CASIO fx‑8700G

Description

Brand: CASIO
Model: fx-8700G
Type: Graphical programmable scientific calculator
Picture: CASIO fx-8700G
Batteries: CR 2032 x 3 + CR 2025 x 1 (memory backup)
Lifetime: Introduced: ca. 1990
Terminated: unknown
Notes: Although at first glance this calculator seems simpler than other CASIO’s like the CASIO fx-7000G, but thanks to this calculator’s menu keys it has a lot to offer. If you like this calculator also take a look at one of its successors, such as the CASIO fx-9700GE.

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.

The calculator has quite some memory (15000 steps).

The menu keys take a little getting used to, even more because the display width is different from the added with of the six function keys. The menu function for F1 for instance doesn’t appear directly above the key.

Other that that the menu-operated functions of this calculator work really well. Take for instance the built-in matrix operations. There’s a menu entry for entering data into matrixes A and B, and menu’s to perform matrix operations, which will be stored in matrix C. There’s also a full blown text editor in this calculator, which even includes search functions.

I found this calculator on a flee market in Paris in 1999, and it’s rather worn. Somehow this calculator’s paint comes off easily. I was pleasantly surprised to find it in working order. With working batteries even!

Some drawbacks, to switch it off you have to use "shift-on", and another drawback is the fact that it requires four expensive batteries. And the fact that some of the functions are only available using the menu keys, but that’s probably just a matter of getting used to.

Another flaw with this calculator (and many of the other CASIO models in this series) is the so called protective cover, which in many cases does more damage than it does good. When sliding the cover on and of the display can easily get damaged, and almost all of these CASIO’s have scratches on the display. In my opinion this is a very stupid design flaw. Users beware!

The funny thing with calculators bought on street markets is that sometimes the calculator’s memory contains the strangest things. Like in this case.

The built-in text editor contained a file named "GRENDEL" with the following contents:

  ,
 I m easy like
 Sunday morning..

 Hi Lenny, I just
 wanted to do
 something else
 than this stupid
 math exercise I
 just can t get
 the hang of. So
 I decided to
 write a really
 cool and
 interesting note
 with a really
 cool name like
 GRENDEL, that
 will get erased
 real quick
 because I have
 absolutely
 nothing of great
 interest to say.
 Well, I guess I
 should stop my
 stupidities here
 so bye, and see
 around...

 Anonymous
      
There was also a program with the following contents:

 6x5 KOALA,MA GEISHA
 MA FLEUR AU JASMIN

 BONNES VACANCES TU
 VAS ME MANQUER

 TOI-NON-PLUS