I have been using HP financial calculators for roughly 25 years. Started out with the 17bII. Moved eventually to the 19b. And until my most recent purchase used a 20b. To be honest, most of the capabilities of all of these calculators are overkill for me. I am an investment manager, but to the extent I ever need a lot of horsepower I inevitably turn to Excel. So, for me, the extent of my handheld calculator needs are basic arithmetic, an occasional cash flow calculation (NPV, IRR), and some basic statistical work. What is absolutely essential for me is the calculator build quality; in particular, the quality of the keyboard. The 17bII and 19b were decent units. However, I had reliability problems with the 17bII (went through three of them...keyboards got sticky on two of them over time). The 19b had an absolutely beautiful keyboard...best tactile feedback ever, no clicking, etc., but the damn thing was just too large when spread out, and when I folded the left hand panel underneath the calculator didn't sit perfectly flat on my desktop. This was annoying, as it rocked back and forth every time I hit a key. On the plus side, the menu-driven interface on both the 17 and 19 were nice, and made it possible to figure things out oftentimes without having to consult a manual.
When it came time to replace my 19b, being a cheap bastard, I had a hard time justifying putting out $100+ for a new HP given my basic needs. So, I bought the 20b (I think the price was in the $40 range). Although I used it for probably five years, it almost made me lose faith in HP calculators. The keyboard was an abomination. It felt like a Casio. No tactile feedback. Any time you hit a key quickly twice in succession, the unit would not register the 2nd key click.
My big problem was that I have always used RPN entry, and have never wanted to switch over to algebraic entry. My hatred of the 20b finally won out, though, and I started looking for a replacement. I thought about ordering a 19bii+, but read a lot of poor reviews regarding the keyboard missing out on key clicks. So, I bit the bullet, decided to forgo the RPN, and ordered a 10bii+. I wish I had gotten one years ago.
The positive: $25 (or so). This is a fantastic price for this unit. There is NO WAY you will find any other financial calculator with this build quality at this price point. The keyboard is fantastic. Great tactile feedback. Doesn't miss any key clicks, regardless of how quickly you input numbers. Does all the basics w/respect to cash flow, bonds, depreciation, basic math functionality, statistics, etc.
The negatives: Does not have a menu-driven interface (like the 19bII+), so you will have to spend a bit of time learning the proper procedures. Memory is a bit limited. This won't be an issue for me, but if you are planning on doing cash flow calcs with 50 cash flows, etc., this may not have the horsepower you need. I don't believe this has solver capabilities like the 12C or 19bii+ (although I never used these, and feel they are overkill in a handheld, maybe some academic classes require them). No RPN capabilities. If you are old school, this may be a big issue. I thought it would be for me, however, after using it for three days I will tell you that it is honestly not a big deal. A few additional keystrokes are required, but not a deal killer in my view. Lastly, display quality is below the 19bii+ (fewer pixels, blockier looking numbers), although it is better than the 12C (with similar primary number display, but lots more annunciators).
I highly, highly recommend this calculator for anybody who wants a great keyboard, and solid HP build quality. Don't worry about the lack of RPN...you'll get used to it quickly.
| Manufacturer | hp |
|---|---|
| Brand | HP |
| Item Weight | 3.04 ounces |
| Product Dimensions | 0.6 x 3.19 x 5.7 inches |
| Item model number | NW239AA |
| Batteries | 2 Lithium Metal batteries required. (included) |
| Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | Yes |
| Color | Black |
| Number of Items | 1 |
| Manufacturer Part Number | NW239AA |
