HP 12C Platinum Financial Calculator
by Hewlett Packard
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Category: CE
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Digital Photo Product Details
Manufacturer: Hewlett PackardModel: F2231AA#ABA
Color: Black Face
Product features:
- Robust and versatile financial calculator
- Over 120 built-in functions for business, finance, mathematics, and statistics, including date calculations
- Efficient data entry using RPN
- Small size; easy to take anywhere
- Long battery life
Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of HP 12C Platinum Financial Calculator
Customer Review: Nice, overall, but PLEASE HP bring back the quality!
Summary: 4 Stars
There's been many a good review on this calculator previously on Amazon so I won't delve too deeply into what has already been said. I will, however, off a few opinions that are gleaned fromm over two decades worth of using financial calculators, so I hope someone finds this interesting.
First, there are only three 'true' manufacturers of financial calculators: HP, Texas Instruments and Calculated Industries. Well, four if you count everyone else. But, HP & TI own the student and financial market. TI's calculators use the Algebraic Operating System (AOS) and HP uses RPN (Reverse Polish Notation) and some (the HP-12c platinum reviewed here) offer both. It's a matter of personal choice; RPN is more fluid once you learn it, but AOS is easier and flows math as you were taught in school. That said, once you master RPN, you won't go back to AOS.
Secondly, and this is my big beef with ALL calculator manufacturers. Handheld calculators need TACTILE feedback; meaning, notably, that you have to both KNOW when you press a button and, also, KNOW that when you do, it registers and doesn't do something funky (i.e. NOT register or DOUBLE register). This is beyond important and frequently overlooked by engineering types designing these calculators. Face it, a financial calculator isn't mainstream and it isn't used for insignificant calculations; they're used by investment bankers, accountants, analysts, etc. and these people have to be comfortable in the fact that the buttons 'work' and work everytime.
No one, not a single manufacturer, understood this except HP. And HP understood it to the point that their products were in a class by themselves. That was until about five years ago. Then, HP moved calculator production to China and the first products, notably the HP-12C Platinum and the HP 17BII+ suffered horribly in the hands of users because the tactile response simply was awful. Read the Amazon reviews on these products to get a feel for what I'm talking about here. I have a 17BII+ (2006 production) and call attest that if you don't watch it, it will frequently not register a number. That's useless in a financial calculator.
Fortunately, HP in this latest 25th Anniversary Edition apparently listed to consumers and got 'most-of-it' right on this model. Certainly better than the HP-12C Platinum and arguably better than it's more expensive sibling, the 17BII+.
Here, in no particular order is my Good/Bad list of features:
Good
Follows typical 12C keyboard layout and convention. The 12C is THE standard in financial calculators and HP wisely left the form factor alone.
Faster than the original 12 and Platinum editions that followed. By HP's literature, almost 6x faster, but the big deal here is that it is faster than the horrible Platinum 1.0 version which suffered in TVM calculations.
Re-designed battery door. If you used an original 12C, you'll like the honking big door on this version.
VERY sweet rear labeling of functions; the metal decal attached on the back really goes a long way towards helping one with the keystroke/feature set of this calculator.
Runtime is just insanely long, which is useful since it uses non-standard batteries (CR2032's--better buy 'em now; you WON'T find them when you need them!)
Bad
Tactile response. Yes, it's better than the 17BII+ (much!) but it still isn't in the same league as the older US or Singapore produced calculators of the 1980's and 1990's. Arguably better than a 'cheapie' calculator but not what I would call 'good' by $50+ product standards. Honestly, I cannot fathom why HP won't belly to the bar on this and just spend $5.00 more and put a better keyboard on their high-end calculators. I will say this keyboard is the BEST keyboard HP has in their calculator product line, PERIOD. But that's not as big a compliment as it sounds.
Build-quality. Good. Not great, good. The thing still feels flimsy compared to the older products, plain and simple.
Case. Know what? On the web, that leather case looks very cool. In real life, it's three times bigger than the calculator and twice as hard to carry. A simple leather slip case would be nice.
Other odds and ends.
HP's manual for this baby is honestly worth the price of the calculator; maybe more. One thing I'll have to give HP is at least in this day and age of PDFs and web searches, they still give you an honest-to-goodness manual and a good one to boot. Kudos to them for that one!
As it stands, this HP 12C 25th Anniversary Edition stands as my pick of the absolute best available financial calculator on the market today. I say that because it's better built than it's bigger brother (17BII+) and offers RPN and programming and a familiar keyboard and layout.
However, I wish HP senior staff would puruse these reviews and take heart to producing a calculator with 1980's build quality and 2007 microprocessor guts. I mean honestly, I have a Blackberry with a 2GB memory card; and this thing has 28K? It runs on the 6502 processor; does that ring a bell with anyone over 40? It was the processor in the original Apple II!!!! Why not:
>Build the case out of higher quality plastic? Maybe ABS.
>Use a modern processor.
>Give us a removeable memory stick.
>Give it a USB port for programming.
That CANNOT be that big of a deal to incorporate and HP would OWN the calculator market again.
That's my .02 cents worth on the HP-12C, 25th Anniversary Edition.
Description of HP 12C Platinum Financial Calculator
HP 12c Platinum is a faster, enhanced version of the industry-leading 12c calculator designed for the financial professional who demands more. Enjoy both RPN and Algebraic modes of entry, keystroke programming with four times more memory for up to 400 steps and more-than 130 built-in functions. There are now advanced editing features like the new "Undo" and "Backspace" buttons. Plus six times faster speeds for calculating TVM, loan payments, interest rates, standard deviation and more. Work more efficiently with memory for up to 80 cash flows. Ideal for real estate, finance, accounting, economics and business work. The easy-to-use layout and stylish look with metal back plate suitable for engraving make it a welcome addition to any desktop or a great gift idea. Permitted for use on the CFP and CFA Certification Exams, and GARP FRM Exam. You also get the reassurance of award-winning HP support available to you 24-hours a day, as well as an enhanced website with tutorials, educational resources and downloads.The HP 12C Platinum Edition is a fast and powerful calculator designed for educators, businessmen, or anyone who needs a reliable tool to handle mathematical and/or financial calculations. With a 400 step memory capacity, the 12C can handle even the most complex computations. For 25 years, the 12C has proven its reputation as the ultimate pocket-size calculator for financial use. The HP 12C Platinum is a faster, enhanced version of the industry-leading 12C, and is designed for the financial professional who demands more options. Its long battery life and small size make it easy to take with you anywhere, and its elegant black and silver design, and engravable metal plate on the back give it a modern, stylish appearance. The 12C Platinum is a powerful tool capable of handling the most complex and detailed analysis and problem solving. With over 130 built-in functions for business, finance, mathematics and statistics including date calculations, this calculator offers fast and reliable programming, finance, and statistical analysis options. With the 12C, you'll enjoy the flexibility of both RPN (Reverse Polish Notation) and algebraic modes of entry, the speed of its processor, and the increased memory capacity.
Precision Business and Finance Features
Ideal for real estate, finance, accounting, economics and business work, this calculator also helps you perform several key functions that allow you to make financial predictions, balance your budget, or calculate percentages of appreciation or depreciation for mortgages, loans, and savings accounts. Advanced editing features like the new "Undo" and "Backspace" buttons ensure precise calculations, while six times faster speeds for calculating TVM, loan payments, and interest rates help you gather and analyze important data in minutes. You can also pinpoint trends by performing cumulative statistical analysis, standard deviation, mean, weighted mean, and linear regression.
Memory For Up to 30 Cash Flows
The 12C offers several modes and an easy-to-use layout for a wide range of practical applications. For example, perform TVM (Time Value of Money) functions like calculating mortgage/loan payments. Or perform NPV (Net Present Value) and IRR (Internal Rate of Return) computations to help determine whether or not to undertake a particular investment project. With memory for up to 30 cash flows, it's a snap to manage a series of complex projects. For additional convenience, the 12C is also permitted for use on the CFP and CFA Certification Exams, and the GARP FRM Exam.
What's in the Box
12C financial calculator, battery, and user's manual.
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