Casio MS-80TV Scientific Calculator Review

It seems like only yesterday that I pulled out my Texas Instruments Calculator on a flight to god knows where.  I'm thinking it was around 1970 give or take a year or so.  Except that they were still very rare. it was hardly anything special by today's standard.

But with my yellow pad beside me and a sharpened pencil I was able to revise some budget figures with a minimum of effort.  All the while, the traveller sitting next to me had his eyes on this small (for its time) electronic calculator.  I think I paid about $179 for this model.

To put that in perspective, the behemouth electro-mechanical calculator back in the office that was shared by as many as four other analysts cost somewhere in the vicinity of $3500.  Requisitioning additional machines took time and groveling.  It also meant late nights in the office if you were to get your work done.  With my new purchase I could take the work home with me.

Today

Electronic calculators (both battery and solar powered) are little more than common office/home commodities.  And, as time has marched on they've become both less expensive and miniaturized.

I'd venture a guess that if I could round up all the calculators hiding in my house, lab and workshop they would number 12 or more.  It's not unusual today to find caculators in the dollar store!

In stores such as OfficeMax you are likely to see smaller calculators selling for as little as $3.99.

Hun, have you seen the calculator?

Honestly, I have no idea what happens to all the calculators in this house.  Maybe the same thing that happens to all my screwdrivers.  Or maybe its the same thing that happens to one of every two socks that get put into the wash.  They just seem to vanish.

So back to OfficeMax

Exactly why they refer to this as a scientific calculator escapes me.  It has all the standard functions of your typical calculator.  Constants, memory, but most importantly a large 8 decimel display.  At $7.99, it's a bargain.  It is both battery and solar powered.

My Viewpoint

Sure, I wish I could find all those calculators hiding around the house, but this Casio MS-80TV Scientific Calculator fills the bill nicely.  Small enough to stuff into your junk drawer, but large enough not to go missing again.  Yeah, right!

Rudi