Casio fx-991CW Unboxing & Initial Thoughts

[@TheCalculatorGuide]

Nice video Jack, thanks again for the shoutout. I share your opinion of the FORMAT button. As you mention, as Casio discontinue the fx-991EX, this will become the flagship Casio scientific going forward.

[@b28mathstutor]

Thanks for this. I agree with your sentiments. I like my 991EX and it appears to me that the drawbacks of the new one outweigh the improvements quite significantly. (But you can switch between fraction and decimal (approximation) answers by using Shift- EXE, which isn't too bad, then just press EXE again to go back to a fraction.) Unfortunately, Casio will no doubt discontinue the 991EX in a year or so so we're all going to be stuck with this one. At least it doesn't have yellow text on a pale grey background like one of the GCSE model options!

[@TLMaths]

Yes I have since found out about the shortcut to get to decimals, but it’s not ideal. Disappointing overall

[@joseph_donovan]

@@TLMaths Why in tarnation couldn't Casio canvass your and @TheCalculatorGuide's ideas for the CW's layout, etc? Pi would have had a dedicated key for a start! Bah!

[@LeRoi81]

Shift-EXE isn't an option if you have Ans in your Calculation. Shift-EXE executes the Calculation again and does not switch the Result.

[@wb.c]

Biggest improvements with 991cw is 60 minute timeout, spreadsheet data is not lost when switching modes, same for stat data, f(x) and g(x) are also not lost, and can be used outside of table, like in the solver (you can fine g(x)=d/dx(f(x),x=x) and then in solver set g(x)=0 and solve for x to find local extremum), and spreadsheet modes. Power cycle still clears everything except values stored in variables.

[@TLMaths]

I never used the spreadsheet feature with the 991ex

[@davidfisher2359]

That’s really poor, Jaws 2 is a better sequel. They’ve made it look cheaper and made it more awkward to use without adding anything of real value. Fx-991EX far more intuitive.

[@wb.c]

biggest lost feature with the 991CW is the loss of ":" and "CALC". You can no longer set up sequential calculations.

[@TLMaths]

Burying the nCr feature in a menu really didn't help either

[@arifin489]

Nah I was thinking of getting this one, but the old classwiz is much better, bigger buttons, more automated functions

[@jimsimpson1006]

I've just recently bought one and can't say I'm all that impressed. I mean, no doubt it is a very powerful machine but it is just so unintuitive to use and often seems to take too many button presses to do something. Maybe I'll get used to it.

[@arunabhalahiri4931]

I think this new format would be more intuitive to a newbie, who is exposed to this as his first scientific calc.

[@joseph_donovan]

As you noted Jack, the navigation, HOME, OK, Undo, etc, keys are screaming out for the same lick of paint as the SHIFT key! Will have to get my dinky tins of paint and brushes out! Bah!

[@a.3160]

Why not review the Casio graphing calculators?

[@NottsCycleInstructor]

Thanks. I will keep going with my (cracking/crumbling) white case Classwiz

[@user-ns8je3hf5h]

That was a very neat review thanks, I think it's fair to say it's best to stick to the old classwizz before the exams as I don't see much benefit to the newer model. Plus it will take time getting used to the button format. Do you agree?

[@TLMaths]

Oh yes definitely don’t swap. It’ll be for the new year 1s in September.

[@chinmaymane3191]

But ther ex model is out of stock everywhere

[@MinaElgun]

Hi Mr Jack, thanks for the video! my friends and I do OCR Further Maths Additional Pure, and we were wondering if you will do videos on those topics? We find your Further Maths videos really useful and hope that you make some for Additional Pure :) Thank you!

[@MusicFanatical1]

Yes this new calc feels a missed opportunity overall, changing things that didn't need changing. One advantage though is the cardboard packaging, much easier to open and recycle than the hard plastic boxes of previous generation.

[@joseph_donovan]

PS You've done the unboxing Jack, can we now see you do the tear down? After which we can add it to the best 1,000 films to see. 🙂

[@Gekko858]

Thanks for your review. With the 991-CW now released I can’t get hold of 991-EX. Would you advise for the CG-50 over the 991-CW? For ease of use.

[@TLMaths]

If you’re looking for a graphical calculator go for the Numworks. It’s way more intuitive than the cg50

[@Gekko858]

@@TLMaths thank you. Just wonder if the CW will feel easy to use after a while for maths/fm a level with functions now in menus. Unsure whether to switch to graphical or not..

[@TLMaths]

You’ll get used to it for sure. The majority of complaints come from teachers who are so used to the old layout that we feel completely lost with the new one! That being said, I’ve had to get used to it while teaching this year, but it’s still not my preferred calculator to use in class.

[@AceOfHearts001]

Hi Jack, Many thanks for this fantastic video. I just dont know if Casio actually listens to us. This model does not feel like an upgrade... I just hope they dont mess up the CG50 upgrade which I use a lot. I am curious why you dont use it as a staple A Level calculator...

[@TLMaths]

We had training on the CG50 a year and a half ago from Casio, and we all found it very clunky and unintuitive. The Numworks is so much better for this and requires very little instruction so this is the one we promote.

[@riddler0121]

I got used to the cg50😂

[@AceOfHearts001]

Ok, I actually find the CG50 really intuitive to use, it has its flaws but I find it indespensable for A Level exams. How comes you dont use Numworks for all your classes and videos and prefer the Classwiz?... Im a student, I had to stop using one of them (Classwiz) in exchange for CG50 as it can be jarring switching.

[@AceOfHearts001]

@@riddler0121 That calculator is pretty awesome... some nagging flaws like no ANS key.

[@TLMaths]

I don't use the Numworks in videos as not everyone has one. The Classwiz is the standard A-Level Maths calculator so the great majority of students have that calculator.

[@LK-sk9wl]

I don’t know if it’s feasible for you but could you make an a level further maths summary video like your a level maths summary video last year

[@Mathspaperks1ks2]

Can I just ask how much did it cost? Which website did you purchase it off? Is it useful for gcse students? Or solely a level maths?

[@TLMaths]

Casio gave me a freebie. They’re currently on Amazon for about £33. There’s a GCSE version of the new Classwiz, the fx-85, can be explored here: education.casio.co.uk/classwiz/

[@chonkycat123]

How did they mess this up so badly? Shoving every feature into a menu significantly reduces workflow, not to mention the horrible design. 0/10

[@joseph_donovan]

By not talking and listening to Jack @TLMaths and @TheCalculatorGuide and, I suspect, a sizeable sample of maths students. They could have spoken to me! Bah!

[@nosir1479]

Hi. Do you know any calculators that have the same/similar functionality as the FX-CG50?

[@TLMaths]

The Numworks calculator

[@arifin489]

HP prime

[@AceOfHearts001]

CG50 is an awesome calculator! Now I feel they will mess it up having seen what they done to the classwizz...😢

[@H1289-h8o]

Calculator looks 10 years older than classwiz

[@raunox5938]

no alpha button?

[@abzhuofficial]

They have just shoved the ABCDEFXYZ functions in the SHIFT layer

[@henriquevgf]

This is straight up a downgrade from the 991ex. The improvements are too irrelevant to even be taken into consideration

[@wb.c]

Shift + EXE gives you decimal conversion right away

[@TLMaths]

Still two button presses rather than one, and when using this in quadratic solver it moves you on to the next solution, which meant I wrote down the wrong solution during a lesson.

[@joseph_donovan]

@@TLMaths Strewth! That's a class action right there for you Jack! Take Casio to the calculator court for compensation! Bah!

[@LeRoi81]

No, it isn't a conversion. It is a new Calculation with decimal output. If you have Ans in your Calculation line this is not what you want.

[@Sheena1234ization]

Wow, that’s ugly