Customer Reviews

Casio Pocket Calculator (HS8VA)

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I got this calculator at Big Lots for a quarter of the price on here. I got it because it was cheaper to buy a new calculator than to by a new battery for my old basic 8-digit calculator. It seems to work for what I need it to do: balancing my checkbook, conversions in the pharmacy, etc. It has some advanced functions: memory, +/-, square root and a key to add a percentage. 120 [MU] 25 [%] = 160 The reason I took off one star is there is no case or cover, so I have to very careful when I carry it in my purse or pocket. My old one had a hard case it slid in and out of to protect the display from damage. Also there is no off button, I have not really monitored it to see how long it stays on inactive (package says around 8 minutes). also waiting to see battery life, package claims 3 years at one hour of daily use. A pretty decent deal, but shop around.

This CASIO HS-8VA calculator is presently being sold on Amazon in two versions. One costs $10.58, and one costs $7.54. They look EXACTLY the same to me, except that oen gives it's item number as Hs-8Va, and one as HS-8VA. Does more capitalization for the item number mean more expense....or less?

At any rate, the Casio HS-8VA calculator I have before me, is a neat little machine. The 8 digits show up dark and clear in the number window -- which is my own preferred style of "picture frame", (wherein the number window has its own, protective shield), rather than the "wrap-around windshield" style, wherein the number window is protected by the same plastic that envelopes the rest of the calculator. The "picture frame" style, is more immediate and feels more accessable...or so it seems to me.

This calculator has a nice, "continuing constant" feature -- very helpful for those making calculations needing a constant! The red "C/CA" key with it's own nice little frame, acts as a "clear" key, a "clear entry" key, and an "all clear" key, all at once. Very handy and space saving!

This calculator has both a "square root" key, and a "change sign" key, which both come in very handy for mathematical calculations. It also has a larger, a "percentage" key -- which is OK by me, but also seems sort of a luxury. I have always considered the "percentage" key somewhat superflous, you see, because, I have found, one can easily figure percentages out without a percentage key! (7% of 100 ====== 7 , division key , 100 , equal key , (.07, answer) Etc. So, it's nice to have a % key....but not necessary. I would have preferred the "%" key to be smaller, and the "square root" key bigger....but this is a very, very minor quibble.

This calculator has a 3-key memory, which can be a bit inconvenient, (but I can live with it.) The thing I find MOST inconvenient about this calculator, though, are the somewhat smallish keys. Although I have very small hands, and can easily depress them, they are nowhere near as spacious as some other calculators I have had of this size. NOT that these keys are SO small that it's impossible to press them...it's just that one has to be more careful and precise depressing the keys here. (Somewhat making up for this is the metal, (or at least, metallic-looking plastic) that comprises the outside housing of this calculator. It is a very handsome calculator to look at!)

Also, the "minus" sign, when it appears, does NOT appear to the left, (or even the right) of the number. For, in order to make the numbers themselves nice and large, and easily readable, the minus sign, when showing, appears, (accompanied by the word "minus:), ABOVE the numbers, on the Left side of the number window. When the "Error" sign appears, it is also ABOVE all the numbers....on the Right side of the number window. As the numbers themselves, these "minus" and "error" signs are nice and dark and clear......but their above-the-numbers placement, (which I, at least, have found in no other calcuclator), does take some getting used to.

This calculator stays on for about 8 1/2 minutes, which is a nice, long time for
any calculator! : )

The calculator has two-way power, and a nice large solar-battery window, (also, delightfully, in a separate, "picture-frame" setting.) On the back, it's mentioned that this calculator takes one LR54 battery, (and, I assume, any equivalent). There is only one screw showing in the back,...so I don't know how easy it is to replace the battery.

It's somewhat ironic and amusing to me, that this calculator, though produced by the "Casio Computer Company, Tokyo Japan", is listed as "Made In China" (!) Those of us old enough to remember the decade or so right after World War II, (baby-boomers and older), when EVERYTHING seemed to be "Made In Japan". will, as I did, probably look twice at this inscription on the back of the calculator. Time does march on! I don't remember if many sub-standard goods came out of Japan in those post-WWII days...but I do know that, sadly, many sub-standard goods seem to be coming out of (Communist) China these days. However, not ALL goods coming out of (Communist) China these days are sub-standard. Some, in fact, are very, very well made. This Casio HS8-VA calculator is DEFFINITELY one of the better-made products coming out of (Communist) China right now. It is a winner in size, appearance, and calculating ability. A nice-looking, basic+ calculator, that is very light, easily-carried in anyone's pocket or purse! : )

what kind of idiot pays 7.99 when you can get them for 3.50 at walmart?