Hewlett Packard HP 49g+ Graphic Calculator

This calculator replaces the HP-49G model stopped in 2002. The good old Saturn processor of the HP-49G has been replaced for the HP-49G+ with a much faster ARM one. Regarding communication, Kinpo, the HP's OEM company that reimplemented this new version, added USB and SD cards reader.

Pros

- More communication features than the HP-49G,
- the memory has been increased to 2.5 Mb,
- the processor speed has been drastically increased as well,
- better keypad and keys look and feel than the previous model.

Cons

- For those who appreciate the good old real HP calculators, this one does not belong to the same world and they will probably regreat the famous HP-48GX.

Latest re-review:
One of the issues this calculator had (and probably the most complained about issued) was that the keypad would not register sometimes when typed very fast. HP released this month the latest upgrade for the ROM which is similar to the BIOS on a PC.
It is easy and safe to install and improves many aspects including the keypad issues!

Follows my old review:


When I was first allowed to take graphing calculators into examination rooms, I didn't know what calculator to pick, given the variety available in the market.

I picked the HP49G+ because it was suggested by one of the top teachers at Manchester University. I must say and highlight the fact that If I'd written this review during the first 2 months with my HP, I would have given this product 1 star. Here is my experience:

My first week with this calculator was a terrible mess, I decided to keep using my very simple Casio for exams because I was afraid I might not know how to use the HP calc.
One thing which I think is wrong was the fact that the manual was rather fat but didn't explain things well, or at least simply enough for me to understand them, in particular the file transfer and installation of additional software took me great effort to work out.

However, as days passed by, I started to discover and become familiar with all the functions of this very powerful tool. As an engineer, you normaly have to adapt yourself to every new situation, and this is what happens with the HP49G+. You start customizing it and after 2 months of regular use you just know exactly how to get what you want from your HP, needless to say that it can solve 99% of all the mathematic processes involved in any engineering course, you just need to become familiar with it.

I was given a TI-89 Titanium as a gift as well, this calculator is perhaps the most similar competitor to the HP49G+, I have no problem to say that some colleagues and my self did serious benchmarking on the 2 calculators solving really complex and memory demanding operations, 95% of the time, the TI was faster (above 60% faster overall). But to get a better picture, if the TI would solve a problem in 1 second, the HP would need 1.6 seconds, is not a big issue here. But appart from that, the TI seems like a personal diary, or one of those electronic agendas which in my opinion make it look less serious and professional. I mean, why would an engineer need virtual tests in Calculus, that seems to me as a function for students before they reach university. What is more important for an engineer, is to rely on a calculator which can be 99% re-programable and which supports thousands of available applications in many different subjects, the HP doesn't come with a phone book, but that's silly, I think TI is for a student who just wants his calculator to give him a degree, on the other hand HP is the real thing, I would say that you really need to be an engineer or have the skills to be one to use it.

My suggestions for this calculator, or what you should really know:

-Some people have had problems with the keypad, I've used my HP for 7 months now, almost 4 hours a day and still works fine. People must consider that many different versions have been released and I believe latest ones don't have any keypad issues.
-You really need to put some effort in understanding how it works, it is not a Nintendo.
-Batteries do last 1.5 months on average.
(...)

I currently own a 49g+ calculator.I was looking for a backup calculator as I had heard that the keys and screen had some reliability issues.However this has not been a problem for me.The calculator I purchased on Ebay was as described; in great condition!I paid less for the item than I did for an sd memory card for my present 49g+.I received the manual on cd (provided by the seller);which I felt was very thoughtful.The only complaint I have is that Hp makes one go to the web for detailed operations they should of included in their manual.I love this calulator!

I graduated about a year ago with a B.A. Mathematics degree. I used this calculator solely and never found anything it couldn't do. Most people go with TI's version of this calculator, the TI 89 or TI 89 Titanium. Both TI 89s are great calculators but I went with the HP 49g+ for the following reasons:

1) I had owned the HP 48 and the HP 39 before and had loved both.

2) RPN!!!! The HP 49g+ can alternate between standard input and RPN, do yourself a huge favor and learn to use RPN!! you'll never go back.

3) Be different ;) everybody has a TI... I get more people shocked HP even makes a calculator whenever I use mine. Although not a great reason by itself to buy a HP, it helps.

I've owned the TI 92 (pretty much the TI 89 w/ a QWERTY keyboard) and you are losing NOTHING w/ the HP 49g+, only gaining the powerful tool of RPN.

I decided to buy it because it is really useful for my courses at the university. It has a lot of default programs in it, as function plotter, numeric equation solver, a list of general equations for optics, acoustic, electromagnetism and a lot more topics. But what I really like about it is that you can program it, it is not like the normal scientific calculator that can only do what is in the manual, with this calculator you can. For example: program some sound samples that you can hear in the calculator, it is not so easy and you cannot play any sound but it is possible. You can program pics in the calculator and then send it trough the cable to the pic. You can also save photos in the calculator, obviously black and white because of the display. And you can use it for much more thinks like a simple cad/cam program. It is like a micro and simple PC.
What I dont like about it is the memory, I it has more memory you could do much more things with that calculator. And it will be great if it had a color display!
I really like this calculator, it is a cheap and easy way for engineering students to start many projects.

I got this HP 48G+ for a Christmas present and I don't see how you could get a math problem wrong with this calc. I love the unit conversions. A+.

Used my USA-made HP20s through engineering school and beyond - it lasted 20+ years until it broke due to way too much abuse.

Got the HP49g+ as a gift. It didn't last long. Clunky product and confusing to use.

My biggest problem is the decline in quality once these HPs were outsourced to China. You press a button...it gives but it doesn't register unless you press hard. With the USA-made calculators, the key responsiveness is far superior.

I bought another 20s on Ebay and just now received it. I was going to sell the 49g+ on Ebay, but just yesterday I was using it and sneezed or something and it dropped 2 feet onto the leg of my chair. The casing is fine but the LCD is busted and the world is a better place with one fewer 49g+.

Look into getting a 48g if you need a graphing calculator.