General
Notes“I couldn’t ask for another” –Dee-lite
General
NotesI enjoy collecting calculators. My favorite calculator brand is Casio.
In the future I’d like to try out Canon, Sharp, HP, and more TI calculators.
The Meaning of this Hobby?
In terms of symbolic metaphor, analyzed in the Jungian style: The calculator hobby can convey an ability to calculate; my own experience suggests continued use of this gift for more positive outcomes in life. I am exploring this and trying to take the hint from my unconscious side by using calculations and numbers to make more objective decisions. :-) Who knows where this interest will take me? Beyond just collecting actual calculators, that’s part of the fun of this hobby.
2018-12-07: First version of this page published.
TO-DO: Take photos. Always enable num-lock on my computer keypad. Add a section here on computer calculator software.
Calculators are sorted by manufacturer. Bolded models are my favorites.
Casio fx-CG50
I just bought the CG50 in 2018 and it’s fun to use. I bought a zipper hard case for it so I could store the batteries. I installed a Game Boy Color emulator and that’s mostly been a fail, because it’s slow and not fun to use. I want to install some other programs on it.
Casio fx-9750gII
I bought the fx-9750gII in 2016-ish and really like the intuitive way it works. In 2018 I tried to write some basic programs and was defeated when I couldn’t find the underscore (SE-pointing arrow) symbol which is apparently on the PROG menu. I will keep learning this one. It’s fun and I always wished I had a Casio like this as a kid with a TI. For now I keep this calculator and its manual and batteries in a large black zipper school supplies pouch.
Casio fx-300ES PLUS
I love the dark look of this calculator. I appreciate that I can go back and edit a calculation easily.
Casio fx-115ES PLUS
I used this calculator in preparations for my ham radio exams. It works very well and is a lot like the 300ES PLUS above. I love the silvery color.
Casio MS-80BM
I purchased this desktop calculator in November 2018 at Walmart in Ukiah, CA because I was so sick of having to use the little computer application calculators on my Linux box. I was looking for a calculator with an inclined screen so I could used it when reclined a bit in my office chair. It is great for the cost.
Casio fx-260 SOLAR II
A reasonably good facsimile of the original fx-260 but not nearly as tight an aesthetic.
Casio fx-260 SOLAR
This is a very impressive little calculator. You can get them with the compact LCD or the extended (taller) LCD and numbers. I like the compact version. It is fun to look at.
Casio SL-300VC Standard Function Calculator, Green
This is a pleasant-to-look-at calculator with an impressive number of functions considering its size and cost. I purchased it in 2017 at Staples in Ukiah, CA when I was looking for a calculator to have handy on my desk.
Casio Databank Calculator Watch
It’s not super easy to press the numbers, but overall this is a great watch.
Casio Calculator Watch
A classic. I keep this one on display with my toys. It’s got some neat features and the calculator works just fine.
TI-85 (purchased around 1994)
This calculator was very intuitive to use and I had a lot of fun with it. I made some basic programs to help me with my school work, as well. Within about 3 years of purchase it developed a horizontal line through the screen where you couldn’t see any pixels. That was a bummer considering the cost. Today the calculator sits on my shelf as a display piece. I’d like to get another working TI graphing calculator at some point.
Staples SPL-230 8-digit desktop calculator
Purchased in a 2-calculators-for-$5 set in November, 2018. I quickly discovered that the buttons do not register well when pressed. This was really disappointing. The semi-rounded, semi-angular aesthetic of the keys is also just off, and the color scheme is not really pleasant.
Staples SPL-110 Mini-calculator
Not a super good mini-calculator but OK to throw around. I used it when buying our used 2015 Toyota Highlander at Toyota Marin in November, 2018. I put it in an accordion folder where it fit just great. Having a calculator at the dealership helped me make more informed decisions and figure out what kind of rate percentages had been used for taxes, etc.
Royal 10-digit Scientific Calculator, Royal #101 (Puchased at Rite-Aid in 2017; manufactured 10 April 2014)
I used this in my ham radio exam preparations and in the exams themselves. It is just OK. The buttons are not reliable; they do not always register a number or calculation unless they are pressed firmly. This is really annoying. I like the color scheme though, and the little ROYAL instruction booklet is helpful and nice to have.
Scenery Electronics Limited SS-6618 Electronic Scientific Calculator
I purchased this at the Dollar Tree in Ukiah, CA in October or November 2018 for $1 plus tax. This calculator is kind of neat and has a good aesthetic, even though it’s a ripoff of another style by TI, I think. It is very easy to use, comes with instructions, and the button feel is fine. The case is really weird and is 100% friction-fit, so rather than sliding it off like it’s on rails, you slide it out like you’re pulling a water balloon out of a PVC pipe. Or something like that. :-)