Texas Instruments Profit Manager BA-20 Desktop Calculator

by Texas Instruments

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 4.7 x 5 x 1 inches ; 4.8 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B00004TS18
• Item model number: BA-20
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank:
  • #22 in Electronics > Office Electronics > Calculators > Financial & Business
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes
• Date first available at Amazon.com: June 27, 2000

Product Description

Amazon.com Review

The BA-20 Profit Manager desktop is a calculator that looks like it was designed to perform some basic business functions and look good sitting on a desk. It has a sleek case with an aluminum top and a relatively large 10-digit display that is tilted to provide better visibility and less glare. You'll want plenty of light, too, as the BA-20 gets its power from a solar cell and doesn't have a battery backup.

The hard-plastic buttons are completely flat, responsive, and large enough to avoid accidental presses. That's a good thing, because if you make a mistake while entering data into this unit you'll have to correct the old-fashioned way by clearing the entire line instead of simply pressing a backspace key. There are dedicated +/-, Percentage, and Square-Root keys, along with the usual assortment of memory buttons. What gives this product its Profit Manager name are the six blue buttons above the main keypad that provide shortcut access to profit margin, sales, and cost calculations. This lets you enter any two of three variables and the calculator computes the third variable. The BA-20 also supports constants, simplifying repetitious calculations.

Although the BA-20 will appeal to users looking for simplicity of operation, there are a few drawbacks to consider before committing to a purchase. The calculator is a little too wide to serve comfortably as a handheld device, but that is secondary to our concerns about the unit's build quality. The display is covered by a clear panel that is glued to the case, but the one on our review sample had popped out of its mounting during shipping. We tried to reseat it but one side always jutted from the case slightly more than the other side. It's a minor point, but definitely something to check for if you order this otherwise capable product. --T. Byrl Baker

Pros:

• Cost-sell-margin keys quickly compute the third variable when the other two are entered
• Sleek design looks sharp on a desktop

Cons:

• Suspect build quality
• Few features

Product Description

Texas Instruments Simple Calculator BA-20 Calculators

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Love this baby!!, September 9, 2009

By 

Glenn L. Hawkes (Nauvoo, IL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Texas Instruments Profit Manager BA-20 Desktop Calculator (Office Product)

I purchased one of these for everyday office use in 1987. It's worked perfectly sans the clock with battery (in the older models) until last week when a couple of segments in the far right number failed. It's been beat up on my desk in constant use, with no need for batteries, all that time. And it does everything I've ever needed for 98% of sales and marketing number tasks flawlessly, easily, and simply. I don't ever remember having to consult the instruction book to know how to work it like I do my more sophisticated one that I use maybe 2% of the time. And I remember paying about the same for the one I'm retiring as I'll pay now, which is a deal you can't beat. This product is a real winner for both value and features.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Little small for a Desktop, March 19, 2009

By 

T. Burke "takenca" (San Diego, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Texas Instruments Profit Manager BA-20 Desktop Calculator (Office Product)

I was looking for a calculator to use at home in place of my handheld one. I wanted a Desktop calculator so I can enter the numbers without looking at the calculator. Unfortunately, although the keys are larger than the handheld, they are really to small to be considered a Desktop.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Attention sales people....Get one now!, January 30, 2009

By 

Kenneth A. Ouderkirk "KAO" (Lake Oswego, OR) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Texas Instruments Profit Manager BA-20 Desktop Calculator (Office Product)

I am in sales and frankly I do not know what I did before I had this product. A friend turned me on to his Profit Manager BA-20 that he purchased more than a decade ago and the only thing that has changed is the color and the Texas Instruments logo. The reason...it is perfect. Simple and easy to use there is no wasted space. The buttons are large and easy to see and because I can calculate margins, cost, & sell prices quickly it has made me a better negotiator. If you have anything to do with sales you need to have the Profit Manager BA-20.