions justifies the price. I could understand 40 or 50 but not 90$.

Can someone with more insight explain?

[Valentin Albillo]

.
Hi, pier4r

(01-11-2023 04:20 PM)pier4r Wrote:  https://www.amazon.com/Calculated-Indust...r=8-8&th=1

Why does a calculator that seemingly is no better than a scientific calculator costs 90$ ?

Are you joking ?!

Didn't you read the specs ?
Didn't you have a look at the function set on the keyboard ?
Didn't you see its rugged build ?
Didn't you read at least some of the comments ?
"No better than a scientific calculator" !?

If anything, $90 it's downright cheap. Very cheap. In fact, I'm seriously thinking of getting one.

About this item:

SOLVE YOUR DIMENSIONAL MATH quickly and accurately with the award-winning CM Pro Trig construction calculator’s powerful built-in solutions for completing layouts; and full trig functions with sine, cosine, tangent, arcsine, arccosine and arctangent

LETS YOU EFFORTLESSLY WORK IN AND CONVERT between all common building dimension formats: feet-inch-fractions, decimal feet-inches, yards and metric - including area and volume. Plus weight-per-volume and D: M: S to decimal degree conversions too

TIME-SAVING BUILT-IN FUNCTIONS for right angles give you instant solutions for square-ups, rafters (hip, valley, jacks), rake-walls, slopes, angles and more. Plus complete stair layout, advanced solutions for arcs, arches, circles, columns and more

HELPS YOU PREVENT COSTLY MATERIAL WASTE with built-in solutions for roofing, drywall, studs, blocks, concrete footings and board-feet lumber estimating. Plus compound miter functions help avoid error when working with crown molding and other millwork

INVALUABLE' TOOL PAYS FOR ITSELF by reducing headaches, saving time and preventing expensive material errors on your projects, in the office or the field. Comes with a rugged shock, dust and moisture-resistant Armadillo Gear protective case, pocket reference guides in English and Spanish, two long-life batteries and a full 1-year limited [...]

› See more product details

V.

[Maximilian Hohmann]

Hello,

(01-11-2023 04:20 PM)pier4r Wrote:  Only because it is sturdy?

I think the main reason is that it is a specially programmed calculator with comparatively low production numbers. And it comes with a paper manual and an additional rugged case, so I think the price is not completely off the scale.

Until not so long ago there used to be financial calculator from a german company called "BWK Business Calculator". As a calculator it is nothing special, like an HP-17B or an Aurora FN 1000 (which is even programmable). But it came in a nice package with an excellent ring-bound manual and a USB cable by which you could connect it to your PC for use as a numeric entry pad. Here is a picture at Wikipedia: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:...gesamt.jpg They also cost around 100 Euros, even more than the competition from HP, but I always thought they were worth it.

Regards
Max

[Bill (Smithville NJ)]

(01-11-2023 04:20 PM)pier4r Wrote:  Can someone with more insight explain?

It's a specialty calculator designed for a specialty field. While a person could probably program a scientific calculator to do the items it does, it might well be more difficult to use.

You should go to the Calculated Industries website to see the various tools - both calculators, apps and training books for the Architectural and associated engineering fields.

If you were in one of those fields (as I am), you might feel that $100 is peanuts to spend to make your day-to-day work easier.

I'm retired from a field that would have welcomed this calculator. I may pick one up. Now it's just a matter of deciding which model they make that I wish to get. They make several models at different price levels including hobbyists and the general home owner that wishes to their own home improvements.

Thanks for bringing it to my attention. I'm actually quite impressed with what I have read about their products.

73
Bill WD9EQD
Smithville, NJ

[pier4r]

I admit I didn't check the full manual (but I checked the keyboard and the amazon page on which the reviews seem to me like a parody). The manual is here: https://www.calculated.com/UGFiles/UG406...080E-G.pdf

I am still somehow unconvinced by the 90$ for the functions given but if professionals find it helpful then that should be it I guess.

[Maximilian Hohmann]

Hello!

(01-11-2023 08:01 PM)pier4r Wrote:  ... but if professionals find it helpful then that should be it I guess.

I had a quick look at the manual. What I wonder most is why they still produce this kind of calculator in hardware form. This cries for a smartphone app. Recently I watched a guy making a quote for covering a roof with solar cells. He had a sophisticated app on his phone by which he measured the size, orientation and slope of the roof with the sensors of the phone. This then calculated the number of solar panels than can be mounted, an estimate for the power output over a year and the cost of the materials and the man-hours required for the installation. Almost instantly and with a very simple user interface.

Regards
Max

[klesl]

According to me the reason is the calculator is much cheaper compared to the phone and in case of destroing most people including me prefer to destroy rather the calculator than a phone

[mfleming]

(01-11-2023 08:16 PM)Maximilian Hohmann Wrote:  I had a quick look at the manual. What I wonder most is why they still produce this kind of calculator in hardware form. This cries for a smartphone app. Recently I watched a guy making a quote for covering a roof with solar cells. He had a sophisticated app on his phone by which he measured the size, orientation and slope of the roof with the sensors of the phone. This then calculated the number of solar panels than can be mounted, an estimate for the power output over a year and the cost of the materials and the man-hours required for the installation. Almost instantly and with a very simple user interface.

Regards
Max

There's a big difference between quoting a job and doing a job

The CI shop calculator is impressive, but more and more of its functions are being directly implemented in the Digital Read Out equipment themselves. A calculator is still useful at the drafting table.

[Bill (Smithville NJ)]

(01-11-2023 08:16 PM)Maximilian Hohmann Wrote:  What I wonder most is why they still produce this kind of calculator in hardware form. This cries for a smartphone app.

They also sell smartphone apps that are pretty much the same as the hardware calculator.

There's a good reason to have both - the hardware and app.

Lets' say you are managing a very busy job site. You are constantly being called or calling someone on your cell phone. During a call, you are asked for a clarification of the plans which requires you to do some quick calculations. If you have the physical calculator, you could do the calculations while still talking to the other person on the the cell phone. No need to tell the person on the phone to hang on while you do the calc or that you'll call him back. And putting the phone on speaker phone might not be feasible due to the high level of ambient noise on a busy job site.

It's all about having tools that work best for your particular situation.

73
Bill WD9EQD
Smithville, NJ

[Eddie W. Shore]

The higher price tag on Calculated Industries is due to the calculators being specialty calculators. Older versions and sometimes the newest versions can be found on that auction site at a lower price if you are willing to buy used.

I have a small collection of Calculated Industries calculators which includes:

Construction Pro 5 (can be found sometimes at home improvement stores such as Lowe's or Home Depot)
ConcreteCalc 4225
Tradesman Calc
ElectricCalc Pro - 2020 edition
Qualifier Plus IIIFX - Model 3430, finance and real estate
Pipe Trades Pro
Sheet Metal HVAC Pro
NautiCalc Plus from the early 1990s
Machinst Calc Pro - (4087, older edition)
Qualifier Plus IIx
Calculated Industries Construction Master Plus EZ - this one has prompts and menus
http://edspi31415.blogspot.com/search?q=construction

There is also a Victor V6000 which is a Construction Master Pro, but less expensive

[Eddie W. Shore]

(01-11-2023 04:57 PM)Maximilian Hohmann Wrote:  Hello,

(01-11-2023 04:20 PM)pier4r Wrote:  Only because it is sturdy?

I think the main reason is that it is a specially programmed calculator with comparatively low production numbers. And it comes with a paper manual and an additional rugged case, so I think the price is not completely off the scale.

Until not so long ago there used to be financial calculator from a german company called "BWK Business Calculator". As a calculator it is nothing special, like an HP-17B or an Aurora FN 1000 (which is even programmable). But it came in a nice package with an excellent ring-bound manual and a USB cable by which you could connect it to your PC for use as a numeric entry pad. Here is a picture at Wikipedia: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:...gesamt.jpg They also cost around 100 Euros, even more than the competition from HP, but I always thought they were worth it.

Regards
Max

Never seen this model before. Is this a popular calculator in Germany?

[Maximilian Hohmann]

Hello!

(01-12-2023 03:58 AM)Eddie W. Shore Wrote:  Never seen this model before. Is this a popular calculator in Germany?

It used to be quite popular. At times, you saw more of these on geman eBay than HP-12Cs. It was developed by a charismatic person (https://www.drkloeckner.com/en/) who writes books and gives seminars and coachings for bank, finance and sales personnel. As I understand it, the attendees were given these calculators, often branded with the name of their bank or finance company.
But he went the tablet/smartphone app way already some time ago and the calculators slowly disappear from the market...

Smartphone apps do to us calculator collectors what online payment for postage does to stamp collectors...

Regards
Max

[johanw]

(01-11-2023 04:57 PM)Maximilian Hohmann Wrote:  Hello,
I think the main reason is that it is a specially programmed calculator with comparatively low production numbers.

Especially because it is probably only useful in the US and UK. In the EU and Asia I don't see anyone using inches or feets (the later perhaps in aviation but I doubt that sells much of these calculaators).

[Maximilian Hohmann]

Hello!

(01-13-2023 12:46 PM)johanw Wrote:  Especially because it is probably only useful in the US and UK.

They also make models with metric units like this one here:
https://www.calculated.com/mobile/prd103...lator.html

(01-13-2023 12:46 PM)johanw Wrote:  (the later perhaps in aviation but I doubt that sells much of these calculaators).

Not these calculators, but there are of course plenty of specialised calculators for aviation on the market, both as hardware units and smartphone apps. The most sophisticated must be this one, it is the only one with a colour display: https://asa2fly.com/cx-3-flight-computer/
So far I don't have it in my collection yet because it is not worth 130$/Euros to me, also because at work I don't need it. The aeroplane computes everything by itself.

Regards
Max

[Massimo Gnerucci]

(01-13-2023 01:03 PM)Maximilian Hohmann Wrote:  Hello!

(01-13-2023 12:46 PM)johanw Wrote:  Especially because it is probably only useful in the US and UK.

They also make models with metric units like this one here:
https://www.calculated.com/mobile/prd103...lator.html

(01-13-2023 12:46 PM)johanw Wrote:  (the later perhaps in aviation but I doubt that sells much of these calculaators).

Not these calculators, but there are of course plenty of specialised calculators for aviation on the market, both as hardware units and smartphone apps. The most sophisticated must be this one, it is the only one with a colour display: https://asa2fly.com/cx-3-flight-computer/
So far I don't have it in my collection yet because it is not worth 130$/Euros to me, also because at work I don't need it. The aeroplane computes everything by itself.

Regards
Max

You could buy the app...

[Eddie W. Shore]

The app might be worth checking out. I'm still a fan of the hardware and not easily jumping to app calculators... yes I'm old.

[thenozone]

I have the Machinest Calc Pro 2 ( model 4088) and there is quite a lot of tabulated data, and look up incorporated , and a not bad interface, most formula are useful, and some not trivial because of the step nature of the tables, again an android app is available, I still feel unable to trust it fully while working in metric though. there is a lot more in it than any dedicated financial calculator, but still not cheep, it is one of thee dearest.

[Ask Mait]

(01-11-2023 04:20 PM)pier4r Wrote:  https://www.amazon.com/Calculated-Indust...r=8-8&th=1

Why does a calculator that seemingly is no better than a scientific calculator costs 90$ ?
Only because it is sturdy? I cannot believe that having ad hoc buttons for conversions justifies the price. I could understand 40 or 50 but not 90$.

Can someone with more insight explain?

There is no compitition so they are enjoying monopoly, simple. If Casio and Sharp start making anything similar, these would be reasonably priced at $20.