I have owned top of the line graphing and scientific calculators from TI, HP, Casio, Sharp, etc. Back when I was a student, TI's were very cheaply made and often broke quite easily amd similar HP products lasted almost forever. This machine, the HP48GX (graphing and expandable), continues that HP tradition and is definitely put together very well. The HP48GX also includes the full and very extensive library of solutions from various branches of Physics and Engineering, etc. The pros and cons as I see it are:
PROS:
1) The Hp48GX has all the standard regular features plus CAS (Computer Algebra System) features that we have come to expect on such a machine, plus many nice very detailed and topic as well as course specific APPS that are already preloaded or can be added in electronically and quite simply from the HP or HPcalc or other websites.
2) It even works quite naturally with complex number solutions of equations (it can be switched from a real to a complex operating mode and even back again as desired). This machine is so versatile however that it will even evaluate symbolic matrices and it even evaluate the physical units of extremely complex equations as well as its numerical answer(s) (see more discusssion on this topic below).
3) This machine itself is relatively slow compared to the HP50g for example, but still comes with a graphical interface and resultant plotting system. The resultant plots are high quality and are very intuitive for the learning process.
4) It has a nice old style rectangular body design (similar to the Casio FX-2.0 or FX-2.0Plus) that sits very nicely both on a desk or a table as well as in your hand.
5) It has a large on-board main memory (by 1992 standards) that can be readily expanded and that is enough for tackling some memory intensive problems.
6) Although it is called a calculator, it is really a small, handheld computer system which can tackle problems from the most simple to ones with quite complex features.
7) The famous RPN (Reverse Polish Notation) operating system is available to the user.
8) The complete set of the predicted units of the solution of a complicated equation (or set of equations) can be determined independently of and simultaneously with its numerical answer(s). This is a feature that I do not know of on any other calculator system (except the later HP49 and HP50 series).
9) As on all such HP RPN models, a very fine self-test system is available to make sure your machine is fully functional all the time and a reliable clock (with seconds) is also continuously available.
CONS:
1) Some functions that you would readily expect to be available with a single key press require instead at least two key presses, but usually with only a single shift key press first.
2) The learning curve is quite steep, although very well worth the considerable effort, but this will heavily deter some good students from learning the RPN skills that can be effectively used for your entire lifetime once they are successfully mastered.
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HP HP48GX RPN Expandable Graphic Calculator.
