Casio fx-991CW Scientific Calculator Review

Calculator Culture
30 Mar 202311:26

TLDRThe Casio fx-991CW Scientific Calculator is a design update of the popular fx-991EX, aimed at students. It features round convex buttons for ease of use, a high-contrast display, and a new app, Math Box. The calculator streamlines navigation with cursor keys and consolidates functions under a single format key. While it retains the fx-991EX's strengths like exact answers and equation solving, it lacks features like copying values from history. The new design is expected to be more approachable for students but may not please power users.

Takeaways

  • 📚 The Casio fx-991CW is a scientific calculator designed for high school and engineering students.
  • 🔄 It is an updated version of the popular fx-991EX, with a focus on making the device more approachable and easy to use.
  • 🔑 The most notable design change is the introduction of circular convex buttons, which are unique compared to other scientific calculators.
  • 🔍 The space between keys has been increased to reduce typing mistakes, and the rounded key faces are easier to press from any angle.
  • 🏷️ Casio has cleaned up the key labels, making them easier to read, but some question the necessity of the small dashes indicating label direction.
  • 🗺️ The key placement has been altered significantly from the fx-991EX, with changes that will be discussed in the review.
  • 🖥️ The display on the fx-991CW is similar to the EX but supports higher contrast and four shades of gray for the UI.
  • 📊 A new app called 'Math Math Box' has been added, which simulates dice rolls and coin tosses.
  • ➡️ The navigation system has changed, requiring the use of cursor keys instead of numeric shortcuts, which may slow down app switching.
  • 🔄 The 'Format' key now brings up a menu, consolidating several functions into one, which some find controversial but others see as a cleaner design.
  • 🔄 Casio has removed the store and recall buttons, opting for a single variable key that displays all variables in memory, which is praised for its clarity.
  • 🌐 The calculator is expected to be rolled out worldwide and will likely replace the fx-991EX.

Q & A

  • What is the Casio fx-991CW Scientific Calculator?

    -The Casio fx-991CW is an updated design of the popular fx-991EX, a scientific calculator aimed at high school and engineering students. It aims to be more approachable and easy to use while preserving the same functionality.

  • What are the key differences between the fx-991CW and the fx-991EX?

    -The fx-991CW features circular convex buttons, a slightly different display with higher contrast and four shades of gray, and a cleaner key label design. It also has a new app called 'math box' for simulating dice rolls and coin tosses.

  • How does the circular button design affect the user experience?

    -The circular buttons are easier to press from any angle and reduce typing mistakes, but they leave less space for additional key labels, leading to a cleaner design.

  • What is the controversy surrounding the mini navigation on the fx-991CW?

    -The controversy is that menus on the fx-991CW can only be navigated using cursor keys, unlike the fx-991EX where you could use number shortcuts for menu items, which some users find less efficient.

  • What additional app does the fx-991CW have compared to the fx-991EX?

    -The fx-991CW has an additional app called 'math box' that simulates dice rolls and coin tosses.

  • How has the key placement on the fx-991CW been altered from the fx-991EX?

    -The key placement on the fx-991CW has been altered significantly, with changes that will be discussed in the review, aiming for a more user-friendly layout.

  • What is the significance of the higher contrast and four shades of gray in the display?

    -The higher contrast and four shades of gray in the display are used in subtle ways throughout the UI for a better user experience, though it's not a dramatic difference from the fx-991EX display.

  • Why is the format key on the fx-991CW considered controversial?

    -The format key on the fx-991CW is controversial because it amalgamates functions from different keys into a single key that brings up a menu, requiring the use of cursor keys to select the desired option, which is unusual for frequently used buttons.

  • How does the fx-991CW handle variable and function management?

    -The fx-991CW does away with store and recall buttons, instead featuring a single variable key that shows all variables in memory with their values, allowing for easier recording and storing.

  • What are the strengths of the fx-991CW as a calculator?

    -The fx-991CW supports exact answers, has capabilities for 4x4 matrices, and includes great equation-solving abilities. It also has a faster processor than its competitors.

  • What are the weaknesses of the fx-991CW?

    -The fx-991CW lacks the ability to copy arbitrary values from the calculation history and erases calculation history when switching between apps or when the calculator auto powers off.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Introduction to the Casio fx-99CW Calculator

The video introduces the Casio fx-99CW, a design update of the popular 991ex scientific calculator. Aimed at high school and engineering students, the fx-99CW is designed to be more approachable and user-friendly while retaining the same functionality. The video compares it with other calculators in the series, such as the 570, 350, and 82, highlighting the unique circular convex buttons that are not found in other scientific calculators. The narrator discusses the design philosophy behind the round buttons, the improved key labeling, and the altered key placement. Additionally, it mentions the calculator's display, which supports higher contrast and four shades of gray, and the inclusion of a new app called 'math box' for simulating dice rolls and coin tosses.

05:01

🔍 Navigating the Casio fx-99CW Interface

The video delves into the user interface changes of the fx-99CW, contrasting it with the 991ex. It discusses the controversial shift to cursor key navigation for menus, which replaces the numeric shortcuts of the 991ex, potentially slowing down app switching but offering a cleaner design. The narrator also covers the amalgamation of various functions into a single 'format' key, which brings up a menu requiring cursor key selection. This change is noted as unusual given the high frequency of use for these functions. The video also touches on the calculator's new variable and function management features, which display all variables in memory at once, allowing for easier recording and storing of values. The narrator appreciates this feature for its convenience in managing calculations.

10:02

🌟 Evaluating the Casio fx-99CW's Design Innovations

The final paragraph of the video script wraps up with an evaluation of the Casio fx-99CW's design innovations. The narrator appreciates Casio's bold design choices, such as the new circular buttons and the unified number format toggle, which they believe will make the calculator more approachable for high school students. However, they acknowledge that power users may not be pleased with the trade-offs made in terms of speed and traditional navigation patterns. The video concludes by noting that while the fx-99CW shares the same strengths and weaknesses as the 991ex, such as support for exact answers and equation solving, it introduces a fresh approach that may influence future designs or be adopted by other manufacturers.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Casio fx-991CW

The Casio fx-991CW is a scientific calculator designed for high school and engineering students. It represents an update to the popular fx-991EX model, with design changes aimed at making the device more user-friendly. The calculator is part of a series of 'CW' models, including the fx-570CW, fx-350CW, and fx-82CW, each with varying features and capabilities. The video review focuses on the design and functionality of the fx-991CW, highlighting its user interface and comparing it to the older fx-991EX model.

💡Circular Convex Buttons

Circular convex buttons refer to the shape and design of the keys on the Casio fx-991CW calculator. These buttons are round and slightly curved, which is a departure from traditional calculator keys that often have edges or corners. The video mentions that such a design is unique among major scientific calculators and that it may reduce typing mistakes due to the even key surface. The lack of edges also contributes to a more comfortable typing experience.

💡User Interface

The user interface (UI) of the Casio fx-991CW calculator has been redesigned compared to its predecessor, the fx-991EX. The UI includes the layout of the buttons, the display, and how users interact with the calculator. The video discusses the changes in UI, such as the circular buttons, the higher contrast display, and the menu navigation system, which are all aimed at improving the user experience.

💡Mini Navigation

Mini navigation refers to the way users navigate through the calculator's menus and options. The video points out a controversial change in mini navigation for the fx-991CW, where menus can only be navigated using cursor keys, unlike the fx-991EX which allows for quicker access via number shortcuts. This change is seen as a trade-off for a cleaner design but may be less efficient for power users.

💡Format Key

The format key on the Casio fx-991CW calculator is a single key that consolidates several functions from different keys on the fx-991EX, such as engineering, degrees minutes seconds, fractions to decimals, and improper to mixed fractions. Pressing the format key brings up a menu for selecting the desired display format. The video suggests that this change might be controversial because it replaces dedicated keys with a menu-based system, which could slow down navigation for some users.

💡Variable and Function Management

Variable and function management on the Casio fx-991CW calculator has been streamlined, with a single variable key that shows all variables in memory along with their values. This allows users to record or store into variables directly from this screen, which the video suggests is an improvement over the fx-991EX model, making it easier to manage and recall values.

💡Exact Answers

Exact answers refer to the calculator's ability to provide results in a form that exactly represents the mathematical expression, such as fractions or roots, rather than just decimal approximations. The video mentions that the fx-991CW retains this feature from the fx-991EX, which is beneficial for students and engineers who require precise results.

💡Matrix Capabilities

Matrix capabilities allow the calculator to perform operations on matrices, such as multiplication, inversion, and determinant calculation. The video highlights that the fx-991CW supports 4x4 matrices, which is a valuable feature for engineering students and professionals.

💡Equation Solving

Equation solving is the ability of the calculator to solve mathematical equations, including linear, quadratic, and more complex types. The video review praises the fx-991CW's equation-solving capabilities, which are considered to be a strength of the model and superior to some competitors.

💡Auto Power Off

Auto power off is a feature that causes the calculator to turn off automatically after a period of inactivity to conserve battery life. The video notes that the fx-991CW, like its predecessor, erases calculation history when it auto powers off, which can be inconvenient. However, it also mentions that the auto power off time can now be set to 60 minutes, an improvement over previous models.

💡Design Trade-offs

Design trade-offs refer to the decisions made by Casio in redesigning the fx-991CW calculator, where certain features were changed to improve ease of use or aesthetics, potentially at the expense of speed or familiarity for power users. The video discusses several such trade-offs, such as the move to circular buttons and the consolidation of functions into a format key menu.

Highlights

Casio fx-991CW is an updated design of the popular 991EX scientific calculator.

The calculator targets high school and engineering students.

CW model aims to be more approachable and easy to use while preserving the same functionality.

CW series includes the 570, 350, and 82 models with varying features and battery life.

The circular convex buttons are a unique design choice by Casio.

Casio claims the new key design reduces typing mistakes and is easier to use.

The new design has fewer additional key labels for a cleaner look.

Key placement on the CW has been significantly altered for improved usability.

The display supports higher contrast and four shades of gray for a subtle UI enhancement.

The CW includes an additional app called Math Math Box for simulating dice rolls and coin tosses.

Menu navigation on the CW is more streamlined but requires more keystrokes.

Casio has consolidated functions like engineering, degrees minutes seconds, and fractions to decimals into a single Format key.

The Format key's menu navigation is controversial but aims for a cleaner design.

The Answer key has been moved to above the keyboard, which may take getting used to for long-time Casio users.

Casio has removed Store and Recall buttons in favor of a single Variable key displaying all memory variables.

Global functions and definitions are now combined into a similar screen for easier access.

The 991CW retains strengths like support for exact answers, 4x4 matrices, and equation solving.

The calculator still lacks the ability to copy arbitrary values from the calculation history.

The 991CW has a generally faster processor than its competitors.

Casio's design choices for the CW are bold and may not please all power users.

The new circular buttons and unified number format toggle are innovative features.

It will be interesting to see if these features are adopted by other manufacturers in the future.

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