A real picture of progress.

[Archae]

No, this isn't sarcastic either.

About 30 years ago for his job, my Dad bought this calculator for $65, it weighed about 2 pounds and had glowing red numbers.



I just bought this one, for a buck, that weighs only a couple ounces.

[UpsideDownFlag]

1. interestingly, that's pretty much what my dad said to me when i got my TI.

good old technology.

[Deja Q]

2. More

Keep in mind the first pic had specs...

The smaller model requires 2 lithium batteries, uses less plastic, is prone to breaking after using it 30 times, and was made in some 4th world country where workers and environment are exploited with glee.

Oh, I like glowing red. You can calculate in the dark. Can't say that for the hand-held gizmo... B-)

[Cerridwen]

3. Yeah, but a real scientific calculator has

a five pound manual to go with it.

;-)

[texas1928]

4. My mother still uses the top calculator

That one is about the same age as me.

[Ilsa]

5. I still have my original TI financial calculator

from early 1980's. The battery still works, even though I used that puppy at work for years. The soft "suede" like case is hard and brittle, but it still computes! It was about half an inch thick, about 8 inches long and three inches wide.

I also have a slide rule that I've shown my husband how to work. I used slide rule in high school in math and chemistry. I loved log more than boys back then.

I also have a Chinese abicus, but I never used one before. I think I remember how to use an american one, though.

[CanuckAmok]

6. My mom had a Commodore calc in the seventies.

It could add, subtract, multiply and divide, and even did percentages. It had to be plugged into a/c, and I believe it cost her $300. I remember the buttons, because they were so big that they had a mechanicasl click when they were pressed.