Classpad 330: Unboxing And First Impressions

After several weeks I got finally my Classpad 330. It comes from the States because a friend of mine purchased it for me (here in Italy I pay double money for this calc).
Since I got also a TI-Nspire, in this first impressions is natural form to compare this to calculators.

What's in the package
- Classpad 330
- USB cable
- unit-to-unit cable
- software and manuals cd
- quickstart manual (in 4 languages)
- batteries

About manuals
The printed Quickstart manual (42 pages) is very short and not so useful. On the cd is the complete manual in pdf but I don't like this so much.
When I use the calc is not always possible to read a pdf file on a pc, so I would have preferred a better printed manual. Is not necessary the complete manual, but a short reference for all functions also to supply the missing integrated help.
Here the Ti-Nspire is very much better: it comes with 3 printed manuals!

About cd and software
In the cd (ver. 3) in addition to all pdf manuals you can find: FA-CP1, Screen Capture, E-Con EA-200 and some eActivities.
I'm very disappointed for the absence of the Classpad Manager Basic.
About this I've posted some question to support center here in Europe and in the anser they ensured that the cd comes with the basic version of Classpad Managerm but is no in this way.
So I ask: the Classpad Manager was in the package in previous models or not?
Now I have wrote to support center to know if is possible to buy a licence for the basic version of the software, but I don't think this is possible at a cheap price.
It's sad to see that Casio no more provide this software (in the same way do this Texas Instruments with Ti-Nspire). Is it for earn more money?
Als I?m disappointed beacuase you can not easily find the software at a cheap price (also in bundle with the calc).
Why don't sell it at a special price for who bought the calculator?

The calculator
My first impression with the calc are very good. The contrast is good enough for me and this machine is very easy to use, much more then Ti-Nspire.
Not so easy to find the behaviour of all functions and commands (I've already told about manuals), but impressive for data input and pen-based operation.
The software is not so fast, but I've never got problems or slowdowns.

Conclusion
I think that the Classpad is a great calc: I hope that Casio improve it very fast and give us a new OS for the bugfixing.

Regards!

More information to download CPManager and OS 3.0 only visit this site --removed by moderator--

Edited by MicroPro, 09 April 2012 - 10:32 AM.
useles quote removed, link to copyrighted material removed

Thanks for your answer.
I've already seen the link. The software posted on that page is the basic version of Classpad Manager and is an old version.
I've not found any way to update it to the last version of CP Manager.
The same problem is for the Professional version that you can easily find on the same site.

This software is also illegal: you don't have a licence for this programs and it's not a thing that I like...
I'm very disappointed because I think that the basic version could be included with the calc and still I've not found a way to buy a basic version of this software: here in Italy the professional version costs 90 euros that I consider too high.

I repeat here the question: the Classpad Manager was never included with the calculator?

I think you can update the cpm by downloading an update found at casio website.And yes,the cp manager is bought separately.it's just included in the cd as a trial version.

Edited by McCoy, 18 November 2008 - 08:12 PM.

Thank you McCoy for the answer.
Is not possible to download the update version from the Casio website because the file is locked: if you don't insert in your profile the serial of the program you can not access to the file.

I add a little information.
I first contacted the european support center about Classpad Manager: they answered me to contact directly the italian distributor.
So I wrote an email for asking: is possible to purchase the basic version of CPM? Is possible to purchase a licence of the program and download from the web?
Here is the answer from italian distributor: only the CPM Professional is available for 87 euros (including taxes and shipping) and a downloadable version is not available.
I think that the software is too expensive, so no more money for Casio!

Bye!

yea that thing doesn't come cheap..it is expensive, more expensive than the cp hh itself in some online stores!I know that's not fair but don't you think t.i emulators are not cheap either?I've never thought of looking at that up. So I don't know whether they(T.i emulators) are cheap or opposite of what casio is offering.
However, some people may want to pay for it(cpm) sometimes, given the fact that you don't have to worry about the 'controversial' screen contrast of cp any more when you are using cpm.(But still cpm have it downsides:you can't take it into the classroom, etc.)
I feel your pain but I don't think i can give any valuable info that may help you here bro.sorry.

cheers.

Thank yo for your answer.
When I've purchased my TI-Nspire I've payed 130 euros for a bundle with the calculator and the pc software. It was a special offer for teachers by the distributor here in Italy.
I have askef for similar bundles also for Classpad but here in Italy it doesn't exists and also very hard to find in international online store.
By the way: I think that the CPM is a little bit better then TI emulator for pc, specially because the CPM has a better windows handling (also in the basic version).
I think that with a better commercial offer, Casio could sell more...

130 euros for a bundle!..that's a pretty excellent deal.I'll find out if there's a shop in my hood here that have a good deal for cp bundle and i'll let you know about it.Lots of stores in my city offers online shopping...but I'm not sure of any specific one that sells both cp and cpm.well, let me find it out.talk later.

Very thanks McCoy for your answer and so ready to help!
Now a bundle for CP is not more needed: I've already bought the calculator and I'm looking only for the CPM at a cheap price (but I think that it could not be).
Many thanks again!

My first impressions is that it is a very intriguing device, and the touch screen display offers some interesting possibilities.

In terms of usability, it seems to be flawed in places, because the common commands offered by a scientific calculator are as hard to get to as more esoteric and rarely used ones. My particular bug bear is curly braces, why aren't they available on the physical keyboard?

Another niggle for me are the different selection methods and navigation models. It is as though they started with one metaphor only to discover that it did not scale and had to adopt another metaphor to stretch the original one further. It would be better if there was some consistency.

The SDK looks interesting, so it might be fun to try a quick C++ program or two.

All that aside, it is definitely the coolest looking computing device in my collection!