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HP 12c Financial Calculator (12C#ABA)

HP 12c Financial Calculator (12C#ABA)

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Brand: Hewlett-Packard
Category: CE

List Price: $95.19
Buy Used: $39.99
You Save: $55.20 (58%)

Qty 1 In Stock


New (33) Used (14) Refurbished (2) from $39.99

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars 147 reviews

Format: Cd
Platform: Windows
Color: Blk/Gold
Media: Electronics
Autographed: No
Memorabilia: No
Number Of Items: 1
Batteries Included: No
Operating System: Windows
Shipping Weight (lbs): 2
Dimensions (in): 5 x 3.1 x 0.6
Warranty: 1

MPN: HP12C
Model: HP12C
UPC: 882780792104
EAN: 0088698000120
ASIN: B00000JBLH

Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days

Features:
  • Calculator with built-in financial functions and statistics
  • Uses Reverse Polish Notation (RPN)
  • More than 120 built-in functions, including register-based cash-flow analysis
  • 10-character, 1-line LCD display
  • Device measures 5.0 x 0.6 x 3.1 inches (WxHxD)

Accessories:

  • Chain-Riter™ Counter Pen, Medium Point, 1.0 mm, Black Ink
  • MMF Industries Chain-Riter Counter Pen And Base, Black Ink
  • Rogers(R) Desk Director™, Black
  • How to Use the Hp12C

Similar Items:

  • Tools & Techniques of Financial Planning 7th edition (Tools and Techniques of Financial Planning)
  • HP 12C Platinum Financial Calculator
  • Personal Financial Planning
  • Investments: An Introduction (with Thomson ONE - Business School Edition and Stock-Trak Coupon)
  • Fundamentals of Risk and Insurance

Editorial Reviews:

Product Description
Programmable financial calculator Comprehensive instruction manual Uses reverse polish notation (RPN)

Amazon.com Review
If you bought yourself a financial calculator during the 1980s, chances are it was this bad boy. Nothing has changed since its introduction--it still uses Reverse Polish Notation (RPN), is easy and versatile in programming, and has a thin, sturdy casing. Certainly, there's been newer, fancier calculators introduced since, but there's something to be said for the quality of classics.

The HP 12C's functions include all the basics--such as calculating APR, NPV, and IRR--and statistics are a snap. For students new to financial calculators, this is an excellent place to start. For the most part, the manual reads like a minitextbook, walking you through sample problems and situations followed by graphs and tables demonstrating the technique--and you can even check your results. The section on creating programs does seem to be written for the technically ignorant, addressing in detail how you could possibly benefit from using programs, but it'll still help you get the job done.

In general, it's a bit slower than newer models, just like last year's computer isn't as speedy as today's new release. On the plus side, it's just 3 by 5 inches and slips easily into a pocket. The bottom is printed with a few little cheat notes for common functions, which is nice for quick reference. The HP 12C's one-year warranty and available tech-support line offer reassurance this little workhorse will continue to be an industry standard for years to come. --Jill Lightner

Pros:

  • Pocket size
  • Thorough and simple instruction manual
  • Competitive price

Cons:

  • Calculates more slowly than modern machines
What's in the Box
Calculator, user's manual, installed batteries and carrying case



Customer Reviews:   Read 142 more reviews...

5 out of 5 stars HP 12 C - Power Computer & Calculator   December 24, 2008
Paul G. Fetscher (Long Beach, NY United States)
This is as good as it gets. If you have any financial needs, this is the oNLY calculator to consider. It has the brain suitable for any and all financial calculations.
this was the Gold Standard set by the Certified Commercial Investment Managers of the National Association of Realtors.

In addition this has long battery life - like a couple of years with daily use.



5 out of 5 stars Powerful, But Not Easy to Use   December 5, 2008
jerry i h (Berkeley, CA USA)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful

I have had this for almost 3 decades (there is a more recent version of it, but I have not seen it yet). Recently, I determined to learn every capability of this calculator (I only use the more obvious functions). There is an awful lot of subtlety, and it is impossible to use the advanced functions without the Owner's Manual & Problem-Solving Guide. I was about to take it down a star or two for its complexity, but this was really not any worse than the other financial calculators I have used, so par for this. Just make sure that you keep the manual stored with the calculator: you're gonna need it. However, I decided to give it top rank; at least it possesses all those capabilities (not that you will ever figure out to make it work). Despite its age, I still like and use it.
A small sampling of obscure things:
* "12x" key not only times by 12, but also puts the result into "n"
* "12 " key not only divides by 12, but also puts the result into "i"
* "f" and "." puts display into scientific notation
* does not have a "log" key, but it does do common logs (you just have to know the magic word)
* does not have a 10^x key, but has a "Y^X" key
* holding down "-" and pressing "on" clears all registers (including the programming ones) at the same time
* the date input format and payment convention (beginning or end of a period) are not reset when you turn it off
* "prefix" has 2 different functions
* sometimes you have to press the financial keys twice
* difference between "i" and "INT" keys
Heaven knows what all else.

FINANCIAL FUNCTIONS
Some of these are obvious: statistics (sigma+, std dev, and mean), or financial (n, i, PV, PMT, FV; just remember the cash flow convention); these you can pretty much figure out just by looking at the keys. Others, however, you will stare at thinking "duh?": 2-coordinate linear estimation, bond, depreciation, discounted cash flow, weighted mean, sample vs. actual mean for the statistics function, amortization. For these, you will have to study the examples in the manual. There is a cheat sheet on the label on the back, but these are rather cryptic and not always helpful.

PROGRAMMING
I skipped this section. Yes, you can write your own mathematical program at the register level. But a spreadsheet is much easier and faster (remember: this thing was made before there was a such thing as a "personal" computer).

SOLUTIONS
Because of its programming capability, this calculator has many more capabilities than just the hard-wired ones. The manual and the optional solutions manual have literally dozens of different financial calculations that the 12C can do. Problem: you have to manually key them in, and some of the programs are quite long. Also, it can only hold one program at a time (course, since the memory is continuous, the last program you keyed in will stay in memory even when you turn it off). If you want to do a different program, you will have to wipe out the old one and key in the new one.




3 out of 5 stars "Nothing has changed since then" -- Not quite   November 26, 2008
Mika Nystroem (Pasadena, CA USA)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful

I have one of these. But I'm not really a finance person---I'm a scientist/programmer/engineer. So I also have an HP-15C, the legendary scientific calculator in this same series. I have also owned HP-35, HP-28C, and HP-28S calculators. HP always made wonderful calculators, and the 12C is no exception. RPN is really the way to go for a pocket calculator, and the form factor is great too.

So why only three stars? Just because of the "nothing has changed since then" nonsense. My old HP-15C is stamped "USA"; I have a newer HP somewhere stamped "Mexico". And now "Made in China". Not surprising and nothing to get upset about, if it were in fact the same product.

But it's not. Holding my HP-15 in one hand... I bought it new in 1986... shake it... it's like holding a small, thin brick. My 12C, which is new.. do the same... Rattle, rattle, rattle. That's right, the keys are loose! On a brand new calculator. Overall it's not even close to in the same league as its old cousin. I don't think it's the Chinese people's fault but some cost-cutting mandated by HP headquarters, but the end result is the same. Crap.

If you need a financial calculator, go search eBay first. Find yourself a used HP-12C, made in "USA" or "Mexico". Only if that fails, get one of these. The functionality is the same, but do you really want something that screams "plastic"?



5 out of 5 stars WORKHORSE of finance calculators!!!!!   November 12, 2008
M. G. Elder (Orlando, FL United States)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful

I bought my HP-12C way back in december 1987, and except for replacing the batteries, it just keeps crunching out the numbers. I've had many, many calculators since late 70's and the HP-12C has been my favorite and I consider it to be the best calculator that will ever be engineered. Just my opinon..........



5 out of 5 stars The Flash   November 10, 2008
F. J. Gordon (Olalla, WA)
This was purchased as a replacement for a worn out HP calculator. The service was quick and the calculator was just as anticipated.

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