9 replies to this topic

[nowadit]

Hi everybody this is my first topic in this great forum
I have a question
which calculator shall I buy?
fx9860gII or Algebra Fx2.0 ?
I'm study Civil Engineering
Please help, thanks!

[flyingfisch]

If you have the money for it, and can find one somewhere, the Algebra FX 2.0 is the way to go. Otherwise, go with the 9860. You may want to take a look at the Classpad as well.

btw:
Hello nowadit and welcome to UCF! You should introduce yourself.

[nowadit]

Please compare Fx9860Gii SD vs Algebra Fx2.0
I want to know the results. Thanks.

[flyingfisch]

The AFX has more features, including a CAS, which none of the 9860 series has built-in. Unless you need the storage space in an SD card, which IIRC must not be SDHC, then you should go with the AFX in my opinion.

FYI: I merged the two topics, since they basically ask the same thing.

[nowadit]

oke I'm sorry for the topic. Thankyou dude It's very helpfull.

[flyingfisch]

oke I'm sorry for the topic. Thankyou dude It's very helpfull.

No problem

[nowadit]

But It's better if I got both ? not redundant ?
sorry my english bad

[flyingfisch]

But It's better if I got both ? not redundant ?

I would just get the AFX.

sorry my english bad

That's OK.

[ZweiLynx]

As an owner of both calcs, although I'm not an Engineer, here are my two cents:

Absolute speed --> FX-9860 series (specially for program execution)

CAS --> Algebra FX 2.0 Plus

Differential equations --> Algebra FX 2.0 Plus (as an engineering student you will definitely deal with this)

Light --> FX-9860II (although it's beyond me why would someone use a calculator in the dark)

Programing --> FX-9860 series (download the emulator, program in the computer - more efficient, save to calculator)

One thing I found very useful during my studies was the Algebra FX 2.0 Plus ability to do RREF in symbolic matrices, huge learning advantage (and life saver)

About the FX-9860 series: SD or not is your choice; but if the price difference is too big in your location, save the money and go without SD, it's not worth the difference. Also, in my opinion, the light feature of the II model is not essential; so you can probably save money going for the previous model (just upgrade the OS).

As an engineering student, you may want to look into the TI-89 Titanium and the HP 50g. They're more expensive though, and harder to learn how to use (the HP is unbelievably hard to learn). Of all the people I know in the field that own those calcs, none of them use more than half of the calcs potential (during school and even in their professional lives); so I question their real cost-benefit, not to mention the TI Nspire series.

I have some engineering friends who used the Algebra FX 2.0 Plus during their studies and did fine with it (and actually used the calc to its max potential). They don't use it in their professional lives though.

In regards to memory, the Algebra has more RAM which is certainly more beneficial. The 9860 has more ROM but, seriously, you won't need it.

All in all, here is my recomendation in order of preference:

Algebra FX 2.0 Plus > FX-9860 > FX-9860II > FX-9860II SD

As an engineering student, you'd definitely be well served with the Algebra's CAS and diferential equations capabilities. Also, more RAM means more capacity to do calculations (I've done some crazy statistics programs storing data in lists for intermediate steps, and working with matrices is a bliss).

In respect to the FX-9860 series, notice I left out the FX-9860 SD for if you're going to get that one, might as well get the FX-9860II SD.

Since I value so much the Algebra, why did I get the FX-9860 SD? (1) Bought it at a bargain price from someone who sold it after not needing it anymore. (2) I mainly use it for programing very complex financial calculations (again, it's all about speed).

I left out the new FX-GC10/20 and ClassPad FX-CP400 because they're new and I don't have experience with them to objectively evaluate them.

Which ever calc you chose, learn how to program in it. Otherwise you're throwing your money away, might as well not having a graphing calc at all.

Finally, don't stress yourself out about getting the perfect calculator. After your first 2-3 years of undergrad, you'll barely use it. Most important of all is to not put yourself (or your parents) under financial stress just to get a graphing calc. Buy a used one. This is my personal experience with calculators:

High school: Scientific calculator (yes, I never used a graphing calc)
1st-3rd year of undergrad: Graphing calculator > scientific calculator (when graphing calc not allowed) > computer.
4th year of undergrad: Computer > graphing calculator.
Professional life pre grad school: Computer > financial calculator.
Grad school: Computer > financial calculator.
Professional life: Computer > cel phone calculator.

Notice the trend there? Graphing calculator only in undergrad. After that it's all done in computer software.

Good luck with your choice.

Edited by ZweiLynx, 01 November 2013 - 08:10 AM.

[nowadit]

As an owner of both calcs, although I'm not an Engineer, here are my two cents:

Absolute speed --> FX-9860 series (specially for program execution)

CAS --> Algebra FX 2.0 Plus

Differential equations --> Algebra FX 2.0 Plus (as an engineering student you will definitely deal with this)

Light --> FX-9860II (although it's beyond me why would someone use a calculator in the dark)

Programing --> FX-9860 series (download the emulator, program in the computer - more efficient, save to calculator)

One thing I found very useful during my studies was the Algebra FX 2.0 Plus ability to do RREF in symbolic matrices, huge learning advantage (and life saver)

About the FX-9860 series: SD or not is your choice; but if the price difference is too big in your location, save the money and go without SD, it's not worth the difference. Also, in my opinion, the light feature of the II model is not essential; so you can probably save money going for the previous model (just upgrade the OS).

As an engineering student, you may want to look into the TI-89 Titanium and the HP 50g. They're more expensive though, and harder to learn how to use (the HP is unbelievably hard to learn). Of all the people I know in the field that own those calcs, none of them use more than half of the calcs potential (during school and even in their professional lives); so I question their real cost-benefit, not to mention the TI Nspire series.

I have some engineering friends who used the Algebra FX 2.0 Plus during their studies and did fine with it (and actually used the calc to its max potential). They don't use it in their professional lives though.

In regards to memory, the Algebra has more RAM which is certainly more beneficial. The 9860 has more ROM but, seriously, you won't need it.

All in all, here is my recomendation in order of preference:

Algebra FX 2.0 Plus > FX-9860 > FX-9860II > FX-9860II SD

As an engineering student, you'd definitely be well served with the Algebra's CAS and diferential equations capabilities. Also, more RAM means more capacity to do calculations (I've done some crazy statistics programs storing data in lists for intermediate steps, and working with matrices is a bliss).

In respect to the FX-9860 series, notice I left out the FX-9860 SD for if you're going to get that one, might as well get the FX-9860II SD.

Since I value so much the Algebra, why did I get the FX-9860 SD? (1) Bought it at a bargain price from someone who sold it after not needing it anymore. (2) I mainly use it for programing very complex financial calculations (again, it's all about speed).

I left out the new FX-GC10/20 and ClassPad FX-CP400 because they're new and I don't have experience with them to objectively evaluate them.

Which ever calc you chose, learn how to program in it. Otherwise you're throwing your money away, might as well not having a graphing calc at all.

Finally, don't stress yourself out about getting the perfect calculator. After your first 2-3 years of undergrad, you'll barely use it. Most important of all is to not put yourself (or your parents) under financial stress just to get a graphing calc. Buy a used one. This is my personal experience with calculators:

High school: Scientific calculator (yes, I never used a graphing calc)
1st-3rd year of undergrad: Graphing calculator > scientific calculator (when graphing calc not allowed) > computer.
4th year of undergrad: Computer > graphing calculator.
Professional life pre grad school: Computer > financial calculator.
Grad school: Computer > financial calculator.
Professional life: Computer > cel phone calculator.

Notice the trend there? Graphing calculator only in undergrad. After that it's all done in computer software.

Good luck with your choice.

Thanks a lot dude. I chosen AFX 2.0