[Macworld]

Post your comments for HP 12C Financial Calculator for iPhone here

[Schalk182]

I agree, the HP12C app is an excellent choice for any student or financier. I'm not sure it's a good replacement for the physical calculator for students, though. I had to purchase a physical 12C to use on exams as my institution did not allow the use of cell phone calculators, no matter what features or functions. It's sure nice to have on my iPhone for use at any time though.

[rei_vilo]

Hi!
Thanks for the review. Actually, I'm not using the 12C but the 17B for my calculations - yes, I work on finance. The 17B packs all the financial functions of the 12C plus an incredibly versatile solver.
I hope hp is going to release the 17B on iPhone !

[JakeT]

The HP 16C was the one for programmers. It worked with hex, octal and binary numbers as well as decimal. It also did a lot of logical operations.

[loupus]

I believe the physical 12C Platinum has a faster processor than the physical 12C. I compared a friend's 12C Platinum to my 12C from school and it handled interest rate calculations much more quickly.
I use the Calc-12E for iPhone from Stone Meadow. I don't think I could give up the display for stack values, NPV cash flows, etc. that Calc-12E offers. However, I would like the confidence of running the actual 12C code.

[hayesk]

I can't help but feeling so many people are buying this for nostalgic reasons. Is it really advantageous to have it look and sound like the actual calculator. If this wasn't modeled after a real calculator, would people complain about the crowded interface?
I'd like to see it have a preference for a "iPhone UI" where the buttons are bigger and it only displays the 2nd functions when you push the f key. Then you can make the buttons bigger. It could also have a larger display and let you scroll back on the stack.

[weshsu]

I used HP calculators since high school, starting with a 11C, then another 11C when the first got stolen. And finally a 48SX in college, grad school and now I still carry it in my bag every day. I even have my dad's first HP calculator (don't recall the model, but it was big and didn't do much more than square root).
When I first got my iPhone, I was craving for my 11C. Over time, many replicas came out and I tried most of them. While they functioned just fine, there's nothing like the tactic feedback you get with the real thing. For really quick calculations, I'll use the iPhone, but when I'm doing something with more than a handful of numbers, I pull out the 48SX and go to town.
I'm still waiting for a watered down 48S/G/X for the iPhone. And, I do agree with hayesk, I think many people (myself included) buy it because 1) we're used to HP calculators and 2) for nostalgic reasons. These calculators have been a trusty companion for a very long time!

[macgyverh]

I've used RLM Software's HP-12C emulator on my Mac and my iPhone since RLM first shipped the products. They work flawlessly and come with automatic updates that never have cost me another dime. I can highly recommend their products that can be found at http://www.rlmtools.com/.

[TeaEarleGreyHot]

I hunger for the 11c. I've heard that because the code was not copyrighted by HP that they are reluctant to make an 11c for iPhone. Oh, but I'd buy it... I'd buy it!

[griffman]

I don't think it's nostalgia. Perhaps, though, there should be two versions of the HP-12C. One for those who have used the actual calculator, and another that's for new users on the iPhone. For me, the physical representation is a huge timesaver -- I know where every key -- basic, and f- and g-modified versions -- is located. Using the iPhone version is second nature, and there's no learning curve.

If they had completely redesigned it, I'd basically be starting over. For someone new to the 12C, that'd be fine. For me, though, it'd be a nightmare of unlearning :).

-rob.

[tc60045]

Though I can manage the RPN of a 12C, it was never as natural for doing long calculations that could change mid-stream.
Instead, the 17B (or 17B-II) was my favorite: I still have two of them, and LOVED the ability to program multi-variate equations using the various soft keys. (and, 12C fans, you could set it for RPN or algebraic as you like).
HP, if you're reading this, I'm so glad you're re-vitalizing your legacy products and it made a ton of sense to start with the 12C. Here's hoping you continue the program and write a 17B app. Put me down for a pre-order!

[SaintGenis]

HP-16C and HP-11C
For those who would like perfect reproductions of other HP calculators, please check out (in the iTunes Store):
"PRG-16C" for HP-16C emulation
"SCI-11C" for HP-11C emulation
I am not affiliated at all with the author of this software. Rather I am a very happy user of PRG-16C. It is hands-down the best program I've purchased on my iPodTouch (even at $20) and occupies one of the four slots on my "dock". I use it quite a lot for bit-math calculations at my job, and it is better than any other bit-math calculator I've tried in the iTunes Store.

[thomaspin]

I have been using the '12C Lite' for several months - http://www.apptism.c...lite-calculator - which sells for $1.99. You don't get the programmability but the key clicks are soft and can be switched off without muting the phone. I recall someone writing that it differs from the original in the 7th decimal place or something, but that hardly matters. The screen appearance mimics the 12C - my original is now 29 years old and I also have the original spiral bound instruction book!
Anyway, it's a cheap alternative if you can live without the programming function, though there is no online (on iPhone?) help.
Strangely, the awesome speed of the iPhone version takes something away from the original - the sheer thrill of waiting for the answer!

[akamai22]

I am an OLD finance professional.... started with an HP-80, which cost $400 new, but would calculate bond yields (to the day) when most calculators were just getting floating decimal points (for you kids, originally electronic calculators were all set for two decimal places). Owned a lot of HPs over the years, but the 12c is the one I still have.
In what looked like lousy timing, I bought the RLM 12-C about ten days ago... but I'm very happy with it, especially the visible stacks and color changing keys that the "real" HP lacks. Not only is it cheaper than the HP version, right now they give you an extra copy for your Mac for free..... I like that.
About "nostalgia"... I think that's wrong. What's really going on is people want to reduce or eliminate the cost of the learning curve and using a familiar process/interface has real value.