10bII Financial Calculator

I teach classes on how to use a financial calculator. Before teaching the classes, I spent 6 months evaluating other financial calculators including: the HP12c & 17b, the Texas Instruments BA II +, the Real Estate Master, Casio Financial and the Sharp Financial Calculator. Most of them cost less than $60.The HP10BII was the easiest to learn to use. And it's as powerful as you need until you get into complicated computations AND it's one of the least expensive! HP did it right with this one! And you determine your results algebraically like we all learned in school; not reverse polish which is very confusing.I liked it so much that I contacted HP & asked them if they would upgrade this model with a larger screen to include all five financial registers: N, I/YR, PV, PMT & FV so that you can see the current value in each register (to minimize errors). My all-time favorite was the discontinued Texas Instruments Financial Investment Analyst. The screen was large enough & contained all of the registers; making it easy to play "what if" games.The HP10BII stands out above all the others!

It is hard to believe, but the HP 12C calculator does not compute partial year payments; therefore it is not possible to obtain accurate results with the 12C when N is not a whole number. For example, if you are calculating qualified plan distribution amounts, the life expectancy table at age 50 is 34.2 years. The HP 10IIB works with partial years, the 12C does not.So, if you do a lot of calculations with N as a partial year, you will never get the correct answer with the 12C. As for the quality of the calculator, I have had no problems with mine. I do like the the shift/off. I can't tell you how many times I have it the on key on my 12C and turned it off. While the number on the display remains in memory, it still is a pain to have to keep hitting the on key to turn it back on. Granted, the 12C feels heavier, but when you carry a calculator in a computer case along with the laptop,and other papers, the less everything weighs the better.I gave it five stars because the calculator does what it is supposed to do. Give me the correct answer quickly.

I finally replaced my first version HP 10B with this new HP 10BII recently. The original is still here with me, it is simply that the plus button started to not register every time I push it...but, I am not getting rid of it yet. The new 10BII has become my daily calculator (in finance biz) and it is nearly identical in layout, but with different button sizes, weight (much lighter...only thing I don't like) and a couple of button layout changes. This is really the best financial calculator out there and I never understood why anyone would want to use any of the other HP financial calcs...I have used them all. If you are looking for a functional, quality financial calculator, pick one of these up.

I recently got a replacement HP 10bII calculator because the display on my first got fragmented after falling off a bed onto a hardwood floor. More about fixing the display laterThe new calculator comes with a rather stiff but flexible black plastic pocket protective case that is cut & sewn too small and I was not able to insert the calculator all the way in. Half the display is not covered and sticks out exposed.I attempted to stretch the case wider with corrugated cardboard pieces cut a tad wider, forced in and left outdoors one hot afternoon in the California September direct sunshine. No success as it is hard to stretch without fear or ripping it apart. How tight is tight? It is so tight that if you forcibly insert the calculator all the way in, it is a struggle to get your fingers deep enough inside the case to get a grip on the calculator to pull it out.After being re-routed multiple times and talking to people in several HP departments I ended up in the HP Accesories dept. The conclusion is there is nothing they can do. My conclusion is that until the template used to cut the cases are changed (made in Chna), this probably will affect a lot of the units shipped out. Unfortunately, if you happen to be at a retail store as a potential buyer, you will not be able to try the cases before you buy it since it is wrapped in a heavy duty sealed plastic bubble display package. The kind that prevents theft but requires great effort to open.Update...it has been 7 days since I received calculator ordered from Amazon. I have not tried the case for a few days. Today, the case seemed less snug than usual. Perhaps my attempts to stretch it helped. I was able to slip the calculator in all the way. It is still a tight fit and must be pushed in. The first unit I had, slipped in and out easily. This one requires shoving and pulling.About the fragmented display. HP Tech support had me remove the two batteries and place coins (pennies worked) in the battery slots. If that did not work to restore the display (it didn't work) then I am to leave the batteries out for 24 hours. If that doesn't work then they'll look at it. Apparently to short out any static charges.HP HELP. Also the HP Help line number given in the first calculator book was disconnected. The new HP Help number is 800 474-6836. Overall the HP personnel are cordial and helpful. They do ask for a phone number and will call back for a better connection. So don't hesitate to give them a call back phone number. It is interesting to note the first question they ask is (paraphrasing): "Have you called us before?"DELIVERY: Timely quick shipment. It was shipped from the Amazon vendor - The FactoryDepot located in Norco,(Southern) California, which is less than 20 miles or so from me.HANDBOOK. A Comment on the handbook. The examples are good, short to the point and explanations were helpful. I am not hard on books but half of the the first book came apart at the binding. I bought this again because others here gave it good reviews and which is supported my own experiences. Initially it was bought because the calculator was one of two which recommended for a real estate investing course.

Though I haven't 'put it to the test', exhaustively going through all possible calculations, it is serving the purpose of a nice, inexpensive hand calculator.After my HP12c bit the dust (It only lasted 30 years; doesn't anything last, these days? <G>), I wanted to see what improvements might have developed over the years. I chose this because it was half the price of a 12c replacement. It looks well made - not as 'plasticy' as alternatives. Will it last 30 years? ... who knows? ... maybe I won't and it won't matter! The book is well written and thorough.Heck, what more can/do you expect for <$30?