I'm an IT student and for my math classes I'm using a 41 year old calculator that's still perfectly functional
An IT student's 41-year-old Sharp calculator sparked a discussion about the durability and longevity of older electronics compared to modern devices. The community overwhelmingly celebrated vintage calculators and related tools, sharing personal experiences with decades-old devices that still function perfectly, while lamenting the planned obsolescence of contemporary technology.
Summary
The original post featured a Sharp EL-514 calculator from 1985 that the poster had restored by cleaning and replacing a single electrolytic capacitor, demonstrating that basic maintenance can keep decades-old electronics functional. The OP emphasized that despite being an IT student, they were satisfied using this vintage device for math classes without issues.
The community response centered on three main themes: (1) nostalgia and personal ownership of vintage calculators and computational tools, with commenters sharing their own experiences using 30-50 year-old calculators, slide rules, and HP models; (2) appreciation for the durability and lack of unnecessary features in older devices, contrasting them unfavorably with modern planned obsolescence; and (3) the timelessness of mathematics itself, with one commenter noting that 'most math has been around for a long, long time,' as context for why old tools still work.
A notable sub-conversation emerged around u/PlanoDad73's inherited slide rule collection, where the grandfather had printed out a Wikipedia page to explain the devices. Commenter u/Few_Eagle2830 observed that this act demonstrated both the value of the collection and the grandfather's passion being passed down—a poignant moment about intergenerational knowledge transfer.
Counterarguments or alternative perspectives were minimal; u/vacuous_comment mentioned using R programming language as a calculator alternative, and u/ImAPonderer2 added a meta-commentary that older devices have the advantage of not collecting user data or displaying intrusive prompts. No one actively defended modern calculators or planned obsolescence.
About this episode
Sharp EL-514, judging by the capacitor inside it was made in early 1985. Works perfectly, only things I did is deep clean it and replace the single electrolytic capacitor inside just to have peace of mind that it is fresh- it was working just fine before that. Hell, it still had Sony batteries so old that they were actually made in Japan. I threw in some fresh ones just in case and it's basically perfect
Key Insights
- Multiple commenters independently confirmed owning calculators 25-50+ years old still in daily use, suggesting a pattern that well-built 1980s electronics frequently outlast modern equivalents.
- u/TheoKondak articulated the community's core value: devices without subscriptions, unnecessary features, or artificial obsolescence represent better design philosophy than contemporary products.
- u/Few_Eagle2830 identified an overlooked benefit of inheriting vintage tools—they transmit both the objects and the owner's passion, representing intergenerational knowledge transfer beyond mere functionality.
- u/aintbutathing3's minimal comment ('gave me fine service') and the overall pattern suggests that for basic mathematical computation, innovation stalled decades ago, making newer models functionally redundant.
- u/ImAPonderer2 raised a privacy-adjacent insight: older devices lack data harvesting and notification systems, functioning as 'silent' tools rather than engagement-optimized products designed to interrupt users.
Topics
Transcript
[Original Post] (score: 836, upvote ratio: 97%, by u/haru_reiuji05) Title: I'm an IT student and for my math classes I'm using a 41 year old calculator that's still perfectly functional Link: https://i.redd.it/2ot8yjla4hrh1.jpeg Sharp EL-514, judging by the capacitor inside it was made in early 1985. Works perfectly, only things I did is deep clean it and replace the single electrolytic capacitor inside just to have peace of mind that it is fresh- it was working just fine before that. Hell, it still had Sony batteries so old that they were actually made in Japan. I threw in some fresh ones just in case and it's basically perfect [Comment] (score: 59, u/nucumber) ★ Most math has been around for a long,…
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