the HP12c is for Hipster Geeks

CFA General
#1

i can use both and i will tell you that the HP 12C is crap… the reverse polish method is a gimmick, the only people that recommend it think they are cool because it is “underground” in the united states… in third world countries it is standard because it is cheaper and thats all they know being mass produced since the 1981. fortunately calculator technology has improved and the TI BA II Plus is fine… even HP has better calculators including the hp17b+

the TI BA II Plus is a far superior machine and takes LESS keystrokes for most functions/calculations

  • amoritzation schedules - i dont know who actually uses a financial calculator to this extent if a spreadsheet program is available but the TI BAII will tell you accumulated interest and principle between any number of periods. try doing this on a HP12c… its a joke, the amount of keystrokes is mind boggling and if you make a mistake you cant go back.
  • [N] - solve for the number of periods, pretty basic right?? well, the 12C only rounds to the nearest whole number LOL

honestly ill admit that it LOOKS cool with the horizontal layout and is fine for basic problems… but the people taking CFA exams have a HUGE advantage with the TI BA II Plus Pro

#2

The math functions you need to use for the exams are basic. There’s no “huge advantage” to either calculator

#3

For what it’s worth, I agree that the HP 12C is a terrible calculator. HP is relying on a sense of tradition and continuity among finance people to sell 1980s technology for a high price. I mean, look at this - almost $90! This thing probably costs $15 to manufacture.

http://www.officemax.com/technology/calculators-accessories/financial-calculators/product-ARS25897?cm_mmc=Google-_-2012±+Tech±+Calculators±+Brand-_-HP±+12c-_-hp+12c_Exact&002=2109531&004=3957399424&005=11439210&006=15035824504&007=Search&008=&gclid=CL28kcCI-7ACFWkCQAod1SvMEw

#4

I’m a geek, but certainly not a hipster. I use a 12c because I’ve used one since 1993 and it works perfectly well for my needs. It’s also hard to “unlearn” RPN after so many years.

#5

Can you bring both calculators to an exam? I hear you can bring 2 calculators… but one of each kind?

#6

^ I don’t see why not.

#7

I hear girls really like that.

#8

Yes you can bring as many of the approved calculators as you like.

#9

Platinum version has an ALG mode.

#10

There is no point in using the 12C if you are going to use the ALG mode. The only think that makes the 12C superior to the TI is the RPN mode. Otherwise I would definitly use the TI.

#11

that would be really funnny if someone brought “hundreds” of (approved calculators)

#12

Isn’t the HP12c like $100 versus about $60 for the BAII+Pro? Never really understood why there’s such a big markup for what appears to be a lesser machine.

#13

its a “vintage” premium, hipsters love that

#14

What can the TI do that the HP can’t other than uneven CF’s in a NPV calc? I like the smaller size of the HP, the TI looks like a big banana with buttons on it.

#15

if you ask me, uneven cash flows IS the make or break factor. NPV is probably my most commonly used function, and how often are cash flows even?

#16

Of course you can do uneven cash flows on the 12c. This is a key function of any financial calculator. Hit [g] CFo & [g] CFj and [f] NPV or [f] IRR to get NPV or IRR.

#17

yeah but its a nightmare with any long string and if you want to change one CF you have to start all over…

the real mystery is why the HP rounds [N] to the nearest whole number.

#18

Beware of the HP-12C 30th Anniversary edition, it does not have all of the “blue” functions of the Platinum edition (such as x^2). I ordered it for the exam and returned it right after.

#19

That’s because it is based on the original “gold” 12c. The only thing it is missing is the X^2 button, backspace, redo and parenthesis becasue this is a completely RPN machine.