Customer Reviews

Casio FX-115MS Plus Scientific Calculator

5 star:		(43)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

The Fx 115 MS is the most powerful non-graphing calculator I have used. It is ideal for non Math students who are required to take an intermediate college algebra class. Unfortunately the single sheet of instructions are insufficient for the type of student that would benefit the most from it. I have put up a web site for my intermediate algebra students that tries to explain to them how to take advantage of its many features: http://faculty.ccc.edu/jnadas/graduate/CASIO.fx115ms.HTM

I bought the 115es originally, and for some reason, NCEES disallowed it from the FS/FE exams, so i also got the 115ms. Note, NCEES appears to be allowing the es again; the approved Casio model has to be a FX-115 model, no designation as to it having to be the ms.

So the ms is very nice! Very clear, crisp display, intuitive keyboard, these things being better than the es. The ms is also full-featured, having solve & calc functions (very handy), ability to do derivatives, integrals, quad & cubic equations, solve simult equations of up to 3 unknowns, full statistics capability, etc. But the ms will basically be relegated to being my backup to the 115es, because the es does everything the ms does, and has unit conversions, scientific contants, matrix, table, and vector capability; in addition to being more user-friendly in toggling between the desired mode of operation or setup style.

I'm really not sure why Casio offers 2 such similar platforms, separated by a minimal price. . . i mean for the money, why wouldn't you get the 115es? Hopefully, NCEES will not exclude the es from its approved list again (totally don't know why they did in the first place). But comparing either casio model to the approved texas instruments models, or the HP models, the casios offer great value & practicality, without a huge learning curve.

If you're not remotely concerned w/ any of this NCEES speak (i don't blame you), buck up to the 115es. For a few $$ more than the ms, it provides a lot more features.

I have been a faithful user of the HP 48G since 1995. However I needed a calculator that is permitted on the EIT exam. Since I am comfortable with Reverse Polish Notation entry format, my first inclination was to look for a HP product that is approved for the exam. However after reading the reviews on-line and seeing the price of the HP33S, I decided to look for an alternative. The TI 30XIIs and the Casio fx-115MS were viable options at a better price. I bought both of the TI and the Casio for comparison.

Both calculators are about the same size, approximately 6"(T)X 3"(W)x1/2"(D). The feel of the buttons/keys on the TI was a bit dull when pressed. The Casio keys had slightly more engaged-feel when depressed. The engaged-button feel helps when I am keying numbers without looking at the screen to know whether the calculator took the string of digits and operators correctly. The color scheme employed for button labeling on the TI does not make the "2nd" functions stand out. This is made worse by the shadow cast by the tall buttons, which make the lettering for the "2nd" functions harder to read. The Casio uses fairly distinctive colors for lettering and function schemes. This makes it easier and faster to find the correct key.

I find that for engineering problems, Casio had more built in buttons. Thus I don't have to always use "shift" or "2nd" functions. I also liked the layout of the buttons on the Casio. I feel it is a bit easier to find the right keys, due to more logical key placement for certain functions. On the TI, I have to spend more time hunting down the button.

A few reviewers have noted that the Casio manual that comes with calculator to be mediocre. That is also my perception after reading through the manual. The TI came with a manual and a practice guide. The TI manual is more thorough and sequential in presenting the information. The TI practice guide presents some simple problems and show the keys that need to be pressed. This helps get the user to become familiar with the key layout and input sequence.

To overcome the mediocre Casio manual, I searched on the internet and found a tutorial on how to use the fx-115ms written by a math instructor for his or her students. The tutorial is fairly detailed and easy to follow.

Overall, both the TI 30XIIs and the Casio fx-115MS are very capable calculators. However I found the Casio to be more suitable for my needs. I would give this Casio product somewhere between 4.5 to 5 stars.

This powerful non-graphing calculator has over 300 functions, a two line display, and you pretty much enter algebraic expressions as they're written (just be careful to use parenthesis and order of operations). An overlooked feature is its dual power mode. If there's enough room light it runs off solar power, preserving batteries. No worries of the juice going during your final. (I'll take this feature this over extraneous, additional, functions of that new Sharp calculator.) This calc has MORE than enough in terms of functions, power, and various equasion, complex number, and statistical modes. In terms of pure number crunching power, this calculator blows everything else away in its price range, except perhaps the latest Sharp. A co-worker who has a Master's in math took a look at this and told me it's all the calculator you need, all the way up through graduate school.

Just note that this is NOT a symbolic algebra calculator - that is, it will attempt to solve for (multiple) variables, as in X=2.453. However it won't expand, group, or simplify algebraic expressions. Don't expect to enter (a+b)^2 and get a^2+2AB+b^2 back, or vice versa. For that, you'll need the much pricier TI-89 or TI-92 Plus, which has a symbolic algebra mode.

However, if you want the most bang for your buck, go with this over the lower-end TI's (imo) and others. Much more power for the same money, and this is very nicely designed.

Documentation is spartan but it'll get you there. Just have a magnifying glass handy or download the PDF file from Casio's site. The upside of having a small fold-out user guide is that you can always have it near your calculator. I keep mine rubberbanded to the calculator's case, so it goes where my calculator goes. (Having a 260 page book would negate the calculator's portability, wouldn't it?)

Some nice math instructor of few reviews down put together a great supplemental document for this calculator with some good examples. Highly recommended if you buy this calculator (and thank you).

Excellent product. Subtract a point for not having a more detailed downloadable user's guide with more examples on Casio's website. I can see not wanting to drive up the price by including a paperback book, but c'mon, Casio. It's 2006! We have the Internets and pdfs now!

This thing is a fully functional engineering grade calculator. I purchased this calculator a year ago for taking the Professional Engineering exam (The TI-89 was banned last year) and I figured that I better get use to using it if I were to use it on the test. It was simple to use. It was quick, it was powerful. The linear equation solver was faster to use than the one of the 89 which really impressed me (great for solving electrical circuits).

Overall, I highly recommend this calculator.
It has now become my primary calculator at work.

This was one of the few calculators on the list for the PE exam. It was also the cheapest (I think). I bought it, and started practicing with it at work so I'd be comfortable with it at the exam. It turns out that I love the data entry format. I used HP's RPN for a LONG time and thought it would be difficult to switch, but this makes even more sense because you enter the problem EXACTLY how you would write it on the paper (i.e. square root sign comes BEFORE the number)! I don't even use my trusty old HP now unless I accidentally leave this one at home. I am even thinking about getting a 2nd one so I can have 1 at work and 1 at home to study with (and I've heard that sometimes calculators walk away during lunch hour at PE exams, so it might be good to have a 2nd hiding in my bag).

The only flaws I've found so far are the instruction manual, quick auto power-off and the plastic cover. The manual does not go into enough detail but there are several references available online so, not a huge deal for me. When I get close to the exam, I'll probably print out my favorite and take it with me. The quick power-off (after about 6 minutes) can be frustrating, but I haven't really had a huge problem with it.

The plastic cover is annoying because it snaps on and off instead of slides. I don't know why this bothers me, it just does. Also, it would have been nice if the cover was flat. Instead, it is slightly rounded with "feet" to stabilize it. The feet work great as long as the entire calculator is sitting on a flat surface but if one corner is off, the whole calculator rocks back and forth every time you hit a button. Also, with the cover snapped onto the back, it is kind of uncomfortable to hold in one hand and enter data. With the cover off it is better, but I'm worried I'll loose the cover.

I am definately happy that I purchased this calculator instead of the more expensive HP that was on the PE approved list.

I had to buy a new calculator due to recent changes in NCEES (National Council of Examiners for Engineers and Surveyors) <A HREF="http://www.ncees.org/exams/calculators/#policy">calculator policy</A>. I chose this one since I didn't want to spend $50 on the HP33s and the others seemed awfully lacking in features.

The Casio FX-115MS is a good little calculator for $15. My only complaints deal with how it handles complex numbers:

* Complex numbers are ony handled in a reduced-functionlity mode.

and

* Only one of the terms is visible at any one time-- in cartesian mode either the real or imaginary part is displayed. In phasor mode only the magnitude or angle is displayed.

I still prefer my fifteen-year-old HP42s, but this little casio, had it been available when I was in school, would have been a fine alternative and much less expensive.

I believe this is the best scientific calculator currently on the market. The price is reasonable, especially for those reluctant to spend ... on a graphing calculator. The keys are highly responsive and hard plastic. The layout is the best of any calculator I have ever seen. In my opinion Casio really thinks about key layout. Other calculators, such as the Sharp EL-506RB (the only other scientific calculator that comes close to this one) seem to have functions thrown across the keys wherever they will fit, without thought as to convenience or relative frequency of use. The manual is clear and concise, but the calculator is intuitive anyway. The only intructions I needed to look up were for numerical integration and entering data for statistical purposes. The only complaints I have about this calculator are lack of numerical differentiation and a constant/conversion function. If the calculator includes integration it only follows that differentiation should be included as well. Nonetheless, you can program in and save formulas for differentiation and Newton's method to keep and reuse later. The Casio FX-991w (which is no longer sold -- Why Casio? Why?) includes constants and constant conversions (the manual for both the 991 and 115 is shared, or I never would have known this.) As a physics student, I sometimes find myself needing to look at tables for certain constants and conversions that I wish would be included in the calculator. In light of the non-existence of the FX-991w, I must say that is is absolutely the best possible choice for a scientific calculator.

I bought my Casio fs-115MS Plus-SR scientific calculator for $15 at Staples and have been completely satisfied with it. This calculator, in addition to basic calculations, has keys for functions in algebra, geometry, trigonometry, statistics, pre-calculus, etc. It weighs under 4 ounces with battery and cover, and the keys are big and reponsive. Most of the basic functions are intuitive, while you'll need to study the user's guide for the more advanced functions and modes.

Specifically I like the following features:

- Lots of calculator functions as I mentioned earlier.

- It has a solar cell and also a button battery, so during the day it uses solar power, while at night it uses battery power. There is no backlighting, though, as this is an inexpensive model. Also, replacing the button battery (LR44) requires unscrewing the back off. Luckily, the battery should last at least 2-3 years under moderate night-time use.

- It has a two-line LCD display. The B&W LCD is very sharp and clear. The first line displays the formula you entered, and the second line shows the result.

- Intuitive interface. The buttons are clearly marked and it doesn't take any time to get started on the basic functions. Things like square root and logarithm are also easy to figure out. Casio calculators have always had consistent user interface over the different models.

The one thing I wish were better is the cover, which is the detachable type. It takes a bit of effort to detach it. To Casio's credit, the cover can be attached to both the front (for protection) and back (for storage) of the calculator.

In short, the fs-115MS Plus-SR is a terrific scientific calculator for its excellent price. Its dual power source ensures usability in most situations.

This Casio is "permitted for use on SAT and PSA/NMSQT."

This inexpensive scientific calculator (Fx-115MS Plus) has many desirable features:

o two line display with clean input/output functional separation (unlike the Sharp 506W)
o expression recall and editing
o highly visible recessed display (unlike the Sharp 506W)
o roomy and well-organized key-layout
o great tactile feedback
o hex/oct/bin bitwise operations

I love the brushed stainless, low-gloss, look and the calc body is narrow enough to permit one hand operations.

It also comes with a nifty equation solver, which unfortunately is not well documented. At first I thought the example given (B=AC-(1/2)DC^2) needed be rewritten (AC-(1/2)DC^2-B, implicit [=0]). However, I was using the wrong {alpha}{=} key sequence to enter "=". What must be used is {alpha}{calc}--the {calc} key has an alpha tertiary label "=". The solver is also slow. A Time Value Money interest solution required 55 seconds, whereas on the HP33s the same evaluation was completed in 7 seconds. What impresses over other units in this price range is that prompting for variable input supports a large subset of the expression grammar (no references to other variables are permitted).

Expression history and editing have a few quirks. No flashing cursor to show initial insertion point. An initial {<} positions cursor at the far right! The default edit mode is "overwrite" not "insert". Insert is the default for most text editors--why not work with user assumptions?

However, as one reviewer previously mentioned, the major shortcomig of this unit is the clearing of equation history on power down. Since there is no equation memory (as on the HP33s), the least Casio could have done is NOT make equation history clearing automatic. Power it down or leave it idle for more than six minutes and those equations you've labored over are gone!

Sleek, svelte, and sometimes elegant but an empty slate.