Hewlett Packard 17bII Scientific Calculator

It is all business all the time with this powerful workhorse designed specifically for real estate, finance and business professionals. Over 250 built-in functions, a clock, calendar, appointment tracking and much, much more at a price that would make an accountant smile.

This calculator replaces the good old and very appreciated HP 17B (code name trader!). Same construction as the last rock solid series of calculators produced by Hewlett-Packard at the end of 90's. You can place it in the pocket of your shirt and forget about it. Thin, light and efficient, you will appreciate its black stylish dress! HP made its name on calculators and this model is one of those that reminds us why!!!

This calculator has been replaced by the new HP-17BII+ model. Despite the fact the 17BII+ is the latest, I would not recommend it compared to the 17BII that is much better. Although the BII+ shows some new capabilities, the keystrokes are very similar and the 17BII+ has a cheap feel to the buttons when pressed and sometimes the number or function doesn't register when the button is pressed (welcome to cost cutting and production cycles outsourced to China!).

You will not have any problem to find a HP-17BII on eBay today and I think it is a better investment than the BII+. The 17BII has been produced first in Singapor (we can identify it because it shows 5 rubber feet on the back) and secondly in Indonesia (this one shows 3 rubber feet only on the back). The singaporian model is the one to look for, particularly if you are a collector. Keep an Indonesian model if you like variations and because it is a better model than the 17BII+. The nostalgic users will seek for a 17B which is the less powerfull but the oldest model. The collector will seek also for the black variation of the Indonesian model.