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HP 12C Platinum Calculator | List Price: $104.99
Discount Price: $80.00
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Brand: Hewlett-Packard
Binding: Electronics
Release Date: 2003-06-02
Features: - RPN and algebraic data entry
- Simple, easy-to-read 1-line-by-10-character display
- Over 130 built-in business, financial, statistical, and math functions
- Keystroke programming, up to 400 steps
- Includes carrying case and long-life battery
HP 12C PLATINUM calculagator SIX TIMES FASTER than the Gold Standard [Posted on 2006-03-01]
guys - if you are still planning on taking the CFA (or even if you're not) using an HP 12C calculator, i emphatically recommend popping down to J&R (price match to wal-mart.com will save you $5) and buying the new HP 12C Platinum for $79.99. It is a zillion times faster (well, 6X) than the regular one but otherwise works almost exactly the samely. for example: i ran the following calculation simultaneously on the both and used identical button pushes to achieve them, but the platinum was incredibly faster:
time in seconds
enter cmd Gold Platinum
360 n instant instant
6.625 g i instant instant
740000 PV instant instant
0 FV instant instant
running PMT 1.8 0.5
0 i
running i 16.8 2.7
other differences:
pros:
faster (holy cow is it faster!!!!)
has backspace key (works okay, not super useful tho)
has undo command (this is real easy to use and comes in handy once in a while)
has algebraic entry mode (not just RPN) and parenthesis (both useless if you ask me)
has spot to scratch in your name on the back (cute)
comes with a nice hard leather protective holster (cheap quality though)
cons:
display doesn't blink with each key press to acknowledge entry - this stinks and is actually a very big deal!
screen doesn't look as nice (they used a standard calculator LCD instead of the awesome stylish one they used to use - actually the new one's screen looks terrible when you put it right next to the gold one - the gold had a GREAT screen and great font that was really easy to read and looked super classy. i will miss it very much.)
feels & looks a little more cheaply made
keys labels are painted on rather than moulded into the plastic - looks like they won't last through years of use
keys don't click as solidly. they're fine and you know when they've been pressed (which is tthe most important thing) but they don't feel as wonderful to push.
so, all in all, the new one is crappier quality but so so much faster it is unquestionably worth it to get it.
I only wish it came in green so i could call it a calculigator.
BE WARNED - THERE ARE TWO VERSIONS OF THIS CALCULATOR AVAILABLE! one stinks and one is awesome. make sure you don't get the stinky one - make sure it has the blue backspace key on the minus sign - and the blue undo key on the divide sign (it is a low swoopy n-shaped arrow pointing down-left) there is no different model number! mine has a sticker on the back that says CNA 51800093, but google tells me nothing about this code.
Advantages and disadvantages. [Posted on 2006-03-10]
Many people wonder: Should I get the HP 12c Platinum or the old standby, the HP 12c gold. Personally, I'd recommend getting both. Like most things, each model has advantages and disadvantages, but both are still among the finest feats in engineering in terms of a calculator. Keep in mind there are two versions of the Platinum -- the original and the 2.0 version. The 2.0 version is much better, and you'll know you have it if it has backspace and undo [g] functions. It's finally a respectible "upgrade" to one of the best calculators ever made.
What about the 12c Platinum?
Advantages:
- Much, much faster than the gold. It crunches IRR calculations in a fraction of the time. You might even find yourself missing the "running" message that's so common with the gold HP 12c. You cannot overestimate the advantage of the increase in speed, especially with test taking.
- Backspace and undo key. Having a backspace key really is nice, especially if you work with many long numbers.
- More program memory. Unlike the gold, the Platinum can hold something like 999 lines of memory. The gold only holds 100 or so, which fills up pretty quickly. Some options pricing models, for instance, will consume all 100 lines.
- Color. Many younger people think the silver color looks "cooler" or more current. Personally, I like the gold -- looks retro or something. It's personal taste, though.
Disadvantages:
- Slightly slower "wake up" period. You have to hold the 'on' button about a half of a second longer for the Platinum calculator to turn on versus the gold. Not a big deal, but a little frustrating for gold users who have years of habit.
- Display font not quite as nice. The gold's display is really nice. The characters are well formed and the screen has a nice contrast to it. The Platinum's screen is a bit different, some might say more updated and similar to other modern HP calculators. It's still very clear, though.
- Harder to see the orange functions. Maybe it's the silver screen plate, but for whatever reason, the orange functions just don't stand out as well as they do on the black faceplate of the gold.
- Buttons feel a little cheaper. I'm not talking about the responsiveness of the keys -- that's actually pretty good on the Platinum (maybe even better than the gold). It's just that the plastic the keys are formed out of plastic that feels a little less dense.
- Button font slightly less bold. Unlike the definitive, almost bold type on the gold's keys, the keys on the Platinum don't stand out as well. The type might be smaller, but I'm not sure. It's not a big deal, but noticeable.
- Lack of key-entry "flash." When you press [PV] or [i] or any of the financial keys on the Platinum, the screen doesn't flash like the gold does. That flash is nice because it really lets you know the data has been punched it. Again, it's not a big deal, since you can [RCL] the data to make sure it's in there. Also, if you have the calculator set on three or more decimal points --and enter a number with less decimal points -- the conversion will make it clear the entry has been made.
Which is best for you? Tough call. If speed is No. 1 to you, Platinum 2.0 for sure. The gold, however, is really close to perfect. What not get one of each?
Very Fast [Posted on 2006-04-20]
Ive only has this one day - purchased based on the reviews here, and made sure i received the "good" version! The speed in incredible, and for some exams you need any time you can get.
I have an even better calculation tested between my old 12c and the new one:
9.5 PMT
105.85 PV
1.012000 ENTER
1.012020 f YTM
about 3 seconds on platinum
about 20 seconds on old
'nuff said
Construction quality below expected [Posted on 2006-04-30]
I've bought one of the 12c platinum because I needed a calculator in my office. I don't do financial calculations, so probably I'll use the calculator only to make elemental arithmetics, but I like RPN and the programmable features.
Build quality is below expected: intro key responsiveness is different than other keys', the soft case finnish is bad and the support pieces are not well adjusted, so the calculator is slightly unstable.
With the tag price this machine has you expect to get a perfectly assembled piece.
Disappointed.
they got the order wrong [Posted on 2008-04-21]
They sent the wrong calculator, then ignored my e-mail when I notified them of their error.
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