Business Calculator
From LoveToKnow Buy
Business calculators have become essential everyday tools for office use. Handheld or online, they're available for a wide range of uses, from financial (mortgage, loan and interest calculators), to business (conversion, tax and payroll). No matter what your need, there’s a calculator that can meet it. Here’s some tips on buying the best one for you.
Keep it simple
Decide how you’ll use yours and then select a model based on price. Business calculators have become so commonplace that most of the basic models should be shopped by price. Buying a complex calculator packed with functions you’ll never use isn’t the best choice. Keep your choice simple.
See how it fits
Are you planning to use your business calculator on a desk? Then size and easy-to-read displays become a key feature to look for. For handheld models, try a test fit in your palm. Every hand size is different so some models will work and some won’t. Look for one that has keypad large enough to punch with your finger. Too small a unit and the keys get crammed onto a small keypad, and if your finger is too big you’ll end up pressing several keys instead of one. One size doesn’t fit all.
Check the display
Is it clear and easily seen in regular light? All business calculators have some sort of LCD or liquid crystal diode displays that sometimes don’t work well with different light levels. Colors fade and the display sometimes is lost in bright sunlight. Other displays requires you to look straight on in order to see it.
Besides display illumination levels, consider numbers. Depending upon the work you’ll do with your calculator, you won’t want large numbers broken up into scientific shorthand. Test the display a few times with large calculations and view the result. If the numbers displayed look confusing at a glance, find another. Make sure that similar numbers, like sixes or eights are clear and won’t be confused.
Business calculator power needs
Nearly all smaller calculators use some form of solar conversion as a power source making batteries optional. If you choose a unit that uses batteries, check to see the size required. If you choose a calculator that operates with double AA batteries, buy a power transformer that to plug into it. This will help preserve battery life.
Most extended warranty plans aren’t worth it
Store clerks will be quick to ask you if you’d like to add on an extended warranty to your business calculator purchase, but don’t bother, unless the model you buy costs $100 or more. Anything less than $10 is cheaper to replace with another purchase rather than hassle with useless warranty requirements. Some manufacturer warranties are more trouble then they’re worth, since you’ll have to ship the thing, most of the time in original packaging, to a centralized repair center located in a far-away state. Look for one-year warranties on the cheaper ones and two years for more expensive models.
Where to buy a business calculator
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