Hewlett Packard 39g Graphic Calculator

This is a good bet for the price range. Did not have all the functions I would have liked, but the price does the job. Good choice for a high school or college student but a math major may want something more.

Hope this helps!

This is a well thought-out calculator. It uses the popular algebraic entry system, not RPN(RPN is great, but not mainstream). The HP 39G was intended to compete with the TI-83 line, but it easily trumps the TI-84 series. The screen is easy to read and the fonts are much nicer than the easy-to-read but grainy TI-83/-84 line, and it is able to put more characters on the screen with its higher pixel density. The menu system looks very professional with lots of panache. Negatives - The default setting for the keyboard "debounce' timer does not allow you to quickly enter numbers, so you'll want to download one of the free utilities that allows you to change the "keytime" value. It makes a big difference. The keys are reliable but mushy feeling compared to an HP 50g or even a TI-83/-84. The calculator is relatively slow in running programs and graphing. There are a few functions that I would like to have seen as built-in, such as base conversions, but most low and mid-range graphers of any brand do not have this. The free downloadable L1540 math library adds this capability and a lot of additional functionality, but since it is an afterthought, the functions don't interact seamlessly with the rest of the calculator as you might like. I purchased my HP 39G on ebay for $32 + shipping and I feel like the calculator is worth quite a bit more. You get a lot of calculator for the money. If you decide to get a 39G, you'll want to also purchase the cable so you can download additional utilities and libraries, as mentioned above. I bought my cable very inexpensively from SamsonCables.com. - Jeff -