the casio fx-D400
<u><b>hmm?</b></u>
rings no bells, you claim? well ask around a little and you’ll see that many people do remember this legendary calculator.
<u><b>what?</b></u>
released sometime in 1994, this little gem has remained, to date, one of the friendliest and most efficient models around. though lacking in more advanced features common in modern machines (phasor calculations, anyone?), it sports a breathtaking <b><i>78-digit</i> dot matrix</b> display, and a cushy 7 memory locations, as well as your usual base set of scientific and statistical functions, guaranteed to satisfy the even most discerning user. (unless, of course, you want to do phasor calculations.)
<u><b>why?</b></u>
most people found it rather novel when it was first released, as it bore no on-off switch. the “off” operation was implemented as a function of the calculator, pretty much unheard of in those days. also, it bore no “=” key, which puzzled the hell out of those unfamiliar with it. (actually, it DID have an “=” key, but it was implemented as the alpha function of the ANS key, and didn’t do what one might think it would.) it had, instead, a bright blue key labelled EXE, short for “execute”. way cool. the exponantial function got a button of its own, labelled “EXP”, and shared button space on the main keypad, also something new in those times.
<u><b>who?</b></u>
i did a little nosing around on the net, and found that numerous people are still posting messages at auction sites and bulletin boards in serach of this elusive calculator. nine years on.
yes, it’s that good.
and yes, i still have one. will part with it for $150.
*nyak nyak nyak*
=P
Gary @ 28 Oct 2003 :: Old Deadjournal posts :: No Comments »