Detron's Calculator Experience, or even more proof I am a nerd

[Yadda]

I am sure I will have more to come,  I seem to have a problem, that most MTO types would understand.   




 

 

not sure which is more embarrassing,  having 72 calculators, or the fact that I made a spreadsheet that auto-tally's my totals by brand and type, and sums in multiple directions.

Cross checking sums is the hallmark of good spreadsheet. I refuse to log my tools. I don't want that level of evidence to be found when I am eventually confronted.

[detron]

I am sure I will have more to come,  I seem to have a problem, that most MTO types would understand.   




 

 

not sure which is more embarrassing,  having 72 calculators, or the fact that I made a spreadsheet that auto-tally's my totals by brand and type, and sums in multiple directions.

Cross checking sums is the hallmark of good spreadsheet. I refuse to log my tools. I don't want that level of evidence to be found when I am eventually confronted.

solid logic there.     might have a point   

[Whoey]

those graphing calculators would have been great when I was at DeVry... but they only allowed us a TI-68 I still have it somewhere, and it still works fine.

edit: nope, it's a TI-34

[gerleatherberman]

Cross checking sums is the hallmark of good spreadsheet. I refuse to log my tools. I don't want that level of evidence to be found when I am eventually confronted.

Nice. 

Good thinking though.

[detron]

those graphing calculators would have been great when I was at DeVry... but they only allowed us a TI-68 I still have it somewhere, and it still works fine.

edit: nope, it's a TI-34

I have one that looks like that.  those are cool.   

PS
I have a TI-68 as well, that is a beast considering it is not a graphing type.  has a 2nd, 3rd, Alpha, AND Inverse.   a lot of shift keys!   

[detron]

Here is a 1993 TI-85 (Left) and a 1997 TI-85 (Right)

notice the location of the "85" and the ti logo.

also, notice the difference in size of the numbers on the number keys

[gerleatherberman]

Wrestled around with some boxes in my workshop. Found my favorite calculator! When I had my apartment, I used this to do all my checking balance, bills, and taxes.
The Texas Instruments Datamath 2500.

[detron]

Wrestled around with some boxes in my workshop. Found my favorite calculator! When I had my apartment, I used this to do all my checking balance, bills, and taxes.
The Texas Instruments Datamath 2500.

very nice!   that is a beauty!

I hope to run across one one day.  it is not my main area of focus, but the vintage ones really seem awesome in their own right

[gerleatherberman]

Thank you, detron!

The Scientific calculators are quite awesome. I am thinking about finding an older HP scientific at some point. I really like the style.

The 2500 is a pretty cool piece. It takes 4xAA batteries, which is great for modern use. Although, somewhere else, I have the power adapter for it. The original rechargeable batteries were too corroded to keep, but it can take modern rechargeables as well. I am always amazed at how well the early technology holds up. One day, I'll pull out my TI Portable PC (color version early 80s suitcase style) and take some photos. The MFM drive still works and boots Norton Commander. 

[gustophersmob]

Here is a 1993 TI-85 (Left) and a 1997 TI-85 (Right)

notice the location of the "85" and the ti logo.

also, notice the difference in size of the numbers on the number keys

That makes sense. I probably bought mine in 1997, that's the year of graduated high school and went to college. Thanks for the info

[detron]

Thank you, detron!

The Scientific calculators are quite awesome. I am thinking about finding an older HP scientific at some point. I really like the style.

The 2500 is a pretty cool piece. It takes 4xAA batteries, which is great for modern use. Although, somewhere else, I have the power adapter for it. The original rechargeable batteries were too corroded to keep, but it can take modern rechargeables as well. I am always amazed at how well the early technology holds up. One day, I'll pull out my TI Portable PC (color version early 80s suitcase style) and take some photos. The MFM drive still works and boots Norton Commander. 

that TI portable PC sounds amazing! 

and yes, the older style HP scientific calculators are amazing,  just be mindful, RPN is different, but once learned, it is great.

[detron]

Here is a 1993 TI-85 (Left) and a 1997 TI-85 (Right)

notice the location of the "85" and the ti logo.

also, notice the difference in size of the numbers on the number keys

That makes sense. I probably bought mine in 1997, that's the year of graduated high school and went to college. Thanks for the info

no problem.

[gerleatherberman]

Thank you, detron!

The Scientific calculators are quite awesome. I am thinking about finding an older HP scientific at some point. I really like the style.

The 2500 is a pretty cool piece. It takes 4xAA batteries, which is great for modern use. Although, somewhere else, I have the power adapter for it. The original rechargeable batteries were too corroded to keep, but it can take modern rechargeables as well. I am always amazed at how well the early technology holds up. One day, I'll pull out my TI Portable PC (color version early 80s suitcase style) and take some photos. The MFM drive still works and boots Norton Commander. 

that TI portable PC sounds amazing! 

and yes, the older style HP scientific calculators are amazing,  just be mindful, RPN is different, but once learned, it is great.

Thanks for the heads-up, detron! Fortunately, I won't be using the HP (even though I will want it to work properly), at least not for anything more than basic stuff.
I'll drag the TIPPC out at some point and post about it. Then my nerd level will be close to yours.
Thanks again for posting your calculators, detron! I forgot how much I enjoyed vintage technology until I looked at your complex-function calculator collection. 

[detron]

Thank you, detron!

The Scientific calculators are quite awesome. I am thinking about finding an older HP scientific at some point. I really like the style.

The 2500 is a pretty cool piece. It takes 4xAA batteries, which is great for modern use. Although, somewhere else, I have the power adapter for it. The original rechargeable batteries were too corroded to keep, but it can take modern rechargeables as well. I am always amazed at how well the early technology holds up. One day, I'll pull out my TI Portable PC (color version early 80s suitcase style) and take some photos. The MFM drive still works and boots Norton Commander. 

that TI portable PC sounds amazing! 

and yes, the older style HP scientific calculators are amazing,  just be mindful, RPN is different, but once learned, it is great.

Thanks for the heads-up, detron! Fortunately, I won't be using the HP (even though I will want it to work properly), at least not for anything more than basic stuff.
I'll drag the TIPPC out at some point and post about it. Then my nerd level will be close to yours.
Thanks again for posting your calculators, detron! I forgot how much I enjoyed vintage technology until I looked at your complex-function calculator collection. 

I was posting this stuff to Facebook,  no replies      it is nice to have people share interest and add to the conversation.

I do happen to have two 1993 "TigerSoftware" (Later became TigerDirect) catalogs.  they are about 65 pages each, and full of listings like "MultiSpin CDR 74 CD-ROM Reader  ......$725.00"
or "$600 flatbed scanners"

it is a trip down  memory lane

[Whoey]

I do happen to have two 1993 "TigerSoftware" (Later became TigerDirect) catalogs.  they are about 65 pages each, and full of listings like "MultiSpin CDR 74 CD-ROM Reader  ......$725.00"
or "$600 flatbed scanners"

it is a trip down  memory lane

I have some old receipts from that era, when I got my 2x CD writer (not DVD!) and blanks were about $10+ tax

My TI-34 dates from mid 90s too, so it's now 25 years old. 

[Grant Lamontagne]

I do happen to have two 1993 "TigerSoftware" (Later became TigerDirect) catalogs.  they are about 65 pages each, and full of listings like "MultiSpin CDR 74 CD-ROM Reader  ......$725.00"
or "$600 flatbed scanners"

it is a trip down  memory lane

I have some old receipts from that era, when I got my 2x CD writer (not DVD!) and blanks were about $10+ tax

My TI-34 dates from mid 90s too, so it's now 25 years old. 

If I recall your failure rate for those CD blanks was what, one in three?

I can't even recall the last time I saw a CD, let alone used one for anything.   

Def

[Whoey]

I do happen to have two 1993 "TigerSoftware" (Later became TigerDirect) catalogs.  they are about 65 pages each, and full of listings like "MultiSpin CDR 74 CD-ROM Reader  ......$725.00"
or "$600 flatbed scanners"

it is a trip down  memory lane

I have some old receipts from that era, when I got my 2x CD writer (not DVD!) and blanks were about $10+ tax

My TI-34 dates from mid 90s too, so it's now 25 years old. 

If I recall your failure rate for those CD blanks was what, one in three?

I can't even recall the last time I saw a CD, let alone used one for anything.   

Def

sometimes worse, sometimes better.

I have a spindle of 50 blank DVDs on my desk that I haven't touched in years, it's about half empty, but I haven't needed one for ages as I usually just dump to USB stick. Really should use a few to make some offline backups of photos etc.

[detron]

I do happen to have two 1993 "TigerSoftware" (Later became TigerDirect) catalogs.  they are about 65 pages each, and full of listings like "MultiSpin CDR 74 CD-ROM Reader  ......$725.00"
or "$600 flatbed scanners"

it is a trip down  memory lane

I have some old receipts from that era, when I got my 2x CD writer (not DVD!) and blanks were about $10+ tax

My TI-34 dates from mid 90s too, so it's now 25 years old. 

If I recall your failure rate for those CD blanks was what, one in three?

I can't even recall the last time I saw a CD, let alone used one for anything.   

Def

sometimes worse, sometimes better.

I have a spindle of 50 blank DVDs on my desk that I haven't touched in years, it's about half empty, but I haven't needed one for ages as I usually just dump to USB stick. Really should use a few to make some offline backups of photos etc.

I purchased a Network Attached storage (This one) with RAID5 and never looked back.

any hard drive that dies can be replaced and the data re-written based on the parity of the other drives.
this is a great peace of mind, and I can access it from anywhere in my house.  (I turned off the remote access features)

[gerleatherberman]

I still burn audio CDs for my car. 

[detron]

I still burn audio CDs for my car. 

I burn data CDs and DVDs all the time.  I like optical for my "off-site" backups.
I listen to audiobooks if I am in the car alone, but when others are in the car, I listen to CDs

[gerleatherberman]

Glad I'm not alone.
I used my first CD burner, bought in 1999 (4x2x40), until 6 years ago. And I only got a new one (dvd burner), because the new computer I built didn't have an IDE port built in into the motherboard.

[Grant Lamontagne]

I still burn audio CDs for my car. 

When I bought my Jeep in early 2013 I played a CD and a DVD in it just to see how it worked.  I haven't put a disc in it since, and I don't think I have any of either in this house- maybe in my garage in Halifax, but that's a thousand miles away. 

Def

[glenfiddich1983]

I still burn audio CDs for my car. 

Me2. My old 1998 Volvo doesn't have USB ports, iPod connectors or Spotify. I still use the 6CD-changer 

[detron]

not buying it,  but cool that it has my name on it   

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-DETRON-Electronic-Calculator-Digital-VFD-Display-WITH-BOX-New-old-stock-/173416718350?oid=183178629105

[Don Pablo]

I do happen to have two 1993 "TigerSoftware" (Later became TigerDirect) catalogs.  they are about 65 pages each, and full of listings like "MultiSpin CDR 74 CD-ROM Reader  ......$725.00"
or "$600 flatbed scanners"

it is a trip down  memory lane

I have some old receipts from that era, when I got my 2x CD writer (not DVD!) and blanks were about $10+ tax

My TI-34 dates from mid 90s too, so it's now 25 years old. 

If I recall your failure rate for those CD blanks was what, one in three?

I can't even recall the last time I saw a CD, let alone used one for anything.   

Def

sometimes worse, sometimes better.

I have a spindle of 50 blank DVDs on my desk that I haven't touched in years, it's about half empty, but I haven't needed one for ages as I usually just dump to USB stick. Really should use a few to make some offline backups of photos etc.

I purchased a Network Attached storage (This one) with RAID5 and never looked back.

any hard drive that dies can be replaced and the data re-written based on the parity of the other drives.
this is a great peace of mind, and I can access it from anywhere in my house.  (I turned off the remote access features)

We’ve got one of those too.

But no off-site backups.....

[gerleatherberman]

not buying it,  but cool that it has my name on it   

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-DETRON-Electronic-Calculator-Digital-VFD-Display-WITH-BOX-New-old-stock-/173416718350?oid=183178629105

You need that.
Would make an epic avatar.

[detron]

not buying it,  but cool that it has my name on it   

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-DETRON-Electronic-Calculator-Digital-VFD-Display-WITH-BOX-New-old-stock-/173416718350?oid=183178629105

You need that.
Would make an epic avatar.

I may NEED it, but I am not willing to spend that much on it.  I downloaded the picture from the listing   

[Chako]

Wow. Sort of makes me sorry that I gave away my old 90's Radio Shack graphing calculator and a Casio colour graphing calculator. I did buy a Ti 84 + CE just recently. I still have some old calculators hanging around in storage somewhere. 

I remember walking into a new computer shop back in the early 80s and drooling over the simple LED calculators on display...but not the prices. I remember they were quite high at the time.

[detron]

Wow. Sort of makes me sorry that I gave away my old 90's Radio Shack graphing calculator and a Casio colour graphing calculator. I did buy a Ti 84 + CE just recently. I still have some old calculators hanging around in storage somewhere. 

I remember walking into a new computer shop back in the early 80s and drooling over the simple LED calculators on display...but not the prices. I remember they were quite high at the time.

getting a praise gif from Chako is like having Bobby Fischer tell you you are good at chess. 

I keep telling Texas Instruments that when they give the TI-89 the same treatment as the 84 + CE, then I am going to buy one right away.

[detron]

for a standard algebraic, non-graphing, non-programmable calculator, this is pretty sweet.  (and around $20)

the Casio fx-991EX Classwiz



the screen is fairly high res.



once you do some work, you can generate a QR code, scan it with your phone, and get the problem, and equation on your phone, and a graph if one is suitable.



here is the result on my phone




the site has a nice little preview of the features
Click here

and here is a writeup by someone else
http://edspi31415.blogspot.com/2015/11/casio-fx-991ex-classwiz-review.html


I attached the manual, if you are curious