2003 August 25 | Wheatworks Blog: Financial Matters

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Archive for 25th August 2003

My Favorite Toys

8/25/2003, 2:24 pm

I mean “tool”, my favorite tool.

When most people today hear the name, Hewlett-Packard, they think of computers or printers. Before laser printers and before desktop and notebook computers, HP was very well known for something else: hand held calculators.

And while people upgrade computers more quickly than they trade cars, HPs hand held calculators are legendary for their long life spans. My 18C introduced in June of 1986 works as well today as it did 17 years ago.

I mentioned in a previous post that I keep an assortment of HP calcs on my desk. I’ll introduce you to a few of them and provide links to a couple of sites that will give you the details. You may be surprised to discover that HP still cranks them out, too. And if you want to pick up a great calculator without spending the money for a new one, check out the used calculators on eBay. I’ve found some gems there.

The HP 10Bii is a basic business calculator which was introduced in 2001. Its daddy was the HP-10B which was released in 1989. It’s great for light TVM work.

The HP 12C Platinum is an enhanced HP 12C with four times as much programming space and the choice of RPN or algebraic logic. The HP 12C was introduced this year, 2003.

HP’s 17BII is an enhanced HP-17B which allows the user to choose between algebraic or Reverse Polish Notation. I believe the 17Bii was introduced in 1990.

The HP 18C was released in 1986 and is a folding calculator that attracts attention when you open it up for others.

My favorite is an HP-19Bii and when it’s not in my hand, it stays in its leather case. It opens like the 18C and was first introduced as the HP 19B in 1988. The 19Bii is, IMHO, the best of HP’s handheld financial/business calculators.

Here’s where to go for more info on HP calculators:

HP Calculators: http://www.hp.com/calculators/
HPCC - Handheld and Portable Computer Club: http://www.hpcc.org/
The Museum of HP Calculators: http://www.hpmuseum.org/

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