Comparison of HP 12C and HP 17BII+ Financial Calculators

Are you looking for a financial or business calculator? In this video we compare HP's two high end models. You can buy the 12C or 17BII+ on Amazon using the following affiliate links:
amzn.to/2VHIZRM (12C)
amzn.to/37DIHhE (17BII+)
In this video I talk through the functionality of the HP 12C and the HP 17BII+ financial calculators. The HP 12C is a landscape format RPN calculator that was first introduced by Hewlett Packard in 1981. I walk through an example of a time value of money calculation to calculate mortgage payments based on compounding interest. I then explain how keystroke programming works on the HP 12C. The HP 17BII++ is an evolution of the HP 17B calculator introduced in 1988. Even though they provide similar capabilities the operation of the HP 17BII++ is quite different from the HP 12C since uses algebraic notation as well as a menu-system navigated by soft keys. I show how the HP Solver function works on the HP 17BII+. The solver allows the users to enter formulae into the calculator and then solve for an unknown value. I finish by talking about the pros and cons of each model.
For more information on the HP 12C refer to the following links:
support.hp.com...
en.wikipedia.o...
www.hpmuseum.o...
For more information on the HP 17BII+ refer to the following links:
support.hp.com...
en.wikipedia.o...
www.hpmuseum.o...
For more calculator videos check out my channel at / calculatorculture

[@seanhunter111]

I have 2 HP12C's that I bought about 20 years ago when I worked in the securities division of Goldman Sachs. I have used them both a lot over that time and am still on the batteries that came with them so I have no idea how long the batteries last other than > 20years. The (small) investment in learning the calculator really pays off in use -which is a complete joy. Secondly 12cs are so common in finance that lots of basic books of financial formulae have a cribsheet in them somewhere about how to do each formula on a 12C (not that it's hard tbh). When the reviewer says it's robust that's really not giving them enough credit. The story on the HP museum site is there was a zookeeper who used a 12C for calculating ratios of animal feed. He accidentally dropped it into the food and it subsequently passed through the digestive tract of a hippo. It was still able to calculate the yield to maturity of a bond after cleaning. Loads of my colleagues had 12Cs yet I've never seen anyone with a 17BII+. Make of that what you will.

[@MusikPiratCH]

You don't really have to calculate your monthly payings first (by dividing and multiplying it) with the 12c. With your g-key and i respectively n you have direct access to this monthly payments (of functions)! That's what makes the 12c that outstanding! :D

[@AFluffyMobius]

Same with the 17bii/bii+, blueshift N or i does the same as the 12c. Though that's one downfall to a certain extent of the 17bii/bii+, features like that aren't initially obvious since its menu driven.

[@walnuthills11]

Very nice! I'm about to review the original 12C myself.

[@melodychest9020]

Very good demo! The 12C takes the cake for its form factor. The RPN is a pleasure to use after initiation. The HP 17BII+ is great with is Solve feature but the display sucks .. not very readable in low light .. it would be a killer calculator if they had a bigger screen cos of the alpha menu system they have which takes up quite a bit of space. Cheers.

[@greenhammer1148]

the 17B is great. the best feature are the tactile keys. I've had two already as well as a 19Bii. But at around the 5 to 7 year mark the keys will just break down on you. The 19bii is worse. the plastic housing itself will fall apart. HOpefully will get a chance to own a 12c.

[@batracio2]

17b or 17 bii or 17 bii+ ?

[@GeoCalifornian]

The HP Solver is terrific!! /Lonewolf Liberties

[@mauriciolacruz]

Is the upper silver band (which contains the calculator screen) on the 12C Platinum made of metal (aluminum / stainless steel) or plastic? On the old 12C ones it is metal (it looks brushed brass), but I'm not sure on the modern 12C Platinum... ¿?

[@CalculatorCulture]

The silver band is brushed aluminum

[@mauriciolacruz]

@@CalculatorCulture Well, I confirm it is metal. Although it looks glossy plastic to the eye, but it is cold to the touch (sensitive skin) and it is conductive (tested with a multimeter). So yes, it is metal, covered with sort of transparent coating protection (protective lacquer, etc.)

[@Wishwader]

I'm not familiar with HP calculators. Do HP do a financial calculator with a review feature which steps over each part of a calculation? Like some of the Casio calculators do (eg dj120d). Looks like a handy feature to check for typos in a long calculation.

[@PR-cj8pd]

That's not applicable with RPN

[@hacaify]

good

[@cascounty]

Anyone know how to find Pi on the HP 12c Calculator, thanks so much.

[@CalculatorCulture]

Being a financial calculator it doesn’t have a function for PI but if you just want to use it as a constant you can type it in and store it in a memory location (STO 1) and recall it when you need it (RCL 1). Or if you mean how would you write a program to find PI, there is a listing here www.hpmuseum.org/cgi-sys/cgiwrap/hpmuseum/articles.cgi?read=899

[@cascounty]

@@CalculatorCulture thanks so much for the response...:)

[@an1rb]

The new 12Cs are so cheap and 15Cs are so expensive, I wish I could flash the 15C firmware into the 12C.

[@GeoCalifornian]

11:55 is where the Solver fun begins!

[@pelusin2]

Thanks!!

[@GameboyMufti]

I like plastic buttons rather then these rubber material something which is easy to key in and fast to key in , TI is too low quality and also doesnt have it. For CFA I do recommend TI BA2 but overall this is way better in build quality then TI, good thing about TI is that it has an app which is very handy on iphone specially when you are in office and dont want to carry a calculator with you. Also HP display is not very good and it doesnt show basic operation which $5 Casio calculator will show.

[@rudygtrz]

to close to your mic

[@CalculatorCulture]

Yeah the audio is this one is really poor, I have fixed it in my more recent videos.