HP 48G Graphing Calculator Review

The Hewlett-Packard 48G is a fully-featured, scientific calculator that’s great for engineering students and scientists.  It’s perfect for programming, performing trigonometric functions and storing formulas.  This hand-held device works as an excellent tool that’s always at the user’s command.  RPN entry is one of its central facilities, making it a very powerful calculator. Those who wish to master RPN entry and programming will be glad to know that the HP 48G comes with an advanced user’s manual.

The HP 48G has a large LCD display and six menu keys that can be used for selecting a wide array of menu items. The stack can hold numbers and objects, such as algebraic expressions, complex numbers, lists, arrays, etc.  Users have a lot of choices with this calculator, so many in fact, that they may find it confusing!  The one downside to the HP 48G is its complexity.  Students who aren’t very used to graphing calculators will have to learn by experimenting. 

Fortunately, the advanced user’s guide will help make things easier for users.  It provides programming information, which is essential for those wishing to master the HP 48G.  This calculator can be used for any mathematics or science class all the way up to advanced calculus.  High school and college students and teachers find it handy as it can be used to solve any type of problem or formula. 

One neat thing about the HP 48 G is that it allows users to enter equations the exact same way they’re written on the chalkboard or printed on a page.  It can construct plots, graphs and drawings, as well as perform both basic and advanced equations.  The drawings and graphs are displayed on an 8-line deep, LCD screen.  Those who take the time to learn object-oriented programming can take this hand-held device beyond its built-in limits.

Some of the features of the HP 48G include:

  • Its programming abilities
  • Its customizable features
  • The RPN abilities
  • More than 2,000 functions
  • More than 300 built-in formulas and constants
  • 128 KB of memory
  • Connectivity to the PC
  • Color coded secondary functions labeled

With a connectivity kit, the HP 48G can connect to the computer.  Users can download data and formulas from the internet.  It can also be connected to a printer or to other calculators.  The batteries have a long life, and the power automatically turns off after five minutes.  The device’s durability allows it to last for years, and users can upgrade it whenever they need to.

The HP 48G Graphing Calculator costs around $120 - $140 brand new, and consumers can find used ones on the web for significantly less.  It’s a great bargain for such a fully-featured device.  Once users get over their initial confusion over the complexity, they will find that it can be rather easy to use!