HP HP30S Scientific Calculator with Multi-Colored Faceplates

• Soft-edge keys and generous key spacing for easy operation
• Includes extra colored faceplates
• 2-line display
• Constant mode allows appending of equations
• Equation solver for simultaneous quadratic and linear equations

Amazon.com Product Description:
Who says cell phones get to have all the fun? This scientific calculator, with its extensive functions and robust programmability, boasts two colored faceplates, letting your inner colors fly. With a two-line, 7 x 5 dot-matrix display, you can see more, and with over 65 math and statistical features, you can do more. The HP30S's built-in arithmetic functions include +, -, *, /, %, 1/x, +/-, plus ln, X, ex, n!, yx, log x, 10x, x², and pi. Additional functions include fractions, trigonometry, hyperbolic, root finder, and statistical analysis. The algebraic entry is intuitive, and no worries if you make a mistake--simply edit the command-line history. Scientific features are broad as well, ranging from polar/rectangular and angle conversions to decimal hours, minutes, seconds conversions and arithmetic unit conversions. The calculator can convert fractions to decimals as well as decimals to fractions. Combining compact size, contemporary styling, and exceptional features, the calculator is ideal for students ranging from middle school algebra all the way up to high school and college-level trigonometry. Two faceplates are included, one in deep purple and one in translucent turquoise. The HP30S uses two LR44 batteries and includes a one-year warranty.

Complete Crap-Ola!:
Maybe this works great for other disciplines, but for engineering/surveying it is darn near worthless. Unfortunately, this is one of only 6 or 7 cheapo calculators (including the HP 33s--another piece of garbage) allowed for use on the liscensing exams. HP, please, please, please bring back one of the following: 11C, 15C or 32SII. That way, I could use a calculator for the exam that won't let me down. Unless you have to use one of these, pony up the bucks for a used HP (one of the models listed) if you need a good basic scientific calculator.

H.P. What's Happening?:
I am an engineer and a long-time fan of H.P. products. The HP-30S, however, is a disaster. It started acting dodgy immediately after I purchased it, and it ultimately became so unreliable that I had to find a replacement. Maybe I'm being overly harsh because of my disappointment with both the product and the brand, but I really hope this is an anomaly and not an indication of the direction H.P is heading. p.s. I purchased a Casio 115MS as a replacement, and I am very happy with it.

Easy:
I love this calculator. It is extremely easy to use and the value for the price is crazy good! A lot of people in my stats class paid triple for their calculators compared to what I paid for this calculator and mine is way easier to use.

Superb Basic College Calculator:
For the price ($17 in our university bookstore), this is a superb calculator that offers both a quadratic and a simultaneous equation solver. Since it is not RPN, the HP fanboys will hate it, but it does offer a lot of features in a small package and is a great competitor to the TI 30X series. The only one I might suggest over this is the Sharp EL-506W, which offers solvers and integrals for about the same price.

Not the HP quality that I am used to:
This product looks good, but you should always be suspicious when one of a technical item's selling points is a fashion statement like a multi-colored faceplate. Dell tried this and dropped it -- too bad HP didn't catch on. In summary, the HP30s is a piece of junk. The display started to have pixel failures after only a few hours of use. It is not anywhere near the quality of the old HP business and scientific calculators. I have a HP12c that is twenty years old and going strong. I didn't get 20 days out of the HP30s.