How Casio's Basic Calculator Kills its Competitors (Casio MX-8V)

Member Name: Nar2

Product:	Casio MX-8V
Date:	05/02/09 (353 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Smart, functional, does what it says, relatively cheap price. well made, large screen.

Disadvantages: Not many

Why is it when you need something and its something you usually have, that at the time when you need it, it's never around? For the last couple of weeks I've been doing cover work that other teachers were supposed to be doing; working out examination marks, totalling up marks, working out the percentages and having to fathom the grades as applicable to the marks, percentages and half marks. It really is a confusing time when teachers are pressured to work out percentages from prelims and mock exams, and bad enough when you have to re-channel and repeat the figures onto the report cards.


Although I don't own a calculator of my own I've never really seen the need to when I can either use the PC calculator through the accessories on my Windows or simply use the calculator function on the Dashboard function on my MAC computer. Either way it's a free application on either branded computer and so far has really been of great use when working out percentages and adding up marks. However as I have been doing continual full time supply work for the last seven months I don't always have my computers to hand.


After visiting Argos who never seemed to have the cheap calculators in stock; John Lewis who wanted to charge an earth and even Tesco who had run out of cheap calculators I suddenly remembered that Ryman stationers sells calculators. Years before I purchased two cheap calculators that were very near to the brand name of Casio, but were by default and by their price extremely cheap calculators that supposedly had a two way power function via battery and solar power. However after the first 2 weeks, cheap Casio-wannabe calculator 1 decided it had enough of my constant punching in numbers and some of the numbers in their frames started to go wonky before freezing down to the body and then rendering its function as completely useless. Cheap Casim (or whatever Ryman sell these days that are supposed copies of Casio models) number 2 didn't last long either, managing to leak LCD on the poorly made LCD screen itself whilst failing to operate with its so-called 2 way power. In all with both calculators I had spent a total of £8 which for many isn't bad - but it shouldn't be like that in the first place. I have tried pound shop types that ping, zing and ring each time you press a button down and that gets really annoying after a while!


When Ryman offered and recommended me to try their Casio range, I was flummoxed as to what to try. The last proper "Casio" calculator I bought was a scientific Casio that had cost me in the region of £20! Casio it seems have been busy though; in the mid 1980's and 1990's they had two distinct styles; Scientific and then normal. Now however Casio have really gone to town on dressing up their standard non-Scientific based calculator with several different versions such as a version for currency alone, a version for working out percentages and a version for working out tax! Then there's the basic appeal of the Casio MX-8V desk calculator which couldn't be more basic in look if it tried; the one advantage on its side is that it costs just £3-99 to £5-99 so it's not going to break the bank if it gets stolen. And unlike basic calculators that lie flat on surfaces the MX 8V has a slightly angled screen that sits up permanently meaning you don't have to strain your eyes to see the numbers, also helped along by large numbers in the slightly wider screen on offer and two rubber seals on the bottom to help it grip to almost any flat and level surface.


In use the MX 8V is unashamedly basic but the buttons are well spaced out, colour coded in either dark grey to light grey to highlight the important functions like cancel, repeat cancel and the addition, subtraction, multiply and divide buttons - all of the buttons including the numerical key pad move with precision and don't feel like they are going to split in use. The memory buttons consist of memory repeat, memory minus and memory plus as well as a squared function to work out the square root of numbers. Much as I would use these buttons I don't but it's good to see they are included here. There is also a percentage button and a quick skip plus or minus combination button. The On button is the only one in red so it's not exactly hard to miss. Eight numbers also fill up the display so it's good to see that Casio have not missed an empty space on the actual LCD panel and the numbers on their own are very clear to see with no fading even when more numbers are pushed.


The key quite literally to Casio's well made calculator is the plastic involved; Casio have engineered an almost "grease proof" protected layer on each key that helps you to tap numbers in without sliding off the keys. I wish Casim or whoever they are called had done the same with their calculators. Each button is well spaced out so its near impossible to push two buttons down unless you are wearing thick gloves!


If there is one downside that I think merits a mention then it's the fact that again like so many calculators on the market, the MX 8V has a "two way" battery power function. Now normally I'd assume that if the power from the battery starts to fail, then the solar panel kicks in to resume normal power. It doesn't however work quite like that regardless of if you try to put your finger over the small solar strip to get it switched off - the permanent battery on board restores the power even if you try to sneak a finger over the solar strip and in this respect this is how 2 way power works; to save on energy there's even an "off" button.


A quick glance to the back of this calculator confirms why the model feels so well made; it is made in Tokyo and against Chinese made items which feel almost inferior or less well thought out in addition due to its poorly worded manual, owners should notice differences straight away over thinner Chinese made calculators if not on slower functions but general plastic quality and use. Here Casio have spaced out the buttons and the whole item feels generally good to use even though it is wide and flatter than most mini-calculators on the market, hence its "desk" title in its version. Hats off to Casio for designing something so basic but at the same time functional, reasonably smart and very easy to use! They've been making calculators for so long; they should be the first port of call for buyers looking to buy an easy to use calculator. Thanks for reading. ©Nar2 2009

www.casio.com

Summary: A basic desk calculator that does what it says, but reasonably well made and simple.