<p>I am giving my SAT Subject Tests (English Lit and Math Level 2) on October 9th, and will be retaking the SAT Reasoning Test In May/June next year (scored 2280 on 1st attempt, wanna cross 2300). </p>
<p>With that in mind, I'll need to buy a graphing calculator. However, with my budget, I have shortlisted 4 candidates, and they are as follows -</p>
<p>So, could you please recommend any one out of these 4? On ease of use, number of functions and general experience/reviews? Which one should I pick?</p>
<p>It is quite a bit above my budget, but I think I can get it. Tell me though, is it really that much better? Leave the ones on my shortlist, how does it compare to the Casio FX9860G?</p>
<p>I have actually heard very good things about the first calculator on the list, the HP 40GS. While TI is the most common graphing calculator used, there is nothing wrong with Casio or HP; in fact, they’re usually cheaper than TI’s. Since the HP 40GS has a CAS and the TI-84 Plus doesn’t, I would recommend you get the HP. You just might have some difficulty finding someone who knows how to use one if you get stuck.</p>
<p>The only reason I recommend TI-84 is because of its widespread use and known utility among most. The calculators you’ve listed are ones that most students aren’t acquainted with.</p>
<p>^That’s true. That’s why I told the OP that he/she may have difficulty finding a person that knows how to use those calculators if he/she needs help. However, the 84 Plus doesn’t have features that are available on the HP–primarily a CAS. Because the OP may have trouble getting the 84 Plus, he/she probably won’t be able to afford a TI-89, the cheapest TI with a CAS. That’s why I would recommend the HP calculator; it shouldn’t be too hard to figure out, right?</p>
<p>OK, thank you very much for your opinions guys! I had a look at the package, and it includes -</p>
<p>Slide-on Protective Cover
Batteries User Manual
USB Cable
Unit to Unit Cable CD with Connectivity Software, Aplets and Advanced User Manual</p>
<p>So, I do hope that the official software/help will come to my aid if I do get stuck. Otherwise, there’s always the interwebs right? It might not be as widespread as the TI-84 but surely someone must have it (over here) ?</p>
<p>And, I live in India, in a small town and am the only person in my <em>school</em> who’s taking the SAT and aiming to come to the US. So, as such, I have precious little help if I do get stuck, Casio or Texas or HP :)</p>
<p>^OP does live in India and he/she has mentioned that he/she is the only one that plans on coming to the US. I’m not sure if his/her school will have calculators available for loan.</p>
<p>Though I must agree that the TI-84 (as well as the cheaper 83, though they both work the same way; the 83 just has less memory and works a bit slower) is idiot-proof. I only used the manual at the beginning and I figured out everything else by myself.</p>
<p>lazygarfield: did you end up buying the HP 40gs? I bought one recently and I can’t figure out how to program it! It shows an “invalid syntax” msg for EVERY program that I type out. I type the syntax EXACTLY as it is shown in the Barron’s manual and other websites/threads, but somehow the calculator just doesn’t understand the commands. Please tell me what you did if you see this; did you program it at all or did you just use it for the ‘graphing’ function? Thanks a ton!</p>