As a truck driver, I have to do mental HMS calculations constantly, I can completely appreciate your interest in the function. I've hardly even thought to use a calc for that, let alone remembered thinking about it, but having one on hand when I wake up and start my trip planning would be much nicer than muddling through while groggy and needing coffee. A desktop calculator has nothing on a good little dedicated handset calculator... Getting one on a PC that is advanced and usable in the same sense as a hand calc is more complicated than needed, really. That said, it's possible but convenient? Yeah, IDK, not as fast or easy regarding use and portability... Even a tablet doesn't have good enough haptic feedback to make keys on a calculator inferior. That said, you got a good number of calculators, m8. Pretty cool actually. 👌
I can understand disqualifying the graphing calculators but don't understand the removal of RPN. If you're used to it, it's more convenient then algebraic.
The HP35 S can be used as an algebraic calculator, too. It writes down the operations, but displays in the second line the actual answer as you would see it on an algebraic. I have got the HP 33 S, which is similar. Converting the hex to decimal takes a key press more, but you could do a program, too.
You need an HP-16C, although it's RPN. But it's programmable too & keeps all settings (i.e engineer).BTW : the TI- 36X Solar has the "Logarithm Bug" and it also forgets it's settings because of the Solar Cell.
Its one of the most well thought designs especially fx-100D and 991D. . Sadly those 1980s and 90s Japanese engineers are no longer active , and the current engineers have a mind of their own.
Hard to beat the HP16C (if you can find one) for embedded stuff. Selectable word-length, a choice of 1's complement or 2's complement etc. But it's not so good if you need transcendental functions or maths for RF.
Really you don't need a HP16C: HP48/50 can do base math and easily you can add the miised functions, present in HP16C, with some simple RPL programs (even there is a HP16C emulator for HP48). Near only one-complement mode is missing, and I don't know what system uses today, or time ago, one-complement negative numbers: I have meet lot of CPUs and all of them used two-complement for negatives. HP16C was discontinued, i.e. there was no more similar calcs, because sales were poor for it.
@@davidg1830 Swissmicros still produces the dm16 or dm16l. Altough it's only RPN as it is a (high quality) copy of the hp 16c. The reason to use one of that Instead of a scientific / general purposes calculator is usage for the specific purpose and so the handling for the Problem to solve with it. The calculator is specifically designed just for that one thing you will use here and nothing else is the main target. You would have a hard time to use it for financial purposes and the same is true if you would use a hp 12c for programming support.
I love my HPs, but one of the earliest ones I have that's _very_ similar to your fx-991D is the Radio Shack EC-4035. Having the base-n mode so you can treat hex as a first-class citizen and the fixed engineering mode with units is great.
For the TI's, the battery versions seem faster than the solar-only versions. For example, the TI-30Xa is faster than the TI-30 ECO RS, and the TI-35X is faster than the TI-36X SOLAR (and doesn't have the annoying AC function). I'm not that bothered about solar as the batteries seem to last for years anyway. Your Casio fx-991D/570D/115D/100D family looks useful. I must keep a look-out for those. Currently, I mostly use a HP-42S which fails your "no-RPN" requirement, but is a very nice calculator.
I've always loved LED display calculators. I have a few from Texas Instruments and a couple National Semiconductor somewhat rare 4660 (both the 1976 and later 1979 version with a better LED display). Back in my highschool days (late '70s early '80s), we were occasionally allowed calculators but not during exams, which is crazy to think about these days. Mine was a TI30 (original LED model). Today the one I use most often for quick calculations is my trusty old TI-30SLR (solar powered) from 1985, which still works flawlessly (actually built by Canon for TI using a Toshiba chip under license by TI). My dream is to get an original HP-35 one day to add to my collection.
I have a Panasonic 554 and a Privileg SR 12 PR, quite rare ones, which do what you like: immediate calculating, storing the modes while turning them off and displaying engineering format. Hex for sure. Ever tried a Casio FX 600 or 650? They have no steady engineering format, but Scientific at least. Look it up, it is very ergonomic! One of a kind. Why are such calculators not made anymore? And of course the WP 34 s, RPN, but good as gold. (The only one in this list you can buy new) And there is the HP 27 S, algebraic, very easy to use, storing modes, but display isn´t the best. Keep on calculating! And I forgot the Philips SBC 1845, which does exactly what you want, too, but absolutely rare. There was a similar calculator with the "Privileg" brand. (Germany)
Interesting video. As a note though: The modern casio vpam calculators can easily be put in normal mode (called LineIO) and they support persistent engineering mode with fixed number of digits (called sci mode). At least it works that way with 82ES and 82EX. They also support deg,min,sec calculation (Sexagesimal). No HEX mode though. I also love the high resolution font on the new Classwiz calculators. I'm still looking for the perfect calculator. I'd love the windows calculator in programming mode as a physical calculator. EDIT: It looks like the fx-991EX has hex mode. I will try it tomorrow (it is currently in my office at work). It is called Base-N calculation in the spec sheet. Maybe I already have the perfect calculator, I just failed to read the manual...
Thank you for your comment. But I suppose the LineIO-Mode in the Casiofx 82ES isn´t the "immediate execution" Nezbrun wishes. Those calculators can only show one number at a time in the display. Well, what is the best calculator? I simply was totally used to use calcs with imm.calc. But with VPAM you can check your numbers and result without typing it in again to confirm the result. I like the Casio 9860 slim very much for the best display, too. And you can use RPN-Add-ins for fun on it. Very nice to see the stored numbers on the stack as shown on the graphical RPN Calculators by HP. Btw, the imm.calc. is a mixture of postfix (RPN) and prefix notation.
@@blue_blue-1 You're right, there is no RPN or "immediate execution", but the VPAM can be turn off. Personally I love VPAM, but I'm a millennial. I've tested the fx-991EX now and it is almost perfect. It is 32 bit signed (2s compliment), I wish that was selectable. You can't convert from HEX to BIN, edit one bit and convert it back to HEX, you can use the result as ANS or save it in memory. Not quite as good as the windows calculator, but close. I have the 9850GB and I hate the screen, but that is mostly because it's a reflective color LCD. The 9860 is probably much better.
lollandster, The 991 should convert in base-n-Mode. Simply press „Dec“ (x^2) or „Hex“ (x^n). I don‘t have this 991 but others and it works that way. The fx9860: look at the „slim“-version. It is foldable, therefore the display is tilted.
@@blue_blue-1 Sorry for not being clear. I meant that you can't edit the result. As far as I can understand there is no way to transfer the result to the top line so it can be edited (other than using ANS). The scenario I'm thinking about is when you have a HEX number for a register setting and you just need to change one bit. There are other ways, but I'd like to convert it to BIN, cursor to the correct bit, change that bit and convert it back to HEX.
lollandster, Thank you for explaining. But you have been quite clear at first, too. I apologize. Just found it out on my Casio fx P 401 (interesting naming... all other Casios have the P behind the number): E.g. if you enter a number in hex and convert it to bin. Now, to be able to edit the binary number it seems that one has to enter an operator first, e.g. a “+“. Now it is possible to change the binary number, too, and one can delete the „+“ again (or add 0). Holding down the arrow-key scrolls fast through the number - nice!
Factorial and binomial buttons are perhaps not everyday tools but definitely something an embedded SW engineer should deal with every now and then. Or perhaps I'm just being romantic. I use a DM16L, a HP16C-homage.
Somehow it just never occurred to me that hours minutes seconds even really required a calculator. Those are all small integers - I just do those in my head. Most good calculators have HMS+ and HMS- functions, though.
If all you do is quarter or half hour increments, yes, do it in your head, it's easy. If you're a pilot, where each flight has several times, all logged down to the minute, such as calculating in-the-air flying as well as blocks on/blocks off times & durations, and cumulative durations separated for single/multi engine, day/night, in command/P2, IFR and simulator, it's not the kind of thing I do in my head. But good for you.
@@nezbrun872 That's a good point, and also if you're a pilot then you do this a LOT, and lives may depend on you doing it right. We're human, and eventually we make mistakes, so any sort of automated assistance that reduces that error rate is of high value. I wouldn't feel at all comfortable claiming that my *error rate* doing it in my head would be as low as doing it with a device assisting me.
I really like your video here. It's fun to see the history behind these incredible machines and how they have evolved. I agree with you on the importance of base conversions, for me it is a must have feature. I have 2 calculators the Casio fx-260 solar II (USA) aka, fx-82 solar II, which I bought brand new and was very happy with it for general everyday math and classroom work. But the calculator that I really like is one I found at a thrift store and it is the Sharp EL-520D. I would be very interested to know your thoughts on this particular model. Also could you please do a video on programmable calculators only (vintage and current). I would really enjoy that. Thank you.
TI 68 does partially what you want, too. Storing modes and editing a binary result, converts nicely. Weird though, it uses different commas for input and the result! And the drawback: it has no immediate calculation.
I agree. I have a TI-68 that I bought in 1990, and apart from the lack of the immediate calculation thing, it pretty much ticks all the boxes. 32 years (and 3 batteries) later, it's still my 'go-to' daily use calculator. I love my TI-58/59, my HP41CV, and HP Prime G2, but theres nothing quite like the speed, ease, and simplicity of my TI-68😀
Still one more forgotten: HP 20 s, an algebraic calc, storing the complete state, including the actual result in the display. Technical good display, but writes Eng-Format as e.g. 2.97E12 - without spacing! Lot of used ones available on Ebay.
Take a look at the casio fx-991ms, persistent engineering mode that gives you symbols, hour minute second and hex. You do have to change modes to do base calculations though.
Take a look at the fx-991EX. It has a persistent eng mode (but only with SI prefixes). It has a full 32 bit binary display. But... inputting engineering symbols is a pain in the neck, because you need to press the OPTN key and access a menu: frustrating... the 991MS does it way better. 991EX also does hms calculations (you may have to press [° ' ''] key once after the final result), and it has got fonts of useful (and useless) functions.
Did you know that the 991MS is semi-programmable? You need to use multi statements the [:] key to step through your program. You can do manual loops, and manual conditional jumps (hence semi programmable).
Why I don't like using the calculator on my PC. I have to pop up the calculator over all the apps I am working in. Make my calculation. Switch to the app I am working in and paste it. Then switch back to calculator which is now hidden by the window I am working in. Argh! Its like playing ping pong. On calculators...I like my old HP 20S. Not RPN, 13 digits, 3 LR44 batteries, I don't have to switch modes to do base conversions. 1+2*3 = 7. And the buttons have a nice solid click. I dislike mushy buttons. LOL
I liked Psion computers early on and still use some, especially the SDK where animation is a weak word at 2 GHz and beyond. Some assembler "calculator" based on the Z80 makes a little sense to fiddle with and the grocery shopping thing I use in my head could be something for the future where we could scan each thing (or buy it like that) as we collect it in the shop and maybe not in the end.
I have two, the first had the unreadable blue characters on the keyboard, the second is better in that regard. Like many of today's scientific calculators, there's just too much going on so the stuff you use day to day is hidden away. I should do another video on the HP Voyager series: that's my RPN nirvana!
The HP 48SX was my dream machine, would love to see it made again, with the hardware speed of the Hp prime G2. Until then, I will be forced to run the free Android emulator.
The keyboards should be larger, and the display also. Link via usb with computer to save programs and exchange them with others. Direct computing has many benefits.
The point I was trying to make is that handheld calculators with simple UIs still have a place, and the best ones are those with direct access to the most commonly used functions you use. If you want to start hooking up your calculator to a computer to save programs or exchange data, IMHO you're probably better off just using your computer. Programmable calculators nowadays have little practical use when you have a computer ay your disposal. While I'm amazed at what's achievable with today's high end calculators, for quick calculations they're more of a hinderance: the UIs are so complicated, you need to invest significant effort to get up to speed understanding how to use them. Typically I'm using them for simple exercises like memory allocation calculation, timing or checking my client timesheet: I'm not trying to crunch numbers. If you want to do that the HP Prime is like a mini version of Matlab with its vector capabilities, but getting adept at using it takes more effort than I'm prepared to give it considering I can do all that on a computer with a nice big screen and a proper keyboard.
On the 991D, π isn’t directly accessible? Isn‘t it as on all Casio, that if you press Exp after an operator or at first, that it takes the number π? Edit: I was wrong. It needs Shift.
It's not a MODE! ENG is just a function that adjusts the decimal point and the exponent. It never was intended to be a mode. SCI 4 is a mode you can set with the mode key on Casios.
On some Casios, like the FX-100D, FX-115D, FX-570xD, and FX-991D, it is a mode. You press MODE DOT and it toggles between engineering mode and non-engineering mode. The setting is persistent, even after a power cycle. That's the point, it's a key benefit of these particular Casio calculators. On most Casios, I agree, it's a temporary adjustment to the display with no persistence. Page 6 of the FX-100D/FX-115D manual #201, and page 7 of the FX-570xD/FX-991D manual #202, under the section "1-1 Modes": "MODE DOT: ENG displayed to indicate engineering calculation mode." Unfortunately, engineering targeted calculators like the FX-50F and FX-61F have the temporary display method you describe.
Hours, Minutes, Seconds on the fx991d???? I use fractions all the time because Americans on RU-vid and sellers on E. Bay are always on about how this bar of steel is 4/64ths and that one is 9/32nds and so on am I'm constantly thinking "how the hell big is that in English?!" .... enter fractions mode!
Could you do a video on all the functions you use on daily basis as an engineer? Probably there are a lot of functions on these scientific calculators that i don't know how to use, or what they are useful for. Like the x-y key. Thanks.
xy key is very useful, and I'd say it's almost essential for an engineer. It allows you to deal with interim results without having to resort to memories particularly when using non-commutative operators like divide & subtract.
A very hyperbolic discussion. Most calcs were not persistently scientific in their designs and without complex and Matrix math with RPN very weak calculators. With RPN you can reprogram the HYP button to do something else!
I do, as well as both a TI-89 and TI-89 Titanium, but they came after the video was shot! Like many of the "newer" calculators, the complex UIs get in the way of achieving 99.9% of my end goals, that of doing simple calculations.
I had a TI92. It was kind of the progenitor of the Voyage200. It was the best calculator I ever used. My buddy borrowed it once and I never saw it again. He later wanted to be the Math Department Chair, but Admin had other ideas. Karma. I replaced it with a Voyage200, but the relationship never blossomed.
