Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 6-10 of 101
 HP 12C Platinum Anniversary is a disappointment June 19, 2007
S. Iyer (Snellville, GA)
14 out of 24 found this review helpful
The build of the Platinum Anniversary 12C itself felt good. However,
try this operation (i.e. multiplying -10 by 2) by punching keys in the
following 3 sequences (in the RPN mode):
1) 10 ENTER CHS 2 [X] gives 20.00 and not -20.00.
2) 10 CHS ENTER 2 [X] gives the correct answer of -20.00.
3) 10 ENTER CHS ENTER 2 [X] gives the correct answer of -20.00.
I verified with John Tirone (the author of the book "Professional Real
Estate Problem Solving Using the HP12C") that if the same key
sequences are punched on the black/gold 12C, it consistently gives the
correct answer of -20.00.
Needless to say, I returned the Platinum Anniversary 12C for this
reason and purchased the black/gold 12C instead.
 Nice, overall, but PLEASE HP bring back the quality! December 22, 2007
Pruitt Hall (Greensboro, NC USA)
12 out of 12 found this review helpful
There's been many a good review on this calculator previously on Amazon so I won't delve too deeply into what has already been said. I will, however, off a few opinions that are gleaned fromm over two decades worth of using financial calculators, so I hope someone finds this interesting.
First, there are only three 'true' manufacturers of financial calculators: HP, Texas Instruments and Calculated Industries. Well, four if you count everyone else. But, HP & TI own the student and financial market. TI's calculators use the Algebraic Operating System (AOS) and HP uses RPN (Reverse Polish Notation) and some (the HP-12c platinum reviewed here) offer both. It's a matter of personal choice; RPN is more fluid once you learn it, but AOS is easier and flows math as you were taught in school. That said, once you master RPN, you won't go back to AOS.
Secondly, and this is my big beef with ALL calculator manufacturers. Handheld calculators need TACTILE feedback; meaning, notably, that you have to both KNOW when you press a button and, also, KNOW that when you do, it registers and doesn't do something funky (i.e. NOT register or DOUBLE register). This is beyond important and frequently overlooked by engineering types designing these calculators. Face it, a financial calculator isn't mainstream and it isn't used for insignificant calculations; they're used by investment bankers, accountants, analysts, etc. and these people have to be comfortable in the fact that the buttons 'work' and work everytime.
No one, not a single manufacturer, understood this except HP. And HP understood it to the point that their products were in a class by themselves. That was until about five years ago. Then, HP moved calculator production to China and the first products, notably the HP-12C Platinum and the HP 17BII+ suffered horribly in the hands of users because the tactile response simply was awful. Read the Amazon reviews on these products to get a feel for what I'm talking about here. I have a 17BII+ (2006 production) and call attest that if you don't watch it, it will frequently not register a number. That's useless in a financial calculator.
Fortunately, HP in this latest 25th Anniversary Edition apparently listed to consumers and got 'most-of-it' right on this model. Certainly better than the HP-12C Platinum and arguably better than it's more expensive sibling, the 17BII+.
Here, in no particular order is my Good/Bad list of features:
Good
Follows typical 12C keyboard layout and convention. The 12C is THE standard in financial calculators and HP wisely left the form factor alone.
Faster than the original 12 and Platinum editions that followed. By HP's literature, almost 6x faster, but the big deal here is that it is faster than the horrible Platinum 1.0 version which suffered in TVM calculations.
Re-designed battery door. If you used an original 12C, you'll like the honking big door on this version.
VERY sweet rear labeling of functions; the metal decal attached on the back really goes a long way towards helping one with the keystroke/feature set of this calculator.
Runtime is just insanely long, which is useful since it uses non-standard batteries (CR2032's--better buy 'em now; you WON'T find them when you need them!)
Bad
Tactile response. Yes, it's better than the 17BII+ (much!) but it still isn't in the same league as the older US or Singapore produced calculators of the 1980's and 1990's. Arguably better than a 'cheapie' calculator but not what I would call 'good' by $50+ product standards. Honestly, I cannot fathom why HP won't belly to the bar on this and just spend $5.00 more and put a better keyboard on their high-end calculators. I will say this keyboard is the BEST keyboard HP has in their calculator product line, PERIOD. But that's not as big a compliment as it sounds.
Build-quality. Good. Not great, good. The thing still feels flimsy compared to the older products, plain and simple.
Case. Know what? On the web, that leather case looks very cool. In real life, it's three times bigger than the calculator and twice as hard to carry. A simple leather slip case would be nice.
Other odds and ends.
HP's manual for this baby is honestly worth the price of the calculator; maybe more. One thing I'll have to give HP is at least in this day and age of PDFs and web searches, they still give you an honest-to-goodness manual and a good one to boot. Kudos to them for that one!
As it stands, this HP 12C 25th Anniversary Edition stands as my pick of the absolute best available financial calculator on the market today. I say that because it's better built than it's bigger brother (17BII+) and offers RPN and programming and a familiar keyboard and layout.
However, I wish HP senior staff would puruse these reviews and take heart to producing a calculator with 1980's build quality and 2007 microprocessor guts. I mean honestly, I have a Blackberry with a 2GB memory card; and this thing has 28K? It runs on the 6502 processor; does that ring a bell with anyone over 40? It was the processor in the original Apple II!!!! Why not:
>Build the case out of higher quality plastic? Maybe ABS.
>Use a modern processor.
>Give us a removeable memory stick.
>Give it a USB port for programming.
That CANNOT be that big of a deal to incorporate and HP would OWN the calculator market again.
That's my .02 cents worth on the HP-12C, 25th Anniversary Edition.
 HP product research must read Amazon reviews September 1, 2006
D. Kinder
10 out of 10 found this review helpful
In the reviews for the HP 12c Platinum, one reviewer commented on many things. ALL BUT ONE are fixed in the new HP 12c Platinum 25th Anniversary calculator.
The one thing: The display "flash" when you input a figure into a financial register. I miss that. Probably the ONLY reason I'll keep my HP 12c "gold". That helps to "know" that the number was input into that register.
It doesn't "wobble" on the desk (unlike my "gold). You can see the orange/red text on the BLACK background (versus the silver). When you shake the calculator, the keys don't rattle as well (versus the gold). Oh, and I prefer the "matte" plastic keys over the somewhat shinier keys of the gold.
It's a great looking calculator. REAL black with nice-looking silver accents. It's got a nice "Star Wars" look.
What I don't understand is why the different case? This new case is not slim and not able to fit into certain pockets of my briefcase. And what's up with the clear ID pocket on the back side of it? I know the 12c was originally touted as a "financial powerhouse in a pocket-size unit", but I don't think people actually carry them in their pockets??? Purses and briefcases, sure, but it's not a substitute wallet. It's a good thing I still have the case to my "gold". It's a better fit.
At least HP seems to be committed to good product research and the input of their product reviewers.
BTW, those extra 10 "functions" over the Gold must be the way to calculate things using ALGEBRAIC notation versus RPN; because I don't see any real differences between the functionality of either calculator.
*****UPDATE 08/03/2007*****
Since I reviewed the Platinum Anniversary edition of the HP 12c, I had acquired a "classic" HP12c made in 1984 made in USA. In comparison to the "Made in USA" 12c, the anniversary one feels cheaper somehow. The keys sound hollow compared to the tank of the older 12c. The slightest touch to the USA-12c will turn on the calculator, while the same touch to the Anniversary 12c is spotty at best. The display on the Anniversary 12c has a "greener" tint to it compared to the original. And I STILL love seeing the display "flash" with each input. The keys are "injection molded", but my USA-12c keys were actually HP15c keys painted over for the 12c. The keys don't rattle when the calculator is shaken and it sits evenly on my deak with no "wobble."
I still like the Anniversary edition of the 12c, because of the processing speed. (I have very little need for Algebraic entry, the back-space key or "undo" keys. They're not as easy to use as the CLX key is.) I wouldn't want to attempt any exam (like the CFP or CFA exams) with the slower 12c, but I don't think I'll ever give up my "Made in USA" 12c for daily work now that I know what a jewel it really is.
Some kinda cheap look October 9, 2006
Mario Lopez (Cali, Columbia)
10 out of 10 found this review helpful
I needed a financial calculator and I had received a lot of good feedback from 12c owners. This added to my experience with two HP calculators one 15c and one 48G, told me I couldn't go wrong with this special edition.
Unfortunately, at least for my taste, It has a kinda cheap look. The flat buttons have started to polish after few days of use. The red text for financial functions, doesn't offer good contrast. HP should keep the display flash after data input, this is one easy way to know data has been entered (something mentioned in one previous review).
The overall aspect doesn't measure up to the quality standard when compared with my old 15c from 1983. Some how, the made in china thing is evident.
The only reason I got it over the 12c gold is its speed and the limited edition.
If you don't mind about speed go for the 12c. It's closer to the original voyager series looking and quality.
GOLD CASE HP-12C IS BEST CHOICE AS FAR AS I AM CONCERNED! May 4, 2007
John A. Tirone (Macomb, Michigan)
9 out of 11 found this review helpful
IF YOU PLAN TO USE THIS CALCULATOR ON ANY EXAMS OR COURSES OR INDEED PROFESSIONALLY IN THE FIELD, MAKE SURE YOU EXPLORE ANY OTHER POSSIBLE PROGRAMMING DIFFERENCES IN THIS DEVICE VERSUS THE TRIED AND TRUE AND TOTALLY WORKABLE HP-12C GOLD CASE.
Do this on the "25th Anniversary" HP-12C: f 2 20 ENTER CHS 2 [x] The device unbelievably displays "40.00", NOT "-40.00" (negative fourty!). Ok, do that on the Gold case HP-12C or the original HP-12C Platinum! Here goes: 20 ENTER CHS 2 [x] The Display correctly shows "-40.00"! This issue was taken to my attention by an engineer in Georgia who purchased my HP-12C book from amazon. I do not take any "credit" for discovering this latest issue vis a vis this device!
Try this on the Gold Case HP-12C: f CLX 360 n 6 g i 100,000 CHS PV PMT
This gives you the monthly payment needed to amortize $100,000 at 6% interest over a 30 year period. Now, DO NOT CHANGE anything! Let's assume that the annual interest rate is LOWERED to 5.75%! DO THIS: 5.75 g i PMT.
This gives you the monthly payment needed to amortize the amount in question but at a wee lower interest rate! Ok, what is the DIFFERENCE in the monthly payments? SIMPLY PRESS [ - ]. This causes the GOLD CASE or for that matter the ORIGINAL HP-12C Platinum to subtract the second amount calculated from the first amount! Try the same calculation on the "25th Anniversary Platinum"! You get a totally different result BECAUSE THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY PLATINUM'S STACK DOES NOT--AND I REPEAT DOES NOT WORK-- LIKE THAT IN THE ORIGINAL HP-12C OR THE ORIGINAL HP 12C PLATINUM!
This device is admittedly faster than the Gold case HP-12C. But, so what?
Let me put it this way, IF ANY OF US COULD USE EFFECTIVELY EVEN 0.25% OF THE COMPUTING POWER OF A GOLD CASE HP-12C ON A DAILY BASIS, WELL, OUR INCOMES WOULD GO OFF THE CHARTS!
Ok, the 25th Anniversary HP-12C is faster, so shooting from the hip, if we could use, say, 0.24% of its power effectively on a daily basis our incomes would go off the charts!
The 25th Anniversary HP-12C has a "fancy" case! I threw mine out! I stick with the THREE HP-12C GOLD devices I have! (New case is way too bulky, BUT it does have a rather HUGE HP logo on it and you can "stuff" a business card in it if you are inclined to show-boat it!)! Frankly, I wish that HP had saved the money from the "fancy" case and written new instruction-set/whatever for the admittedly faster chip that is in the 25th Anniversary HP-12C, thus making it work exactly like the Gold Case original HP-12C.
Bottom line: There are no "easy" answers to anything in this field! No calculator--and certainly no fancy calculator case!--, be it the Gold case (overall my choice because it works exactly as a GOLD CASE HP-12C SHOULD WORK!) will save anyone! No, we won't "rise above the croud" using any calculator, even the HP financial calculators! One could have a Super Computer and if you do nothing in the field, be it finance or real estate or whatever, your income will be zilch! Again, there are no easy answers: success in anything is a function of one's efforts in life, not the calculator we carry or train with, but in any event there is no question as far as I am concerned that anyone studying real estate or finance or business/etc should have one of the HPs, be it the best of the lot as far as I am concerned, the HP-17BII or the HP-19BII, or any version of the tried and true HP-12C.
Please Note: The program on page 284 of my "Professional Real Estate Problem Solving Using the HP-12C" works fine (as it should!) in the gold case and first version of the HP-12C platinum but it will not work in the "new" 25th Anniversary HP-12C Platinum because the STACK LIFT in the 25th Anniversary Platinum works different in a number of situations.
For those of you who acquire my HP-12C real estate book please note that I include a separate spiral bound supplement that includes a slightly different version of the program from page 284 of the main book. This program works just fine on the 25th Anniversary HP-12C; not a problem one way or the other!
Bottom line? Probably makes little difference which HP Financial calculator we own, but we should own at least one of them if we are studying real estate, business or finance. These are really neat devices, a tribute to the TECHNICAL and MATH PEOPLE at HP. Bravo folks!
John A. Tirone
Macomb Township, Michigan 48042
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