My father bought this for his engineering (2001~) and now I’m using it to do my engineering.
The post celebrates a decades-old scientific calculator passed down through three generations of engineers without any repairs or replacements, with most commenters validating this experience and sharing similar stories of calculator longevity. The discussion highlights both nostalgia for this specific model and appreciation for its durability, though one commenter humorously criticized the calculator's design philosophy.
Summary
The original post showcases a scientific calculator (likely a Casio FX series) purchased around 2001 that has been continuously used by the poster's father, uncle, and now the poster himself for engineering work—all without any repairs or maintenance. The poster notes that while this exact model is no longer available, a version 2 was released in 2019 with minimal internal changes.
The community response is predominantly nostalgic and validating. Multiple commenters report owning the same or similar calculators and confirm they still function perfectly, with one user (Patient-Stuff-2155) having owned theirs since 7th grade in 2002 and now considering passing it to their newborn child. Others (southwestnickel, Furiousguy79) attest to using similar models through engineering school, with one noting they eventually upgraded to the ES series for its multi-line display.
Minor practical notes emerged: one commenter (buzz8588) mentioned needing external light due to a dead battery, and another (lalbahadursastri1996) suggested upgrading to the newer version for better matrix multiplication visualization features.
A notable counterargument came from Ok-Hamster-4239, who humorously critiqued the calculator's design philosophy, arguing that proper engineering calculators should use Reverse Polish Notation (RPN) and lack an equals button—a technical preference point that reflects different calculator design philosophies rather than disputing durability.
About this episode
Still works with no fault, first my father used it, then my uncle (2010s\~) and now me, never repaired/replaced anything. You can’t buy this exact one now but can buy version 2 (released in 2019) they claim to have not change the internal stuff much, just the outer body
Key Insights
- Multiple independent users report 20+ year lifespans with zero maintenance on this specific calculator model, suggesting exceptional manufacturing quality from early 2000s Casio products.
- One commenter (Patient-Stuff-2155) explicitly considered the calculator durable enough to pass to their newborn child, indicating enough confidence in longevity to treat it as a multi-generational heirloom.
- A technical debate emerged about calculator design philosophy: Ok-Hamster-4239 argued that RPN calculators without equals buttons represent the 'proper' engineering tool, contrasting with the infix notation design celebrated in this thread.
Topics
Transcript
[Original Post] (score: 103, upvote ratio: 96%, by u/mcoolmukul) Title: My father bought this for his engineering (2001~) and now I’m using it to do my engineering. Link: https://i.redd.it/lwikr9neyruh1.jpeg Still works with no fault, first my father used it, then my uncle (2010s\~) and now me, never repaired/replaced anything. You can’t buy this exact one now but can buy version 2 (released in 2019) they claim to have not change the internal stuff much, just the outer body [Comment] (score: 1, u/fesagolub) I feel so old. [Comment] (score: 1, u/Old-Internal-8026) This was my calculator and just looking at it brings back so many memories lol [Comment] (score: 1, u/Ancient_Complex) Wow !!! I had the same calculator, from the same time.…
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