Handheld Talking Calculator with Alarm Review

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(More customer reviews).......................A.....T R U E.....S T O R Y..................
ONCE UPON A TIME, calculators were a new phenomenon in the world. They cost at least $40.00 apiece, and could work either on AC, (with a cord you plugged into the wall), or on batteries that users
could...R E M O V E...and...E A S I L Y....R E P L A C E. These were mostly easily found and bought "AA" batteries. Then, one day, someone found a way to change the circuitry in calculators....so that they now could be bought for as little as $3! The calculator manufacturers were very worried -- how could they make money on such cheap calculators? But then, one day, someone, (don't know who -- fortunately for them -- and me, but whomever it was, I hazard to guess, liked "Scrooge" better at the beginning of "A Christmas Carol", than he or she liked him at the end of that story) -- got the "brilliant" idea that, if calculator-manufactures
changed the type of the batteries that calculators used, (from easily-handled "AA" batteries, to much smalller "L44" batteries), and made it necesssary for a calculator-user to use a SCREWDRIVER (!) to get to the back of the calculator, and unscrew have to unscrew four (four!!!!) tiny screws, in order to get into the battery compartment to change the very small L44 batteries, that most people would not want to bother with all the work involved with changing the very small L44 batteries....and would instead buy a new calculator! The more greedy amongst the calculator manufacturers must have been very happy to hear this news....but they soon found themselves somewhat disappointed. It seemed that too many people were still actually willing to go through the trouble of unscrewing the four tiny screws, to replace the battery themselves, and not have to buy a new calculator! So -- the very greediest amongst the calculator manufacturers decided to make models where a user could NOT replace the battery themselves....no, they'd have to go to an "authorized dealer" to replace the calculator batteries...(just like the greediest watch-makers had convinced all other watch-makers to change from making wind-up to making battery-powered, authorized-service-dealer-only-replacable-battery watches!) This happened S O slowly that most people didn't even realize it was happening. And by then, (now!), it was too late!However, ONE type of calculator -- even today(!) -- still uses user-replaceable, "AA" batteries! This type of calculator is known as a "talking calculator", because there is a tiny mechanical voice built into it. Talking calculators are mainly used by blind and visually-impared people -- but they can also be used by anyone else! If you want to save money on buying calculators, my advice would be to definitely buy
a talking calculator -- because these seem to be the only remaining type of calculator to use user-replacable batteries, (not "AA" batteries as in older calculators, but "AA" batteries -- still larger and easier-to-hand than "L44" batteries, though!)
The HAND-HELD CALCULATOR WITH ALARM, by MAGNIFYING AIDS, being reviewed here, is a nice-looking, and easily carried pocket talking calculator. It is not the smallest calculator, nor the lightest -- but it is still small enough, and light enough, to be carried in pocket or purse, and has nice, large numbers in the number screen. The screen is of the recessed, "picture-frame" variety, which I definnitely prefer to the all-over "wrap-around" windshild variety that does not provide indentation for the number screeen. The soft-rubber number keys are rounded and raised, and are very easy to use. They are in a dark grey, which makes a nice-looking contrast to the ivory plastic of the body of the calculator. However, the numbers on the dark-grey keys are in black -- making it hard for visually-impared people to see them (!) Yes, the "5" key is raised, slightly... But a higher contrast between number-colour and key-colour would have been more welcome!
The "Voice" part of the calculator is easy to manipulate. It can be put into an "Off" "Middle" or "Max" mode. The voice is crisp, not too unpleasat, and totally mechanical. It is a female voice, and reminds me a lot of the "computer voice" on the original "Enterprise", of classic "Star Trek" fame.
In the non-alarm mode, all keys -- including the four memory keys, and a special key, "Rep", (which repeats any number pressed, one number at a time), can be "voiced". In the "time" mode, the Memory keys become "hour" and "minute" keys, and are not voiced, but are heard as "beeps" instead.
Changing the batteries is quite easy, with a slide-out compartment in the back. Sometimes it's a bit harder to open the battery compartment the first time, but afterwards, it gets easier and easier.
As this calcular has no solar battery, the numbers you press on it will stay on for quite a long time, (almost forever), if you don't take the batteries out.
I have found the alarm somewhat complicated to set, and so have not used it.
All in all, this is a fine calculator for anyone to use. The voice can be turned off -- so it can easily be used by sighted as well as blind or visually-impaired. What a nice way for people of all visual abilities to have something in common: a nice little calculator that can save everyone money on batteries -- and new calculators!


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