HP 50g Graphing Calculator (F2229AA#ABA)

This is a great calculator, I've had it for about a month now.
It does have a bit of a learning curve.
I had to spend about 2 hours reading the online guide in order to learn how to use the different graphs, as well as how to work with the new menus, use RPN, and other things like solving simultaneous equations.

One thing I really like is that this calculator (unlike the TI 89) has a equation writer. If you have a large and complex equation you are able to input it in without using alot of parentheses, (()(())). You can also edit the equations inside of the equation writer. With this you have alot less mistakes and if you do make a mistake it's usually obvious that the equation doesn't look just like it should.

This calculator is well made and has an incredible number of features. I only wish that HP would focus on making a truly great RPN calculator rather than an okay dual RPN/Algebraic mode calculator. If they focused on RPN then the keyboard layout could be optimized. The enter key should be double width and above the numbers for a good RPN calculator for one thing.

The same is true with the function menus. HP does not know whether to stay with the old Soft Menus or the new Choose Boxes. I wish they would focus on the Soft Menus. As it is there too many functions hidden in menus that can only be accessed by shift keys. They should have a central soft menu with sub menus to access functions. This would free up space to optimize the keyboard layout for RPN.

I think this is still probably the best calculator available today but whoever controls the design of HP calculators now must not have been around in the golden age of HP RPN calculators.

So I do math all the time and I need a good calculator. I have a few that I use but I was looking for the ultimate. Its unfortunately not the HP 50g. Although it is an absolutely amazing tool it is absolutely amazingly hard to use. The instructions don"t help, it beeps at you when you enter things wrong. On the good side RPN is awesome as always. The equation library and constant library are awesome. The calculator has keys that provide a good tactile feel and click. The graph application is weak, or at least I cant figure out how to use it after reading the instructions. Get a Casio class pad 330 instead.

I study Industrial engineering, and I thing this is an excelent choise, I love it! The price is very good to! So, I got only pros.

I like this calculator as the functions are easy to understand. Unfortunately, this does not have home screen with ikons as in Texas Instruments Ti89 Titanium. I have both these calculators and I will say both of these are equally good.