HP 17BII Financial Calculator by Hewlett Packard
|
Our Price: $115.00 Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $53.99 (click here) Category: CE See more digital camera details and other models |
|---|
Digital camera reviews of HP 17BII Financial Calculator
Digital camera Review: A must have for financial/business professionals
Summary: 5 Stars
The 17BII is an extremely useful calculator for anyone in the financial services industry, in any business field who needs some heavy math functionality, and it is simple enough for anyone else to use if they just want to understand how their mortgage or car payment is derived. It is extremely durable - I have had the same calculator for many, many years and have dropped it too many times to count (and before that my HP 10B was just as durable).The calculator, of course, has all the basic math functions, including logarithmic calculations, and a simple to use memory store/recall setup. Most of the powerful functions are accessed through the simple "softkey" on-screen menu/submenu system where the function of the buttons at the top changes depending on what you are trying to calculate. These features include a full "time value of money" complement including NPV, FV, IRR, required periodic payment (i.e. for mortgage/car payments), and a full bond price/yield/coupon function.
The 17BII is also programmable and don't underestimate this. A user can create his own formula (e.g. an involved formula or a series of several calculations done in a row and done on a regular basis), create softkeys for the formula, and then access this formula the same way the other formulas like time value of money are accessed. As an example, I took the very lengthy Black-Sholes option pricing equation, programmed it as a formula, and now options pricing throught the HP takes seconds.
The 17BII is not for everyone. If you really must have all the bells and whistles including scientific formulas and PDA functionality, go with the 19BII - too clunky for my tastes. If you just want a simple financial calculator to be able to talk intelligently with your mortgage broker or car salesman about financing, get the 10BII.
Again, for anyone in the financial services industry, for mainstream business application or for the motivated/curious non-business person, the 17BII is it.
Digital camera Review: An Extremely Worthwhile Device: Total Class Act!
Summary: 5 Stars
Frankly, can I, can anyone add more to what has been said about this extremely powerful--though bargain-basement priced--device? Let me just say that if you use the Equation Solver in this device it will open up for you a world of (inexpensive!) computing capability. My personal feelings are that the SOLVER is worth 5 (yes, "five"!) times the price of the device if you use it. In my HP-17BII real estate book ("Professional Real Estate Problem Solving Using the HP-17BII"--carried by amazon under "HP-17ii"!!!) I do a number of admittedly high-level calculations, none of which would be possible in a financial calculator that lacks an Equation Solver. For example, one can take an income property appraisal problem with INCOME increasing (or "decreasing", if you like!!) on an annual basis and have ANNUAL OPERATING EXPENSES increase or decrease at a rate different from that of the operating INCOME (this is a typical "Ellwood" type situation). To this data we can add a "slew" of data and the HP-17BII (or indeed the HP-19BII!) will grind-out Value ("Vo")--estimated, of course!--of the property or you can compute (in a flash!) the Equity Yield (YE) of the property (try doing this w/o a SOLVER--you would need high-level software or you could "have fun" and do it "by hand" with one of the techniques from Numerical Analysis).And, for sure, the device does straightforward as well as "simple stuff"; it is truly a magnificent device (as is the HP-19BII), though I guess one can question if not "argue" just how much computing power do we really need? Sincerely, I don't have an answer to this question, but I surely enjoy the power of this device.
...
Digital camera Review: Analyst's little helper
Summary: 5 Stars
Pros- 17BII has a bunch of built-in financial and statistical functions invaluable for CFA candidates. You can be sure that if you have 17BII on your desk in the CFA test-room you can save enough time on your quant and asset valuation questions to concentrate more on qualitative things.
- It is quick and easy to use if you know the basics of finance.
- Its operations manual is a corporate finace text-book in itself.
Cons
- Honestly, I did not like the display. Even in sharp contrast mode you see nothing unless you look directly at the calculator at the very narrow visual angle. When I prepared for my Level I CFA exam, it took me more time to SEE the result (moving my 17BII on the table) than to calculate it.
- Unfortunately, it is impossible to buy 17BII here in Moscow. Can HP sales force tell me why? I got mine as a business gift from colleague in NY five years ago. Maybe he does not even know how he has facilitated my life as financial analyst.
My recommendation: Strong Buy for advanced financial users. And don't waste your money if you are at high school or a fan of higher math course at MIT.
Digital camera Review: Better than the HP12C
Summary: 3 Stars
This calculator, unlike the venerable 12C, has a processor that's capable of performing calculations in a reasonable amount of time.However, its keyboard is spartan and its operation confusing. Unlike the 12C there is no handy user guide printed on the back so you'll have to have the ungainly manual handy until you've mastered the essential calculations. Is this really an improvement in the art? I don't think so.
What HP ought to have done is upgraded the processor in the 12C, perhaps updated the display to utilize newer LCD technology and certainly dropped the price. But other than this they should have left the 12C alone and it would have ruled the financial calculator market for the next two decades. HP has squandered its competitive edge.
Think twice before you buy this calculator.
Digital camera Review: Calculator
Summary: 5 Stars
I've owned the HP 17B for several years and it has work well for me. The controls are easy to use, and it only shows you the keys you need. I like the simple layout of the keyboard.