HP 33S Scientific Calculator (F2216A)

• RPN and algebraic key-in logic
• Easy-to-read 2-line LCD
• Sturdy rubber/plastic construction
• 32 KB memory, 27 memory storage and recall functions
• Automatic power off

Amazon.com Product Description:
Pocket-sized and full-featured, the HP 33s Scientific Calculator is designed for engineers, surveyors, college students, scientists, and medical professionals. Its two-line display is easy to read, and at only 4.2 ounces, the unit slips easily into your pocket for travel. Boasting both Reverse Polish Notation (RPN) and intuitive algebraic data entry modes, as well as 32 KB memory with 27 memory storage and recall functions, the 33s is ideal for solving a variety of science and engineering problems. Functions include trigonometric, percentage, conversion, coordinate, time, angle, probability, factorial, gamma, fractions, and a variety of statistical operations. The calculator can solve equations, integrate, work with complex numbers, and is programmable. The 386-page manual thoroughly reviews the calculator's many features. When purchased new, the unit is backed by HP's one-year limited warranty. What's in the Box Calculator, two 3-volt lithium coin batteries (CR2032), instruction manual

Perfect Intersection of Power, Ease, Price:
I've used my hp 33s relentlessly in school for over 3 years for surveying comps, physics, and geodesy. It's now on its third set of batteries. I have several other calculators: hp and ti, graphers, and scientifics, but this is the one I always have with me. The STO(re) button, the x^2, square root, power, x root, e^x, and LN functions are all located together and are available without having to press a shift button. That alone makes this calculator much faster to use. The built-in R>P and P>R functions and the two-line display allow you to work with both the x and y components of vectors simultaneously-another time saver. Yes, you enter an angle and then a distance, hit the >y,x button and you get y and x at the same time. You can sum components in the stat registers or on the stack with the CMPLX function. You can use the equation list with the SOLVE button to solve for any variable in an equation without having to isolate it beforehand. Store your own constants in the equation list explicitly or by having an expression to evaluate it automatically. For example, A constant like this can be stored: 1÷298.257222101. You can find an equation of a line between two points with the linear regression function, get the correlation coefficient between two sets of values. Permutations, combinations, integer math, unit conversions are all available directly on the keyboard. Enter fractions by simply double-tapping the decimal point after entering the numerator, and, you can control the maximum value of the denominator with the /c button. A simple program clears all the memory I need cleared between problems without having to do it manually. The same routine loads whatever physical constants I'm using then (physics). The topmost program on the program list will execute with only a press of the R/S button and this can be exploited to quickly and repeatedly execute a program or repeat an action, such as entering a long column of values needing a conversion before loading into the stat registers or easily computing x(t) and y(t) to get a sequence of the coordinates of a parametric function (particle or projectile motion). The calculator comes with a real user manual containing several example programs that include coordinate transformations, curve fitting, solution of a system of 3 equations. Online, HP also has a library of short instructional aids (each a few pages long) that concentrate on individual problems and applications. There are also many third-party programs available. Get one long before you need it for a test. It's much lighter than a grapher and can be used for a majority of calculating needs. Don't be swayed by those comparing the 33s to older HP scientifics. You can't buy them off the shelf now, so it's an illogical comparison. Its only comparison is the hp 35s, which is more powerful and favored by long-time HP users, but the 33s is definitely more accessible and usable out of the box. When you use it in RPN mode, this calculator eliminates a lot of computational drudgery.

Electrical PE's Beware...:
If you are planning to take the electrical PE exam, be careful in using the HP33S for AC calculations. IT DOES NOT HAVE A MEANS TO EASILY DO PHASOR ARITHMETIC FOR AC CALCULATIONS. With the older 48G and 48GX models you could easily do vector arithmetic by directly putting in phasor quantities in terms of Magnitude and Angle. You could load as many of these onto the stack as typcially needed. With the HP33S, you have to do confusing dot product and cross product manipulations using a program. This is too time consuming and mistake prone for the PE Exam. This is expecially true if you are taking the POWER systems afternoon portion of the exam...

worked for me:
this calc is alright once i got used to the keyboard layout. programmed, it helped me pass the LSIT test. it even converts #'s to a binary.

thank you:
It is complicated, so if you plan to use it for FE, buy it early in order to be familier with with it

Get the HP 35s:
I was dissapointed with three flaws in this calculator. 1. In the equation mode, equations can only be edited by back-spacing over the equation and retyping the equation. Not so with the hp 35s, which is what you would expect. 2. When reading the display, a comma can easily be mistaken for a period. The display in the 35s is much better. 3. The key-board is a departure from the classic HP style and feel. The hp 35s is a classic design. Like the hp 33, the HP 35 is also allowable for use in the PE exam. If it's a toss-up, get the hp 35.