I just bought the HP 17BII calculator and work in the autofinance business. Some of my co-workers recommend this item so I thought I'd give it a try. My first impression is that a very light calculator and even though it looks more modern than the previous version, I thought the look n feel had a plastic feel to it that is not impressive (i prefered the old solid OEMs). About the menus I thing is very easy to use, the TVM and cash flow as well as the examples in the manual help the user to achieve the results they are looking for. Also I think the solver is one of the most powerful functions available and also easy to type calculator, bonds, date and currencies also very good to have. To summarize and excellent machine in a not so good package, if you can, buy the previous version (2003) has a more 'long lasting' buttons and fell to it. Enjoy!!
[+]
10.0
Great Calculator
I have had an HP17b for years but do to a theft had to purchase a new one from Amazon which had the best price.
The new one has a better look and keypad. And the tutorial is very extensive and easy to follow.
[+]
10.0
Replacement for my 20 year old HP 17BII
After reading the comments hear I was very sad... It sounded like the new calculators were junk. I disagree. It is the same old functionality, perhaps it is not built to withstand a nuclear blast, but so what. Nobody uses these things to price bonds all day long, we do a little TVM. I purchased an old model (new) for about $40. Heck, the batteries are about $30 so no complaints.
[+]
2.0
Keystrokes do not register = worthless calculator!!!
I am now on my third HP17bII+ calculator. Why? I reported a problem with missing keystrokes with the first one, so they sent me a second. Though the problem on the second was not quite as bad as on the first, it still happened, essentially making this calculator worthless. After reporting this, HP asked that I return both calculators (at my expense, of course), and a week or so thereafter they called to tell me that after extensive testing, they found no problem whatsoever, that NO keystrokes were ever missed. After an argument with their tech service people, they reluctantly agreed to send me yet another unit, at their expense (this was like pulling teeth). Well guess what - this third unit does indeed miss keystrokes, worse, it seems than the second unit they sent. But the people at HP vehemently deny that they have EVER had a complaint about this before mine, that this has NEVER happened with these calculators, to their knowledge, etc. THEY ARE LYING! They HAVE to be, one can find all sort of tales of missed keystrokes with this unit all over the internet. So what can I do? Probably nothing, beyond writing this little review. And urging everybody to STRONGLY RECONSIDER buying this calculator, or any other product from a company that seems to play so fast and loose with the truth!
[+]
8.0
HP 17BII+ is pleasant surprise
When my beloved 17Bii had an unfortunate accident I was forced to shop for a replacement.
Reviews for the 17BII+ have not been uniformly good. Other calculators did not seem worth considering so, knowing the Amazon return policy, I did order the updated version to get my hands on it for myself.
It is very good in the way it fits the hand, accepts the keystrokes, and generally performs. It has more preloaded features than the older BII. It uses a more common battery. All in all, it is a great machine
Had I not been using the 17Bii for many years, I would have not found anything to complain about. But, like a new pair of shoes, it just took some getting used to.
[+]
10.0
Excellent Purchase
This is my first financial calculator. Had to buy it for some college courses.
It's more advanced and organized than other financial calculators which can be a disadvantage if your professors don't know how to use it, let alone figure it out. And this happens to be the first time you've seen one let alone use one.
I'm still learning it, but I like it A LOT. and i think you will too. Will take some getting used to, but the features are great!
[+]
2.0
Cheap, cheap, cheap
Ditto all the other reviewers' comments about the cheap construction of this POS. I've been an HP calculator user for 25 years, and am astounded at the cheap junk that they are now willing to put their name on. Forget about technical capabilities; if the damn keyboard doesn't function properly its all just academic. The keyboard on the 17bii+ is garbage. Routinely misses keystrokes. A calculator that costs $100 should be a quality item. Costs 4-5x as much as comparable TI or Casio financial calculator models. If it wasn't for the fact that HP is still the only manufacturer using true RPN I would have switched long ago. At this point, I think I'll just suck it up and forget about RPN because I'm tired of paying through the nose for a new HP when the old one breaks down every two years. Shame on you HP.
I am new to financial calculators. I bought this and the texas TIBA11+ together. the texas allows you to do math such as trig, permutation, combination, random numbers etc. If you need a calculator that does these then use the Texas. If you are straight business then the HP is definitely the way to go. Solver is wonderful!! you can actually do your own equations, I have added factorial notation, NCR and NPR into solver, added the fractional indices to solver and thus I have no need for a scientific calculator. RPN is great after getting used to it, it makes you think in a new light and is even faster than a traditional scientific calculator for complex calculations.
I would have given this product a 5 if it had some additional math functions, however it did say financial calculator!!
[+]
10.0
HP back to quality machine
The HP Financial calculator has been a standard of the financing and mortgage industry for almost 4 decades and progressed from a one line LED display and limited memory to the 12C's and 17B series with multi line display, programmability and a host of function keys. However the key feature of the HP's was rock solid construction and reliability. I am sure there are users out there with 20 year old machines still working perfectly.
Somewhere between the 17Bll and the 17Bll+ HP appears to have handed off design and build to a 3rd party. Manufacturing moved from Singapore to China and quality & useability fell off. I don't think the blame lies with country of manufacture but rather design and quality control. Currently there are 2 17Bll+'s on the market. The poor quality one retains HP's dark brown faceplate with a yellow change key and a rounded shape. The newer model same model # has a platinum plate and a blue change key. The former flattened and lightened the calculator and in the process took away much of the key tactility. There have been reports of breakdown, keys failing to function etc. The platinum model returns to the traditional shape of the HP 17 series, raises the keys for excellent tactile feel and generally has the heft and quality feel of the older machines. So far (3 months) mine has operated flawlessly. By the way it also is made in China. Not sure what happened in the background but suspect HP stepped in albeit indirectly to protect its name.
Bottom line HP for ever. Strongly suspect mine will outlive me ( my previous 17Bll got lost after 15 years use!
[+]
8.0
HP 17bII+ improvement
This new version of the 17bII+ is an improvement from the previous 17bII+. HP improved the buttons and increased the size of the Input button. This is the 4th HP calculator I've purchased. I'd recommend it (has the appearence of the 12C Platinum). Don't buy the 17bII+ with the smaller Input button. The buttons are of poor quality (I have one & don't use it). All said, the old 17bII is the best version, if you can find on web. Best buttons & quality.
This is the best financial calculator on the market.
[+]
8.0
HP Finally Got It Right (after years of not doing so!)
If you are hunting for reviews of HP financial calculators, make certain you identify 'which' HP 17 you're looking at. The original 17 was produced in Malaysia and has quite the following, even in the used market. Reason? Solidly built, utterly reliable and no surprises. It squarely updgraded the HP12C calculator, though it has never had the following the 12c has; the 12c is absolutely deserving of the title 'iconic'.
Two things transpired in the past decade to give HP headaches in the calculator market: first, their own internal struggles to find out where they themselves were heading as a corporation (and calculators contributed, certainly, but likely not in a large way) and, secondly, the shrinking market for calculators in general, and financial ones in particular.
Educational calculators still have a true market segment and HP and TI duke it out there; Casio also to a lesser extent. But spreadsheets have changed the way many in the financial market run simulations. That is NOT to say that there isn't a need for calculators; they offer a quick and easy method to obtain financial results, many times far quicker than their spreadsheet counterparts. I think the market will always be there for a well-made financial calculator and most bankers and financial experts will always have a need for them.
That said, HP's follow on to the HP12C (the 'platinum') and the HP 17B+ were just dismal in every sense. They had cheaper plastic cases, their buttons did not always register with every press and they didn't even follow their own keyboard coloring and layout patterns, which is beyond comprehension due to them creating the market itself for financial calculator layout!
I'm happy to report that someone, somewhere within the HP organization finally figured out the problems and have upgraded the HP17 to it's current status. The keys not registering is FIXED. The return to a familiar HP layout for the keys and the coloring of the keys is FIXED. The 'cheapness' and low quality fix of the prior HP 17BII is FIXED. The new HP 17BII+ even has a satisfying 'heft' to it, though they may have just put a weight in it to make it feel that way. But it DOES feel like the HP 17 of old.
Make certain if you're looking at this calculator at big box stores that you do get the NEW model. The faceplate is a blue-ish silver; the older models are brown or brown and gold. And some of the interim models are still in the pipeline, so be absolutely certain you're getting the newest model; it's the ONLY one that has corrected the problems.
I'd have given this calculator 5 stars, but I'm taking one away since HP took so long to fix a problem that they should have taken responsibility for five years ago.
[+]
10.0
Great Financial Calculator
Calculator is great. Plenty of functions for everything you can hope to do on it. The only tricky part is learning how the functions are laid out. Once you understand how to use the calculator, accessing the appropriate function is a piece of cake.
works great. I especially like the solve feature which lets you put in your own equations.
Having used HP financial calculators for nearly 30 years, starting with the 12C, I found this to be the absolutely best calculator ever. The 12C was good in its day, the 17B was better, because it was faster, the 19B was ok, albeit chunky to use, the 17BII, was poor, as the keys were poor quality, but the new 17BII+ is back to great, better than the 12C or 17B, which were my two former favorites. I would highly recommend this calculator to anyone in finance; it is fast and the keys feel good - like the keys on the 12C.
[+]
4.0
Not as good as prior HP products
I bought this in 2008 to replace another HP (48G) used extensively for work. I disregarded the previous reviews that this was an inferior product compared to prior HP calculators and have found that this was not a good idea. My main complaint is with keystrokes not registering. Now granted I believe you can turn on the beeper to sound when keystrokes are registered, but I don't want my coworkers listening to beeping all day, so that's not always an option. I have an old 12c and still have an old 48G and this product is now third in line behind those other two.
The 12c might be older and have less functionality, but its still a better option when it comes to usability.
[+]
4.0
HP 17BII+ Not Up to HP Standards
I've always had good luck with HP products, but the HP 17bII+ is a bit of a clunker. The problem is that the keys are what can only be described as 'sluggish.' Meaning that it sometimes takes 2 key presses in order to be recognized. As you might imagine, this causes a LOT of errors. Rather than being able to use the calculator as one might do, that is, without really having to concentrate on the device itself, the HP 17bII+ forces you to take your mind off your real task in order to make sure that key presses are properly registered. Sorry, but I can't recommend this product.
One other thing... I DID call HP customer service about this a few months ago. They had me remove the batteries and do a complete reset of the static memory. It seemed to solve the problem for awhile, but eventually it returned.
[+]
10.0
great calculator
Excellent easy to use calculator that does alot of functions. This is my second 17b.
[+]
10.0
Great calculator
The calculator is easy to use and great for all financial calculations. I greatly recommend it.
[+]
10.0
Very happy with Amozon's service and price for this calculator
I am very happy with Amazon's service and will buy many times again and again.
I like this calculator and helps me when I need help.
Thanks also to HP for this design !!!
[+]
10.0
Awesome Calculator in 2009
The quality of the HP 17bII that I received is awesome. Solid chassis and a keypad that feels just like a 12c Platinum. The display is easy to read although the so called two line display is really just one since the lower line is used for menu selections. Still it is an easy to see LCD display.
The RPN is great but you can choose the traditional algebraic entry if desired. There are lots of built in features and calculations and if the one you are looking for is not available, you can program in any formula you desire. The calculator alos comes with a nice case to protect your investment.
I have been looking for a solutions handbook much like the one available for download at HP for the HP 12C but so far I have had no luck.
I'm not sure what some of the negative reviews are all about here except that I noticed they seem to be several years old. This one is in 2009 and the quality is definitely here in this calculator.
[+]
10.0
The new version is great!
I had serious reservations about buying this calculator because of the negative reviews of its predecessor. Forget those negative reviews. This one rocks. The buttons are tactile and work every time, the display is big and bright, unlike the previous 17B I own, and the functions are the best you can buy in financial calculators.
[+]
8.0
The closest product to HP19BII
First of all let me say that I owned an HP 19BII+ for over 16 years, what a great financial calculator, I will miss it. I have to say that the 17BII+ is also a great product, very well built, just as you expect from HP, I really do not understand earlier complaints about lower quality issues. I gave it 4 stars just because the 17 does not have the valuable unit conversion that the 19B had, otherwise it gets the job done.
[+]
8.0
HP 17bII+ fills the bill
I have been looking for a replacement for my 12c for a long time. The 17BII+ is far easier to use and has a much improved display. I one feature it lacks that I would like is a USB port for use in uploading tables and downloading formulas.
For the price it is a good deal.
[+]
6.0
Does what it is supposed to
If I had to buy a financial calculator again, I would get the classic 12c. I needed the calculator for MBA accounting classes and found the 17BII+ adequate. I would have rather bought the 12c for less money. As a cosmetic note, the slightly curved sides of the calculator annoy me.
Can't work without RPN Love Hewlatt Packard products. sometimes the first number punched doesn't want to play
[+]
10.0
Great Calculator
Love it. Works really well. No problems with the keys. It has the same key feel as the 12b.
[+]
4.0
Terrible compared to previous version!!
I owned an HP 17B II for 18 years (yes, one calculator actually lasted that long!) and I loved it. It did everything I needed it to do, the buttons and display all worked great, and I noticed that it was built in Singapore. Well, the old thing finally died earlier this year and I bought a new HP 17 BII+, which I noticed was made in China. What a disaster! Half the time when I push the buttons, the machine doesn't register anything! That can be a major problem when working with a calculator, because you have to wonder all the time whether the machine actually has all the correct data inputs. I hate this calculator, but I still love the functionality of the HP 17B II. I can't wait for HP to come out with a new version, hopefully built somewhere that cares about quality! I'm really disappointed in HP for charging $80 for a calculator that isn't flawlessly made.
[+]
10.0
Great product and fast shipping
One of the best and most reliable products from HP. I had the newest version (2007) of the HP 17BII+ shipped to me. It's a great calculator, so far so good. Instructions and calculations are easy and simple to do. You will probably need to follow a textbook, but calculations are pretty well-explained in the manual, with a few examples too.
It has two lines of data input. Answers still remain on your screen even if you switch off the calculator, until you manually run another calculation or clear the screen. I use this calculator for statistics such as to find the mean, correlation coefficient and linear estimates, financial calculations such as finding the time value of money, interest, bond valuation, depreciation and cash flows, and regular math stuff. You can even use it for business-related queries, such as business percentages and markup, and input equations into the memory list. You can also do a few currency exchange calculations. Even making changes to a list that you already entered is simple.
It's light-weight, and easy to take around in the handy case. It comes with a pair of batteries, which are easily installed when you open the pack. It also has the clock option, where you can adjust for the current time and date, as well as set appointments. A total of 28K memory to store data, lists and equations. You can also print information using the HP 82240 Infrared printer.
Amazon has proved themselves again with dependable and timely shipping. Thank you.
[+]
10.0
Love the silver version
I had gone the TI route with the TIBAII+ which is an easy to use calculator (and i still recommend it for students). I had resisted the hp12c b/c of its speed overall and the non-intuitive interface. This 17bII+ version gives you a fast and modern calculator.
However, i did not like the old one which looked plasticy and flimsy. The silver version is very smooth looking (almost retro) and has the hp12c keys!!! I am finally happy with it. becareful though, amazon had originally sent me the older version rather than the silver one. I had to post a return item thing and they shipped out a new one immediately. I love amazon's service!!
Anyway, this one is not flimsy and can definitely be used at meetings.
I am using a financial calculator for the first time, so I can't compare it with previous models. The instruction book is pretty straight-foward with good examples, and the menus are pretty logical. In contrast with other reviews that I've read on Amazon, I have had no technical difficulties (sticking buttons, batteries etc.). So far I like it.
[+]
10.0
HP 17bii+ Silver now the best financial calculatorthe
This is currently the finest HP business and general purpose calculator made. The silver version corrects the durability issues of the prior brown and gold version.
The keypad and enclosure have been dramatically improved and is on par or better than the original "Pioneer" HP 17bii.
The calculator is far better now than the 12c. The key feature is the HP Solve application that allows for algebraic entry of equations and solving for any arbitrary variable. Calculations are fast and the menu system allows for straightforward entry of variables without having to "R/S" programs.
The 17bii+ silver version now has all the bases covered in regards to functionality, usability and durability.
[+]
2.0
Find something else but not a HP 17bII+
Once a proud owner of a 19BII this is about as close as you get as a replacement. It is not worth the money. The buttons work poorly so you must exercise extreme care when keyboarding or you will have input errors. Today the display cracked not due to abuse but the clasp for the case hits right where the display broke. HP will not replace this calculator because they consider this abuse or customer damage versus a poorly thought out design. I am going to try TI after this disappointment.
[+]
2.0
Review for HP 17 B II
Following, is the letter that I sent to HP headquarters regarding my experience with the HP 17BII:
Dear Sirs, I am writing this email with the spirit of a loyal customer of 15 years. Last month, during a business trip, my financial calculator 19 B II broke. I was desperate because I had become so used to work with it. I browsed the HP web site to learn which was the most sophisticated financial calculator these days, and I learned about the 17 B II. I asked a friend to bring it to me from the US and so she did. I have been using it for 3 weeks, and only with a spirit of loyalty to you, must say that I find this calculator dramatically inferior to those HP calculators that I bought 15, even 20 years ago, both financial calculators and scientific calculators. The 17 B II is not only inferior in the amount and type of operations that can perform compared to the 19 B II, but is also inferior, in it`s raw materials. The key for number 3, must be pressed with so much strength as if I was drilling for oil in order to make it appear in the screen. Finally, this calculator takes literally
3 seconds in calculating the result of 2 X 2. I have been considering to search for the HP scientific calculator that I had back in college, 15 years ago, and program in it, the financial formulas that I need today. Again, I am not saying this with a bad mood or just for the sake of complaining, but rather because if I worked in the company, I would like to have this kind of feedback. Best regards, Constancio.
I have used HP's 17BII calculator for almost 10 years. When I saw the upgraded version of this calculator I thought I must have it. It will be a great thing to have since HP produces excellent products and after 10 years of continuous service my previous calculator could be licensed. So I sold my old 17BII calculator and bought this upgraded model. Upgraded? Well, it only has one new function: Currency Exchange, which is not a major feature since anyone can calculate currency exchange without the help of this function. If HP created this new function thinking about travelers they were wrong. Who would carry a bulky calculator in order to calculate currency exchange? However, there are other upgrades in its design that are plausible and that make it a fair deal, especially if your old calculator is a little worn out. The thing that I dislike about this shift is that I have used this calculator for 14 months and now the sum key (+) does not work. That is right, 14 months and this calculator is not able to perform a basic operation. I called HP and they do not have any official representation in my country so I went to an unauthorized dealer that says that this can be fixed by changing the keyboard matrix, a USD70 deal. What a deal!!! I can buy a new calculator for USD80 or fix mine for USD70. Guess what? I am buying back the 17BII version and forgetting the Currency Exchange feature. I miss the times when HP manufactured durable goods and not disposable ones.
[+]
10.0
Excellent Financial Calculaor
I need to use a financial calculator periodically, but not on a daily basis. That means I need a calculator that is easy to learn and use. Over the years I have had 3 HP-12C's (and they all still work great, and the original is still the best built calculator I have ever had). Still, I found that I would forget how to use functions I did not often use. I also had an HP 10B (first generation) that I loved until I gave it to my wife.
Needing to replace the 10B, I tried a Texas Instruments TI-BA II plus. Big mistake. While the calculator had a sturdy feel, the buttons were squishy and I found that I (or the calculator) was making data entry errors. Also, trying to go back and forth between the TI and the HP-12C's was driving me crazy because they were just enough different in their ways of doing things to throw me off.
So I broke down and went for the 17Bii Plus. It is very lightweight -- and feels a bit too insubstantial, However it sits firmly on a desktop to allow one hand data entry. The keys feel solid (far better than the keys on the TI-35) and data entry is once again easy and error free for me. As a two line calculator, most financial functions are performed by use of menus. I love it! It makes those functions far more intuitive and easy to remember. I still find that I need to refer to the manual the first time I want to do a particular calculation. But I also see that once I have done a function once there will be much less running to the manual to re-learn how to do a calculation I have not needed in a while. I like it so much that if not for the cost I would replace my beloved HP12-C's.
Like the HP-12Cs it is programmable. But unlike the HP-12C, where I could never learn to program on it, programming a calculation that I am doing over and over is simple enough on the 17Bii that I could see myself doing it; and with the two line display, once you have programmed a calculation it is amazingly easy to re-use. Hard to explain, but easy to do.
One final comment. HP calculator reviews by users on line are full of criticisms from old HP users, who claim that the new HP calculators are cheaply made, not as substantial as the old models, etc. There is no doubt that the build standards of HP calculators have changed over time and that on practically any model there is an older version that was heavier, more solid, had a better feel. But it is pointless to compare the HP calculators of today to older models. If HP's current business calculators (12-C platinum edition and 17Bii+) are compared to other popular financial calculators currently made, the HPs are still the best by far, particularly for error free data entry. And truth be told, the HP-17Bii+ is much faster and easier to use by far for the casual user than the old HPs.
[+]
2.0
Very Poor Quality / Unreliable
This calculator is very cheaply done and manufactured. The buttons click but do not work all the time, leading to frequent mistakes. Eventually, my calculator went down after six months of light usage. A very poor purchase!!!
This new model, supposedly "improved" is JUNK. I have the 17B II and just compared it with my wife's 17B II "+" just bought here for her real estate course.
Save yourself grief and and try to find the old model instead. Even if it costs more money (there is a reason...).
The quality of the HP 17BII calculator is GONE. Shame on HP.
If you consider your calculator to be a critical worktool, then you need RELIABILITY above all else. The key-strokes on this calculator are UNRELIABLE. And that makes everything else about this calculator irrelevant. The prior version is far more reliable.
[+]
10.0
Excellent HP calculator
I just started in commercial real estate and was advised to get an HP 10BII. Well being the previous engineer(and tech geek) I had to get the upgraded model, the 17BII+. It has all the same functions as the 10BII plus about 150 other functions according to the specs and it can solve algebraic equations, which is nice for repetitive equations with different variables to input. The sequence of numbers is almost the same as the 10bII as well. And since the first time I used it was in a week long commercial class where all they used was the 10BII I was able to keep up just fine.
I read the reviews of some people pushing a button and it not registering. I also have the 10BII where that has happened a few times. It has happened once that I recall with the 17BII as well. What I can surmise is that the HP's buttons have a greater "resistance" to input the numbers and in flying through calculations we might tend to glance over the button rather than push it distinctly. The one advantage with the 17BII is it has softer buttons with less "resistance" to push them so it seems to happen less.
I love all the storage functions as well. It also does not use Reverse Polish notation as standard, but you can choose to switch it to RPN mode if you choose. But it has about every financial and business function you could ask for. But most of the functions can be accessed through the top six buttons which drive a menu on the display. I really like the menu based functions rather than having them integrated as 2nd and 3rd tier functions on the other buttons.
It is a little pricey compared to the 10BII. But it is worth it to me. The 10BII can do probably 97% of everything you will always need. The layout, feel of it and extra functions were worth it to me.
[+]
4.0
drained batteries in one month
The calculator is very easy to use and is much faster than my HP 12C. Unfortunately the two CR2032 batteries died within one month of light use. This is not an isolated incident, many of my classmates are having the same problem. Unless you carry spare batteries around, I would suggest you use any calculator than this one.
[+]
2.0
Horible finishing quality !!
Do not buy this calculator unless you do not care how "cheap" it looks like after opening up the box where it comes!
After buying my 17BII+ I unfortunately realized that the gray ruber on the right side a "small hole".
After passing my finger 2 times over this surface defect the rubber began to seriously get rid of the calculator making its appearance horrible.
I swear, it is the last time I buy HP.
As long as they do not understand that not only the functions but also finishing details are important I prefer to buy one of the other many options available on the market!!
[+]
4.0
HP 17BII+ - Nice look, but poor function
I liked the look of the calculator, which is why I bought it in the first place. But I have two big complaints. First, when in RPN mode, you obviously use the Input button a lot. Unlike the 12-C, 10-B, 19-B and other models, the Input button isn't oversized, and it's location is obscure. So, you have to take a split second each time to remember where it is. I could probably get over this problem over time, but the second problem is a deal-killer. The biggest problem I have is that buttons regularly fail. You're in the middle of a calculation and you'll miss a number or function. What ends up happening is that you have to look at the keys and then at the screen to ensure that your entries are accurate. Takes way too much time and interrupts the process. I've read other negative reviews of this product and didn't believe that HP could put out a product that didn't work. But believe it, this calculator will cause you nothing but frustration. I'm going back to my old 12-C.
Although this calculator has a powerful equation solver, it is a little cumbersome to use. I prefer 12CP for quick calculations, 50g for more complex jobs. And for any other situations where I have access to computer, I rather use Excel.
Bought this one since I lost my 17BII and am hugely DISAPPOINTED! Not only is the feel no longer solid, but the KEYS DON'T REGISTER THE ENTRY many times which means you have to continuously double check that the number was entered. UNACCEPTABLE! Reminds me of the TI scientific calculators that I bought in the early 1980's. Same problem and I'm sure this calculator will wind up in the same place. the Trash!!
[+]
8.0
a good calculator
it is recommended, i would like to have a hypothesis testing as well but i'm happy.
easy to use. friendly in-spite the small display.
[+]
10.0
One fine calculator
My briefcase full of calculators came missing when I moved recently. It contained my trusty HP19 financial calculator that I needed to replace. I read all the Amazon comments, downloaded manuals, and finally decided between the HP12C and the HP17B++. I chose the HP17B++ because of the ease in programming and evaluating equations other than those built in. SOLVE is very powerful for this purpose.
I've had no problems with the keys that so many others have reported. In fact, the most alarming comment was that it doesn't use proper algebraic precedence of add, subtract, multiply and divide. This is NO problem once it is recognized that the calculator uses a stack similar to RPN logic of other HP calculators. i.e. enter a number, enter an operator, enter a second number, then when the next operator or equal sign is entered , the first and second number are evaluated. The display clearly shows what is happening. Of course, use of parentheses will modify the order of calculation when a long string of numbers and operators are entered.
This financial calculator is powerful and quick. It will handle most financial calculations. Those that are too complicated for this calculator should be computed on a spreadsheet, such as EXCEL or programmed in an appropriate computer language.
[+]
10.0
HP 17 BII + Calculator
Excellent Calculator, easy to use with all basic commercial and financial calculations.
As a commercial real estate appraiser, I typically use the financial software available on my desktop or laptop computers. So I use the HP 17bII for the quick analysis. I prefer this unit over the 12C because it allows the use of either Reverse Polish Notation or algebraic data entry. As with all HP handhelds, this unit is well constructed and easy to use. The 28K memory is more than adequate.
[+]
10.0
Very smart calculator
This calculator is fast, very easy to use, and knows exactly what you want to do, and can do it faster than any other method.
[+]
2.0
Try to find the hp 17bII, this one is garbage.
BAD QUALITY, BAD FEELING, TRY TO BUY A USED 17Bii OLD VERSION.