Retro Review Casio
fx-702P
General Information
Company: Casio
Type: Scientific,
BASIC Programmable
Memory: 26 memory
registers, can be expanded to 226 memory registers;
1,680 programming steps maximum
Battery: 2 x CR 2032
Years: 1981 - 1984
Original Cost: approximately $200 (from the research I could
gather)
Display: 20
characters with a contrast wheel
I picked up a Casio fx-702P at a local monthly swap meet in
Pasadena, which came along with a Casio FX-2 cassette interface and a FP-10
printer. Not bad for $15, which normally
this would sell anywhere from $80 to $150 on eBay.
My review will focus on the calculator.
Features
The Casio fx-702P is a landscape BASIC programmable calculator
designed for storing up to 10 programs.
The maximum amount of steps allocated is 1,680; which seem quite small
compared to today’s computers.
The set of scientific functions is nice: hyperbolic
functions, linear regression (in the form of y = a + b*x), sign function,
integer and fraction parts.
Programs on the fx-702P can be printed using the FP-10
printer. As of this review I have yet to
test the printer, other than providing it with four AA batters, the printer
does turn on. Programs can also be
stored to cassette tapes via the FX-2. I
am assuming the connectors on the FX-2 can be connected to any compatible
cassette recorder.
The Programming
Language
What I find unique about the programming language of the
Casio fx-702P is the language. A lot of
the commands are three characters, for example:
|
Command usually used in BASIC
|
Casio fx-702P command
|
|
INPUT
|
INP
|
|
GOSUB
|
GSB
|
|
PRINT
|
PRT
|
|
RETURN
|
RET
|
|
SQRT
|
SQR
|
|
ASIN
|
ASN
|
The DMS allows results to be displayed in a degrees°minutes’seconds”
format. DEG(degrees, minutes, seconds)
converts DMS to decimal.
A nice command is the SET command, where you can set the
number of decimal places to be displayed.
For example SET F4 sets the calculator to FIX 4 mode.
Changing the angle measurement is interesting, you have to
type in MODE and the specific number: MODE 4 for degrees, MODE 5 for radians,
and MODE 6 for gradients.
Subroutines can work within and between programs.
Arrays and lists can be used, however, they come at an
expense of an already low amount of programming steps. There is only one array and list name, which
is A. A(i) first maps to the other
one-letter variable names B-Z first.
What surprises me the most is the lack of ROM or RAM cards for the fx-702P. There is no way to expand the number of steps
on the fx-702P.
Keyboard
On the surface, the Casio fx-702P looks like a good, clean
keyboard. The keys are pretty
responsive. The F1 (red) and F2 (blue)
shift keys have a nice contrast.
However, with the batteries I used, which were purchased
from a swap meet, the calculator only lasted a couple days (total use I
estimate to be an hour in those days) before the display went blank and the
keys became unresponsive. Fortunately, using brand name batteries, like
Duracell provides better and steady results.
Verdict
The Casio fx-702P is a good programming calculator and I
understand why it is highly sought. If
you want to own one, I would look for the best price.
Eddie
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