HP SmartCalc 300s Scientific Calculator (F2240AA) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Second Caution and Possible Cause?- July 9, 2009:

From the ways the missing keystrokes that I described below behave, it is probably not a direct keying problem, but rather a CPU "thinking-timing" issue. It is still a real and troublesome issue, but I am finding it harder to believe that it is a simple mechanical failure such that any key will not properly register more than ~90% of the time. In any event, please check with an HP technician is my advice before purchasing this otherwise quite nice, but also quite simplistic machine.

CAUTION ADVISED: June 3, 2009 (New rating-1.5 stars)

After further detailed testing of the most basic function of this machine, namely adding a series of numbers in sequence in COMP mode, I have found that ~10-15 % of the time that this machine had missed keystrokes (regardless of how fast the keys are typed in unfortunately and this can also happen for any key on the keyboard- it is not key specific at all!). I have also tried 2 separate HP 300s units in my testing as well so it is not a single machine problem either. I also tried removing the battery for 24 hrs to let the units capacitor fully discharge and then I completely reset the machine, but with no improvement in this COMP mode problem at all.

I also found this problem (but not as severe) when entering a series of data points in STAT mode. I have now contacted HP directly and told them about the problem and they are looking into what may be wrong with the early productions of this unit.

The serial numbers of my HP 300s calculators are:
4CR 91602514 and 4CR 91602534

May 29, 2009 Comments (Rating- 4 stars):

It is very ironic that for many years people have complained that HP calculators have been way too complicated. In this case, in comparison to the two main competitors to this model by Sharp (EL-W516B) and Casio (FX-115ES) the reverse is actually the case. On the HP Smartcalc 300s, you will NOT find:

1) Numerical evaluation of integrals or derivatives
2) Imaginary (complex) number mathematics
3) Vectors, lists or matrices
4) No single variable solver (ironically this has been HP's standout trademark of success for many years)
5) Scientific unit conversions
6) Lists of scientific constants
7) Linear equation system solver, etc.

On the other hand the new bright blue and quite sleek HP 300s model (which was designed as a high school level machine and which strongly resembles the HP 10s machine previously introduced for middle school students) does evaluate the logarithm to any base and allows a recalculation of 8 types of curve fits of statistical datawhich can also include the frequency of occurrence of any of the 1 or 2 variable entry types (in STAT mode) without reentering the data completely over again (as must be done on the Sharp and Casio models, presumably due to memory limitations). For paired statistics you are limited on the HP 300s to only 40 (x,y) data points however, compared to 100 points for the Sharp for example. It also has a very fine and fully editable, multi-line screen (with a maximum of 3 lines) that is effectively managed using a separate, 4 key navigation pad. With this added tool, a very useful fully scrollable display of equations is available as they would be written on paper algebraically as well as a history of operations (it is a limited buffer however and when it becomes full it simply throws away the oldest entry with no warning to the user) that can be recalled for backtracking numerous past operations. As with the other two competitive calculator products mentioned above, results can be displayed in either algebraic or in decimal format with a single key press and can also be readily converted to hours, minutes and seconds format with a separate single key press as well.

The new HP is a solar powered calculator with a very nice and completely adjustable contrast control available in the set-up (as on the competitor's models) with an AOS (algebraic operating system with up to 24 levels of pending parentheses, but with no Reverse Polish Notation operations- RPN or even any RPL- Reverse Polish Logic) and with a long lasting internal back-up battery (and which is very easy to change when needed after 1-2 years of heavy use). It is also a very clean, light and small pocket sized unit (with a very nicely fitting slip-on plastic, protective cover) with a very uncluttered keyboard that also does polar and rectangular conversions and that can also generate random numbers and also (in TABLE mode) can produce a table of up to 30 values (in STAT format) of functional values, etc. It also has a claimed total of 249 available functions (compared to ~400-460 on the Casio and Sharp models) with 8 separate memories (the M memory is also retained when the machine is turned off, just like on the Sharp). I personally prefer the "feel" of the keys much better on the HP compared to those on the Sharp and Casio models as well with the latter keys being too easy to push (soft) in my opinion.

In summary this is a good machine that has a lot to like, but it is surprising that HP, who has provided a powerhouse of mathematics innovation over the years, both to NASA as well as to the public, has not made a more complex and more scientifically useful model overall. It has all of the fundamental and traditional scientific functions available (trigonometric, hyperbolic, factorial, powers, roots, etc.) on most scientific calculators, but lacks many useful more complex functions now available on the competitive models from other companies. What it does however it does well and for beginning students this machine may even be less of a struggle for learning mathematics (due to fewer bells and whistles and an uncluttered keyboard as stated earlier!). Sharp has covered the scientific calculator market by producing several machines each with a different level of scientific difficulty. Maybe this is the approach HP will now try too if this machine becomes as popular as its Sharp and Casio competitors?

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Product Description:
Model# 2383126 (F2240AA#ABA) HP SmartCalc 300s Scientific Calculator. Besides showing the result, the impressive Textbook Format Display (TFD) shows the math expression onscreen, just like it would appear on paper. Use the intuitive navigation pad to mov

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