CASIO fx‑4000P

Description

Brand: CASIO
Model: fx-4000P
Type: Programmable scientific calculator
Picture: CASIO fx-4000P
Batteries: CR 2032 x 2
Lifetime: Introduced: ca. 1985
Terminated: unknown
Notes: Funny, when I bought this calculator on a Dutch auction site iBazar) it was actually the second time I bought an CASIO fx-4000P. When I first bought one I was still a student with little money, and I could just about afford the CASIO fx-4000P. I bought it, and then suddenly noticed the CASIO fx-7000G. That meant trouble! I wanted the 7000G, but bought the 4000P. After some evenings using the CASIO fx-4000P (and after some begging to my parents for some money) I had found a bug in the CASIO fx-4000P, and it was accepted as a reason to exchange it for the CASIO fx-7000G. I was happy. Don’t ask me what bug it was for I don’t have a clue anymore.

Only now I find the CASIO fx-4000P much more elegant than the CASIO fx-7000G. I was happy to finally find one (thanks Tjeerd Mulder).

Anyway, about the calculator itself. As far as I know this is CASIO’s first (none-basic) calculator that doesn’t just store keystrokes as programs but offers something more. Something right in-between keystroke programming and a dedicated programming language. Needs some getting used to but works beautifully when you get the hang of it. The CASIO fx-4000P has only about 550 programming steps which is a disadvantage.

This calculator (as do many other CASIO scientific calculators) uses one and the same key for both the constant π as well as exponents. This works as follows. When you first enter digits, the "EXP"-key will enable you to enter the numbers exponent, otherwise it will enter the constant π.

This calculator’s keys are different than those of many other CASIO calculators. They need to be touched only lightly to make contact. Personally I love this design and its key action.