Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I have been using both the 12c Platinum (call it 12cP) and 12C for study and at work. I use the 12C gold more often than the 12cP. My biggest disappointment with the 12cP is its relatively slow processing SPEED vis-a-vis the predecessor 12C and its competition (the HP10B, TIBA2plus). The 12cP is notably slower than the 12C especially when performing Time Value of Money (TVM) calculations. Running both HP12s side-by-side with the same data input, my 12cP has been consistently slower by 50% as compared to my 12C. If possible, I would suggest that potential users and buyers try this data set on both the 12C and 12cP before buying. Clear register. Find [i] after input [PMT]=-1458;[FV]=0,[n]=84,[PV]=103600. The HP12C would take 20 seconds "running" while the HP12cP would take about 30 seconds to give the same answer [i]=0.4059! This apparent lack of speed is difficult to accept for a supposedly latest financial calculator upgrade from any manufacturer! It is a bad joke, considering that my 12 years old HP10B could perform the same TVM calculation in just 2 to 3 seconds! However,both HP12Cs are great value for money if the user consider the TOTAL solutions and free website support and training which is available from HP. In addition, there are lots of literature and solutions written by third party users over the still ongoing 20+ years production run of the 12C. IMHO,in addition to excellent user support, the PROGRAMMING capability of the HP12c is the other major face saving advantage which put both the 12Cs over its TI challengers for now. The good people @ HP may like to know that 96% of my fellow students are now using their competitor's Texas Instrument TI-BAIIplus! The BAII-plus is chosen for its 50% lower price and much faster processing speed. The relative slower speed of the HP12c/12cP does not pull the crowds from TI, especially when speed is much needed during stressful exams condition. A slower processing speed would also cancels off the advantage of learning RPN. After using the misnomer of a sucessor HP12cP, I personally feel that the 12C is still very much the industry standard. However, it would be better if HP would consider incorporating some useful improvements like a [BACKSPACE] key if it is technically feasible. Also, seasoned 12C users of the RPN would not miss the ALG mode on the 12cP especially when it HP doesn't have ( ) included. The HP12cP is an odd ball ALG calculator from this viewpoint. A suggestion to the dear good people at HP, please let future HP12C GOLD upgrades remain as an exclusively RPN machine. I would also be very glad if somebody from HP could highlight to me on which are the 10+ more (130+ total)improved functions on the 12cP as compared to the 12C (120+ functions) to help me justify the additional price of 28%+ paid for the 12cP in Singapore. Both my 12C/cP sets were "Made in China" by probably the same HP OEM to reasonably high HP quality. At a glance, the HP12C gold apparently has better cosmetic finishing than the 12cP. In addition, the keys on the 12C does feel very much better than those on the 12cP. In a nutshell, the 12cP is more of "an alternative to 12C with ALG mode" than an upgrade or a sucessor of the 12C GOLD. When choosing between the 12C or 12cP, it is wiser to go for the 12C the "good old" 12C or 12C GOLD! Smart consumers who do not need extra memory for programming and the ALG mode, should go for GOLD, buy the 12C GOLD standard until HP could produce a real and wholehearted improvement of the 12C line. Thank you for reading my personal user experience with the HP12c PLATINUM.