best HP scientific calculator

[Marcio]

Hello all,

Which one (that supports programming) would you recommend?

Edit: It has to be a current model.

Thanks.

Marcio

[Jeff_Kearns]

It all depends on what your programming needs are. If you can obtain one, I would recommend the HP-15C. Second and third choices would be either the HP-41CX with the Advantage Module or the HP-42s. The current model is the HP-35s. An excellent choice if you are into a re-purposed calculator called the WP-34s.

Jeff

[Marcio]

(05-12-2015 12:01 AM)Jeff_Kearns Wrote:  It all depends on what your programming needs are. If you can obtain one, I would recommend the HP-15C. Second and third choices would be either the HP-41CX with the Advantage Module or the HP-42s. The current model is the HP-35s. An excellent choice if you are into a re-purposed calculator called the WP-34s.

Jeff

Yes, I forgot to mention it has to be a current model. I live in South America and older models are very rare and can't be found in stores. Even the 50g is not all that easy to find these days. Around here, Casio dominates the market of scientific calculators, they have plenty of options but I think I will get an HP.

I heard the WP-34s has received good reviews but I don't think they ship to Brazil, do they? Even if they did, the cost would be at least 3x as much.

Basically, I would like it to be able to solve non-linear equations, perform stat analysis, find roots etc, no need for matrix manipulation as I already have the Prime and the 50g for that.

Thank you.

[Les Bell]

(05-11-2015 11:39 PM)Marcio Wrote:  Which one (that supports programming) would you recommend?

I think you'll need to tell us more, especially about your intended application - statistics? Physics? Electrical Engineering? Surveying? Navigation?

Also, do you need printing? External backup for large programs? Storage for large data sets?

Once you've done that, stand back and watch the sparks fly! For example, I see Jeff has rated the 15C ahead of the 41CX/42S. While I'm fond of the 15C, the 41's ability to display program steps as text, rather than countable keystroke positions - and, in fact, its alpha capabilities in general - make it the top-ranking machine, imho. But that's all it is - an opinion. Your opinion should be the only one that matters to you, in the end.

[Marcio]

Well, I am going to use it for engineering stuff, nothing fancy though, things that would require a lot of keystrokes on the 50g, for example, I would like it to have or perform the following:

Stats on one and two variables;
Solver application;
Numerical integration;
Fit data to equations;
Solve polynomials;
Entry level programming (enter x, return y) etc;

Thanks.

Marcio

[CosmicTruth]

50g
Graphing Calculator

[Marcio]

(05-12-2015 01:29 AM)CosmicTruth Wrote:  50g
Graphing Calculator

I already own a 50g which seems to be overkill for the things I have been dealing with lately. Plus, it doesn't fit in my pocket!

[Les Bell]

(05-12-2015 01:12 AM)Marcio Wrote:  Well, I am going to use it for engineering stuff, nothing fancy though, things that would require a lot of keystrokes on the 50g, for example, I would like it to have or perform the following:

Stats on one and two variables;
Solver application;
Numerical integration;
Fit data to equations;
Solve polynomials;
Entry level programming (enter x, return y) etc;

That looks like a good fit for either the HP-35S or the WP-34S.

[anetzer]

(05-12-2015 01:36 AM)Les Bell Wrote:  That looks like a good fit for either the HP-35S or the WP-34S.

+1

But if the 50G is ruled out, that is all that's left, isn't it? Well, you might consider the DM-41 as a currently available machine.

Did you consider a virtualized solution? Many venerable and useful HP calculator emulations run on smartphones and tablets...

[Marcio]

(05-12-2015 05:02 AM)anetzer Wrote:  But if the 50G is ruled out, that is all that's left, isn't it? Well, you might consider the DM-41 as a currently available machine.

Did you consider a virtualized solution? Many venerable and useful HP calculator emulations run on smartphones and tablets...

Thank you very much. I just placed an order for a 33s. Can't wait.

[RMollov]

(05-12-2015 10:29 AM)Marcio Wrote:  Thank you very much. I just placed an order for a 33s. Can't wait.

Would that be 35S?
Despite of all its shortcomings IMO it is by far best choice for your needs.

[RMollov]

(05-12-2015 05:02 AM)anetzer Wrote:  Well, you might consider the DM-41 as a currently available machine.

Not for practical purposes I'm afraid. It's a cutie, but that's about all it is, seriously.
Cheers,

[Marcio]

(05-12-2015 11:18 AM)RMollov Wrote:  

(05-12-2015 10:29 AM)Marcio Wrote:  Thank you very much. I just placed an order for a 33s. Can't wait.

Would that be 35S?
Despite of all its shortcomings IMO it is by far best choice for your needs.

(05-12-2015 11:23 AM)RMollov Wrote:  

(05-12-2015 05:02 AM)anetzer Wrote:  Well, you might consider the DM-41 as a currently available machine.

Not for practical purposes I'm afraid. It's a cutie, but that's about all it is, seriously.
Cheers,

Oh yes, it's a cutie but I actually ordered the 35s. The confusion was because I was comparing the two.

Thanks

[Gerson W. Barbosa]

(05-12-2015 12:19 AM)Marcio Wrote:  I heard the WP-34s has received good reviews but I don't think they ship to Brazil, do they? Even if they did, the cost would be at least 3x as much.

Actually about 2.25x, if you consider import tax (60%), IOF (6.38%) and shipping expenses.

Gerson.

[Sukiari]

(05-12-2015 11:23 AM)RMollov Wrote:  

(05-12-2015 05:02 AM)anetzer Wrote:  Well, you might consider the DM-41 as a currently available machine.

Not for practical purposes I'm afraid. It's a cutie, but that's about all it is, seriously.
Cheers,

You mentioned size as one of your practical considerations. The DM-41 is far, far smaller than any of the other calculators mentioned here, has excellent functionality, and the keys are actually decent once you get used to them. Very tactile and they always seem to register properly.

The screen is excellent too. Vastly superior to the real HP-41's screen.

Yes it's small but if you're looking for a pocket calculator, this one's certainly the smallest useful example of its kind.

[anetzer]

(05-12-2015 12:28 PM)Marcio Wrote:  I actually ordered the 35s. The confusion

...would have been perfect. If you ever had the chance to see a 33S next to 35S I simply can't imagine you'd go for the slanting alien beast.

Would anybody contest that? :-)


a.

[Marcio]

(05-12-2015 09:55 PM)anetzer Wrote:  

(05-12-2015 12:28 PM)Marcio Wrote:  I actually ordered the 35s. The confusion

...would have been perfect. If you ever had the chance to see a 33S next to 35S I simply can't imagine you'd go for the slanting alien beast.

Would anybody contest that? :-)

a.

Aha. I meant the 33s instead. Big mess. Sorry. And yes, they look a tad similar, the 33s being prettier but less powerful.

[John R. Graham]

(05-12-2015 01:35 AM)Marcio Wrote:  I already own a 50g which seems to be overkill for the things I have been dealing with lately. Plus, it doesn't fit in my pocket!

That's what I want, though: a machine that's overkill for each and every thing I do. Also, I've got big pockets.

- John

[Joe Horn]

(05-12-2015 09:55 PM)anetzer Wrote:  If you ever had the chance to see a 33S next to 35S I simply can't imagine you'd go for the slanting alien beast.

Would anybody contest that? :-)

It's rarely mentioned, but it's true, that the 33s runs programs faster than the 35s. And the 33s displays long numbers correctly, unlike the 35s (an unforgiveable design flaw in the 35s IMHO). And some of us feel a kind of aesthetic kinship to funny-looking calculators.

[Marcio]

Yeap, I have been reading about the 35s and it seems people don't like it very much. Saw lots of negative reviews. Hmm.. Might cancel the order and go for a 34s instead.