Casio has been upgrading their graphics calculators for years. This most recent release of the 9750 model- the Casio fx 9750 GII-
is a huge break through in reasonably priced calculators. For starters, it costs about 50.00. It is now a mathematical subset of their more powerful 9860 models, typically priced from 80.00 to 100.00. All kinds of data, from statistical to programs to matrices can be transferred among the various models. The output is identical.
The screen is highly readable in all kinds of lighting situations. The unit is a bit smaller and more compact, but the keys are
easily used. I actually prefer the size of this calculator to any of my other Casio and TI models- including the Casio Slim. There is a complete range of statistical tests, intervals, and regression models. The conics graphs have been expanded greatly. Using complex numbers is easily accomplished.
For short, this is the best buy I have ever seen in graphics calculators. If it's your first, you can't go wrong. If you already have one ( or several) get one of these. It is really fantastic!
Be sure to compare this calculator to the newest Casio- the Casio Prizm.
Prizm FX-CG10 Color Graphing Calculator (Black)
You may ultimately want to invest in both of these fine calculators! Casio Graphing Calculator (FX-9750GII-WE)
There are a few cons with this calculator, but due to the price, I will not deduct a star for them. For one, the print on the screen is not as pretty as a Ti and the calculation speed for large calculations may be a tad slower than an 84. It also isnt as easily programmable, but who cares? The functionality of the device is very intuitive and many problems can be done without the aid of the book. The way the menus are designed allows some problems to be done much quicker than on the Ti. For instance, if you are doing probability calculations that involve the combination "C(n,r)" fucntion, that function becomes one of the "function keys". Hence, every time you need to access that function within a problem, it is already there. On the Ti, that function is buried in menus and you have to maneuver through those menus every time you need to access the function, thereby making the problem more laborious.
If by chance you ever do need the book, which is inevitable, you will see the biggest area where Casio has a leg up on Ti. The books that come with Ti calculators are notoriously useless and are of little to no help. The Casio documentation, on the other hand, is extremely helpful. Functions are easy to find and understand. The book is well organized with easy to follow examples. Casio could teach Ti a thing or two (or a thousand) about helpful documentation.
For [...] bucks, this calculator is amazing!
AN UPDATE: I have been using this calculator for quite a while now and there is a point in my review that needs correcting. There are NO functions or calculations that are slower on this calculator than on the Ti-84. This calculator is quite fast and efficient. If I were to lose my Ti-89, my Ti-Inspire, my Ti-84, and this calculator, THIS one would be the first I would replace.
This is my first graphing calculator. I went through engineering school with an HP-41c, a great calculator in its day. But the Casio fx-9750GII is absolutely mind-boggling in comparison.
The learning curve was far faster than I expected. Once the simple and consistent navigation, editing, and execution scheme is internalized, one hardly needs the manual. Solving simultaneous equations, graphing functions, finding local maxima and minima, and computing intercepts of disparate functions were all elucidated in a few minutes of play, sans manual.
Mechanically, the calculator seems very well built; the case and keyboard seem like they were designed for the ages. The size is perfect. The display is very easy to read. And the price made me feel like I wasn't being taken advantage of, if you know what I mean.
I looked at several other graphic calculators, but this unit was by far the best value. It's got a great screen and I love the feel of the keys. Whether you're on a budget or price is no object, this Casio won't disappoint you.
Does a fine job of doing basic graphing calculator functions for those of us that don't need to do them all that often, and don't want to pay too much for one of the high-end teacher-approved TI rigs. Doesn't have all the features and functions that the TI and HP graphing calculators do, but isn't targeted at the folks that DO need them.
[original post]
This calculator is easy to use, and even for someone who has never used a graphing calculator it should make sense fairly quickly. Graphs are accurate and easy to read, and in general the text also is very readable.
The only glaring problem I have experienced is with factoring. I found that when the calculator solves quadratic equations, the signs of the solutions are backwards. It's not that the calculator is giving you the "zero product property" terms -- it's actually giving incorrect answers, which are wrong by a factor of -1. For instance, in a quadratic with A=1, B=-3 and C=-10, the calculator would return a result of X = {5, -2}, when in fact the solution is X = {-5, 2}. I haven't tried this with other degrees of polynomials, but one does have to be careful if one is using this calculator to solve quadratic equations.
This is generally a good buy because of the ease of use, but paying less for the calculator means you aren't getting correct solutions for some types of equations. Honestly, I probably would not have bought this calculator if I had known that it would return incorrect solutions for polynomial equations -- especially if it consistently gets higher-order polynomial equations wrong.
[revised post - december 10th]
Okay, someone pointed out that I was being careless with my math. Thanks, this product goes back to having an unblemished review from me. - Calculator - Casio - Engineering - Nspire'
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