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Not a front runner anymore (or ever)

Customer Rating:
This was a nice calculator for highschool and highschool math competitions. Back in 1988 when I was an engineering student, this was not the norm. If you were going to go for an RPN calculator, you did whatever you need to do to get the HP 28C or HP 28S. I find it ridicuolous to pay more than $50 in 2010 to own this. May be for a collector, but for a person that is going to be using it, it is just a plain waste of money. If you are looking to buy one for the EIT or PE, you just go ahead and get the HP 35s for $55 to $70. The HP 35s has a lot of limitations (on purpouse so NCEE approved it) but at least it has more memory than you can really use. The 33s did not have enough memory back then or today. I know there are a lot of HP 32s and 33sii lovers out there, but if you need another go and get the 35s. HP really did a good job with it. Even the 1980s RPN (again on purpose due to those damn NCEE Nazis) look and operation. I may pay more than $150 for a HP 42s or a 41CX than have way more use than the 33sii. I own a 12C, a 15C, a 28S, 41CV, 33S (another failure), a 42S, 28s, 48SX, 48GX , a 49G (a backward step, more like backward run with hurdles, for HP), 49G+ (better than the 49G, but still behid the workmanship of 48GX), 35s and a 50G (Someone in HP decided to do somthing good after so many years of failures after the 48GX). Notice that I do not own a 32s or sii.

Best compromise

Customer Rating:
Balancing feature content against ease of use, the 32S II is better than anything available on the market and most calculators no longer on the market. I started with an HP-35 ($395; had to borrow against my life insurance!) back in the early '70s. Moved on to a 55 and then a 42CV (I think). With desktops and laptops there is no reason for a journeyman engineer to need more every-day, hand-held computing capability. Being able to comfortably put it in your pocket makes it the ideal 'slide rule replacement.' I concur with the opinion that pulling the 32S was one of the dumber things HP did. Some marketing person there should be smart enough to see how much these things go for on the internet. There's a reason they sell for twice what HP sells a 'better' calculator for presently.

Power presented simply

Customer Rating:
First the history: I purchased an HP32 back in 1988, after owning HP25 and HP29C. Lost it on a plane in the 90s and went out to buy another as soon as I realised the loss could not be recovered. Over ten years on I lost the next one two weeks ago and bought an HP35S to replace it. The 35S is really nice but today I found the HP32Sii in an obscure place. Was I disappointed? Hell no!

The HP35 is functionally superior and is cheaper. The HP32 is a shade narrower, thinner, shorter and thus neater to hold, nicer to press, and has most of the functions of the 35. I recommend the 32 as a great calculator, enormously reliable, fits in your shirt pocket more neatly than the 35 or later models and is functionally capable. However, if you need more power then the 35 is superior, no doubt about it. In fact, I am about to sell my HP49G because the 35 makes its important functions more accessible while the 49's more powerful functions are better done on a computer.

For the record, I also own an HP17Bii financial, having the same form factor as the H32 and also a real favourite.

A Great HP Calculator

Customer Rating:
This is one of the better Calculators that HP has designed. I had mine for 20 years with no problems. Unfortunately, I recently lost it and am now in search of a new (used) one. I recommend this calculator to everyone !!

My tireless HPS32II calculator

Customer Rating:
I was reading all your reviews here, and i agree with the positive reviews.
I brought this calculator in 1993 in the USA !! i am french and leave in France. I have never bought another calculator since 1993 !!!!!
I had bought the HP32SII in a mall, just to have one in USA, and never though it will be there with me 15 years after.
It had never broke down, i just replace the batteries some times (not often), that all, and i use it everyday, always in my bag when i teach.
This is an oustanding product, i agree !!! I have the original manual and the protection cover since 1993.