Texas Instruments BA II Plus Professional Financial Calculator
by Texas Instruments
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Texas Instruments BA II Plus Professional Financial Calculator
Customer Review: TI BAII Plus Pro versus HP 10BII
Summary: 5 Stars
Beginning with the first HP 11C that I bought 25 years ago to the HP 100LX that I continue to cling to, I've found that HP makes the best calculators. So, when a class I'm taking permitted only the HP 10BII or the TI BAII Plus, I immediately went for the HP.
First off, the HP has no RPN. I read in other reviews that it is selectable with the 10BII, but after reading the entire manual, I can say that the calculator regular input only (after all, it has no Enter key).
Beyond the lack of RPN, (which I suppose I could get used to) I was not particularly impressed with the available functions, so I started looking at the BAII Plus Pro.
In the end, I ordered one of them too, and did a side-by-side comparison. After reading both manuals and running through the practice exercises, it isn't much of a comparison.
First, the physical characteristics. The HP is a bit thinner, lighter, and narrower, though still feels solid. The screens are equally good (though the HP does allow you to adjust the contrast). The HP looks like a calculator while the TI looks more like a remote control, but I suppose that is a matter of taste.
The reviews for the non-pro BAII Plus mention mushy keys and missed keystrokes. I can't speak to that, but that has certainly been fixed on the Pro. The keys have a very solid click to them (kind of like an HP).
There are four more keys on the TI than on the HP, and the HP keys are larger and further apart, so that may be of benefit to some (though the TI does sport a jumbo-size "equals" key, which is helpful).
In the features contest, the TI simply does handsprings around the HP. The HP offers TVM, Cash Flow, Amortization, IRR, Markup, interest rate conversions and several statistical functions.
However, the TI includes all of those plus adds in Bond calculations, Depreciation, Breakeven, Date calculations, and Profit Margin. It so happens that we're covering Bonds and Depreciation in the course I'm taking, so the HP is of much less utility.
The TI uses prompted worksheets for its functions and has arrow keys to scroll through the inputs. No such feature on the HP. For example, in a situation where you want to go back and review a series of cash flows you've entered, the HP requires a lot of keystrokes. Pressing RCL + CFj + Number will show you a single flow. To see the frequency, you then have to press RCL + Shift + Nj. Each flow has to be accessed individually with this series of keystrokes. You can change the amount of the flow or the frequency, but if you need to delete or insert a flow, you have to clear all entries and start over.
On the TI, you press CF and you are instantly in the cash flow worksheet and you can scroll through the entries with the arrow keys. The flow will be shown first, followed by the frequency and there is a label telling you what you're looking at. The values can be updated as you go and flows can be inserted or deleted as needed.
That is how it is with all the worksheets. Entering and reviewing inputs is much easier on the TI. That goes for the memory locations too. The calculators have the same number of locations and both have direct access via STO and RCL keys, but the TI also allows you to scroll through them in a list and do independent calculations with each. The TI also has a "last result" key which is handy.
On the speed front, I found the HP and TI to be pretty much neck-and-neck but a very narrow victory goes to the HP when doing IRR problems.
A few odds and ends: The HP has a limit of 14 cash flows with 99 occurrences while the TI goes up to 32 flows with 9,999 occurrences (though I've not seen problems that ever go beyond a handful of flows). This win is offset by the TI limit of 50 data pairs in statistical data while the HP claims to have "no limit". Either way, I can't imagine trying to knock out a problem that would tax either of these capacities on a calculator anyway.
HP has come up significantly short in this segment of the financial calculator market. There isn't a single reason to pick HP's product when the choice includes the BAII Plus Pro. Even the price was not a huge difference, the TI was more, but worth every nickel. For that matter, the non-pro is priced even closer to the HP and has practically the same functionality.
Customer Review: With a few minor changes, the best financial unit ever made
Summary: 5 Stars
This is my first ever review of any product. I own a lot of calculators. Mostly HPs (12C, 10B, 48GX, 49G+, 50G), a few Casios, Sharps, other specialized types. This is my first TI and it is a real nice piece of work.
In a nutshell, this is one spectacular business calculator. It looks good, feature rich (I can't think of anything I would want that it doesn't have), interesting interface. A total winner.
I ordered on June 5, 2007. It arrived June 12th. About $35 w/free shipping. I won't compare it with the HP12C. Have had the 12C for a long time. Always loved it. Faster, slower? Po-tAto, Po-tato.
With all the good things about this calculator, there are just a few things I'd change or add to it.
There are three glaring flaws that I can't believe they forgot.
1) No equivalent to the "EEX" key on the 12C. Or at least a "000" key that allows entry of thousands, millions, ... with one button press. This is a very annoying ommission for me. Keying in 3, 6, or more zeros is a real pain in the arse. This is an absolute must have feature.
2) A calculator with trig functions and no "PI" key? Duh!
3) No slide off hard cover? Very, very bad move.
Maybe a two line display would be nice. But I won't lose any sleep over that.
The rest for me is just key placement. Moving from upper right to lower left for power and clear? These keys are nearly always near each other. The "CE/C" and back arrow key also on opposite extremes. They should be clustered closer together.
The on/off key should also be a shifted key to avoid accidentally keying it when unit's in a pocket, or by a stray key press when working. One should have to take deliberate action to turn the calculator on or off. Matter of fact, you should have to "hold" the shift key and press the on/off key to turn the unit off.
The unit should also have the option (in setup) of using "continuous memory" or not. [Meaning when you manually shut the unit off, it comes back on where you left it, rather than clearing]
So, I would move the backspace key up one and make the "on/off" shifted above it. Then I would move the "CE/C" key where the backspace key is now. Move the "CLR WORK" key with the "CE/C" key. Then all the clear keys would be together. Now, where should that "PI" key go? How about shifted above the square root key? Then I would move the reciprocal ("1/X") key to the shifted position and make that key either an "EEX" or "000" key.
Now there would be an extra key left where the "CE/C" key was in the lower left corner. How about a "TIME" key? This calculator is nice enough that it should know what the time and date are. Yes? Matter of fact, it should be one of those self setting atomic types! Maybe a timer too.
Does the equals ("=") key need to be two (2) keys high? No big deal either way. (But no, it doesn't! Move +, -, X, / down one! Hmm. Another extra key. Maybe that could be where the "EEX" could go.)
Last request would be in the display options. On most HP scientific calculators, there is something they call "engineering notation". Basically it is "scientific notation" but grouped in multiples of (3). You know, kilo (E3), mega (E6), giga (E9), ... Has no one thought that this is also "money notation" too? Thousands, Million, Billions, ... Like some annual reports list "(in Thousands)"? Once in awhile a body might want to display like that too (Maybe a letter in the "indicators" along the top could be used. The "T" and "M" in "COMPUTE" could indicate thousands and millions? The "B" in "BGN" for billions?)
For me, this calculator, with these few changes, would easily be the new "world standard" for business calculators. And the trig functions are a nice touch too.
Customer Review: Works well & looks great!
Summary: 5 Stars
WHO WOULD BUY THIS? The Texas Instruments Business Analyst II plus Professional (BA2+PRO) is the latest business calculator which would appeal to the demanding business user who wants features, functionality, solid construction and a calculator which has a really professional look.
WHAT'S NEW? Compared to the BA2+, this 60% more expensive BA2+PRO "upgrade" offers several new functions like MIRR, NFV, Modified duration, payback, discounted payback.
My first out-of-the-box impression of the BA2+PRO, is its large, clear and contrasty monochrome LCD display screen, this is a nice improvement over the TI BA II plus (BA2+).
The BA2+PRO is quite nice to hold, it feels "heavy" and looks as solidly constructed as the HP12C, it would not slip on the desktop when user press the buttons and facilitates one or two index finger(s) operation. In contrast, most BA2+ users would have to hold the calculator on one hand while operating the calculator with the other.
The buttons on the BA2+PRO are "harder" than its predecessor the BA2+. Users who are accustomed to the soft-touch BA2+ buttons will notice the difference. However, seasoned HP12C users would welcome the same "firm-touch" buttons on the BA2+PRO which is as tactile as the keys on their HP12C.
Unlike the BA2+, battery replacement on the BA2+PRO is convenient, its sliding battery compartment is user-accessible without the need for a screwdriver to open the casing.
With its contemporary design and its manufacturer supplied soft accessory "leather-like" case, the professional look of the BA2+PRO appeals strongly to the fashion conscious users.
HOW DOES IT RANK AGAINST ITS' COMPETITORS? I have recently purchased the BA2+PRO to complement my Hewett Packard 12C(HP12C) for my studies and professional examination.
The newbie speed demon BA2+PRO surpasses the HP12C in processing speed for TVM calculations and its excellent user-friendly statistical worksheets plus many more added functions but it still NOT a comparable user programmable upgrade versus the HP12C/12cPlatinum.
Both my HP12C and the state-of-the-art BA2+PRO are great complements to each other. However, I would suggest to prospective users who intend to own and use both the BA2+PRO and the HP12C to do so only IF they are not confused by the functions, feel and the handling of the two different software and hardware form factor.
The BA2+PRO is also smartly priced between the economically priced BA2+ and the more expensive HP12C/12c Platinum.
Judging by the excellent work done on their BA2+PRO, TI seems capable to offer a highly specialized user expandable "equation solver" financial calculator which could rival the HP17BII+ or HP19BII series,IMHO.
Although BA2+PRO users cannot program the BA2+PRO to solve and find the price of a European call option using Black-Scholes option pricing model but for a newbie, the BA2+PRO is already the deepest in-the-money financial calculator in its category.
MY RECOMMENDATION for would-be owner of financial calculator who has a USD$60 budget, time and patience to learn only ONE business calculator, the BA2+PRO should be your best informed choice.
Thank you for reading my user experience with the BA2+PRO.
Customer Review: The best financial calculator I've used.
Summary: 5 Stars
I've had experience with the standard BA-II Plus, the HP 12c, and this, the BA-II Plus Professional. Compared to the standard BA-II Plus, this one has a few extra functions which would have been useful if I had had this calculator during my college finance classes, but which now I don't have much use for at work. More than that though, the buttons on this version are far superior to the BA-II Plus. I found the buttons on that calculator far too soft, whereas this has a satisfying click that can be both felt and heard when a button pressed, much like the 12c does. I have notices that if buttons are pressed to quickly/lightly, they may not register, so I would just caution you to watch as you type, or to type slightly more deliberately if you notice a problem.
I also prefer this calculator to the HP 12c I have at work, although I do have far more experience using TI calculators, so I may be biased towards their interface already. That being said, while the RPN on the 12c is very useful for nesting several operations, the chain operations on the BA-II in combination with () buttons work just as well. However, I try to avoid nesting function after function on a calculator with only one display line in either case.
This brings me to my one complaint with the BA-II Plus Professional, as well as every other financial calculator: I want a financial calculator with a multi-line display! TI has recently released the 30XS Multiview, which gives me a scientific calculator with a 4-line display. When TI comes to its senses and does the same for a financial calculator, I'll be singing its praises all around.
Customer Review: The new standard in financial calculators
Summary: 5 Stars
I recently purchased both an HP 12C and a TI BA II Plus Pro. I have also used the HP 12C Platinum edition. While I am well-versed in RPN and like the HP models of calculators, I think the BA II Plus Pro is fit to surpass the 12C as the new standard in financial calculators for a number of reasons.
First, the newer 12C models are no longer made in Singapore. They definitely do not feel as sturdy as the older ones. While many like the firm tactile response of the 12C keys, the BA II Plus Pro has a similar tactile response.
Second, HP failed to improve the design of the 12C Platinum by adding trigonometric functions. The BA II Plus Pro includes the trigonometric functions, and one could viably use it for a general-purpose calculator, not just a financial calculator. One improvement made in the 12C Platinum edition, while bemoaned by fans of RPN, is the choice between algebraic and RPN modes.
Finally, the BA II Plus Pro is significantly faster than the 12C and slightly faster than the 12C Platinum. While the 12C models are programmable and the BA II Plus Pro is not, if you are merely looking for a sturdy financial calculator and do not care about the 12C's programming capabilities, I would recommend considering the BA II Plus Pro. However, keep in mind that while the BA II Plus Pro has an adequate manual, the 12C manual is excellent in every respect and much more in-depth.