A classmate from our July 2009 batch asked our seniors to recommend the best Financial Calculator for our MBA course. Alas, nobody has answered his forum post so far. I was hoping for a recommendation too.
I need to get a financial calculator soon as the Business Foundations course is starting this weekend! So I just asked one of the staff at the Singapore campus and she listed 3 models: Texas Instrument BAII plus, HP 10B or HP 12.
To quote, “As long as the financial calculator allows you to calculate powers, present values, internal rate of returns (IRR) and other finance formulas, it should be fine.”
Last week I went to Bras Basah Complex - a budget haven for textbooks, stationery, gadgets and other things - and found a shop, Heng Wah (unit #01-49), selling all sorts of calculators. These are their prices:
- Texas Instruments BA II Plus - S$60 (the price tag says $65 but they offered me a ‘best price’)
- HP 10BII - S$65
- HP 12C - S$149
- HP 17bII - S$180 (sounds like overkill!)
- Casio FC 100V S$42
THe HP 12C is unusual in that it’s sideways. I am not sure if I can get used to a sideways calculator, even if the 12 series has enjoyed a strong reputation. I also prefer the HP brand to Texas Instruments but don’t think it will make a difference to my grades!
So if common sense prevails, I will get the Texas Instruments model.
1 Comments
You can find the TI Business Analyst II + on ebay for as little as $10 to $20 including shipping. I bought one for $10 total last week. I have been using this type of calculator for 25 years, and they are a great value and will do the calculations you need easily. I have an HP 12C too, but hardly ever use it. In my opinion, it is much less intuitive, and much harder to understand and use that the TI BA II+. By the way, I like the old original TI BA II even more.