Odds of financial calculator actually dying? (battery-wise)

lulu123

Did this ever happen to anybody?

How long does the battery last? Considering that you do or do not use it regularly...


Ref: BA II Plus

Sarah

http://forum.300hours.com/discussion/143/the-resale-value-of-my-ba-ii-plus-calculator#latest

You'll have to read through it, basically you don't have to worry. Ignore the violence.

lulu123

@diya thanks! reassuring but I still think I will ask a friend to lend me theirs as an extra haha

Zee

Yeah - I don't think that will happen. @sophie, @christine and myself all never ran out, and I think @sophie and @christine had hand-me-downs...

lulu123

@zee @diya

Also wondering: are we allowed to bring another non-financial calculator? I would be happy to bring along my scientific calculator (also Texas instruments) because you can see everything you typed (unlike the BA II which only shows the number u JUST typed and that is so annoying!!!!!!).


Does anyone else dislike this about the BA II ??

Zee

lulu123 said:

@zee @diya

Also wondering: are we allowed to bring another non-financial calculator? I would be happy to bring along my scientific calculator (also Texas instruments) because you can see everything you typed (unlike the BA II which only shows the number u JUST typed and that is so annoying!!!!!!).


Does anyone else dislike this about the BA II ??

Nope, non-approved calculators will not be allowed at all. They're pretty thorough and strict about this (and other exam rules!).

Snippy

The perseverance award should go to the BA II Plus!

Marc

Do people here have a preference between the BA II Plus and the BA II Plus professional?

Before continuing, I need to assure @lulu123 not to be at all worried about battery issues. I bought my original BAII Plus when I started my MBA studies almost 7 years ago and it's still on its original battery. I used it pretty much every day for 2 years while in business school, and I use it every day as my work calculator.

Having said that, I did get envious when I learned that there was a BA II Plus Professional. All the cool kids at business school had one and it was (literally) a shinny new toy that I had to have. More practically, the Professional provides some outputs that are not available on the original model. I I recall correctly, it was when I learned that the Professional model gave you modified duration that I immediately ran out to buy one (I actually own two Professionals, but that's another story).

The thing is, I actually much prefer using the original BA II plus. As I said, it's my work calculator and I vastly prefer the feel of it compared to the Professional. Also, while I would never go into a CFA exam without a calculator (actually, I will require a double-holster for my calculators on June 1st), my recollection is that you don't actually need it nearly as much as you think you're going to need it.

Finally, I think that it is extremely unlikely that CFAI would write questions that give Professional model users an advantage over others.

I guess that this discussion is moot since I will be packin' heat in the form of both my BA II Plus and my BA II Plus Professional (maybe even both of them). I'll plan to use my trusty BA II Plus, but pull out the Professional if I get a question on Modified Duration - does anyone know what other extra outputs you get from the Professional? However, I suspect that the ol' girl will be more that enough on June 1st.

It's time to give her one last ride and let her go out in style.

Zee

I never had access to a Professional. As long as you don't make me use the HP-12C I'm good....

Sarah

My BAll professional plus is really durable. It has survived many coffee spills and falling multiple times!

Zee

We're still planning a calculator destruction session as discussed in a previous thread. Lack of tall accessible buildings here in London though (to drop the calculator from).

lulu123

am I the only one who hates the fact that these calculators don't show what you have typed in throughout? i.e. you press 200 + 400 and you see: First screen: 200. Next screen 400.
My other (non-financial) TI calculator would show the whole "200+400".
SO MUCH BETTER

Sarah

@lulu123 I I vaguely remember hating the calculator for level I. Now I don't really care, I think it just grows on you...

christine

lulu123 said:

am I the only one who hates the fact that these calculators don't show what you have typed in throughout? i.e. you press 200 + 400 and you see: First screen: 200. Next screen 400.
My other (non-financial) TI calculator would show the whole "200+400".
SO MUCH BETTER

I did as well - if you're anything like me though, you stop being bothered about this after a while.

RaviVooda

Whether the battery lasts or not is a different question. The question is what if the battery dies ? Are you ready to spend another 6/12 months to preparing for exam just because you could not do pass because your calculator was dead!!? Nobody will be lending their calculator during exam for sure. For Level-1, people might still get through, but for other 2 it is impossible to clear without extensive use of calculator. I think its kind of insurance for your exam

MattyJ

Battery lasting or battery dying...the real question on everyone's mind is:

Is my calculator going to do an Ashton Kutcher and 'Punk Me' in my exam?

I didn't want to take that chance...so took two calculators. Along with my 10 pencils.

sankrutimehta

@RaviVooda: I have used the same calculator in L1, L2 and L3 all trough the exam and the practise. No way it would die just about in L2 unless you use an old one. But no harm carrying extra calcs if that gives u peace of mind like @MattyJ

christine

Two calculators is the way forward - we also suggest this in the blog