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Calculator Community => Casio Calculators => Topic started by: fxdev on January 29, 2012, 08:00:18 am

Title: New ClassPad 330 Plus does NOT have a color display
Post by: fxdev on January 29, 2012, 08:00:18 am
I have first read about this device on an online retailer's website (http://dynatech.de/produkte/produkt.php?prod=6579) as it is now available - there has not been any announcement by Casio!

What's new compared to the ClassPad 330?
- Comes with OS 3.10 preinstalled instead of OS 3.02
- Comes with a new processor (most likely the Prizm SH7305) and is about 1.3 times faster
- Supports USB 2.0 and is treated like a USB mass storage device

It has a monochrome display with the same 160×240 resolution and only 5.4 MB of user flash memory like on the previous models!

Absolutely disappointing...
Title: Re: New ClassPad 330 Plus does NOT have a color display
Post by: annoyingcalc on January 29, 2012, 08:01:15 am
D: terrible
Title: Re: New ClassPad 330 Plus does NOT have a color display
Post by: flyingfisch on February 02, 2012, 10:40:57 am
I was hoping to get one, but i dont think its worth it if it doesnt have color D:
Title: Re: New ClassPad 330 Plus does NOT have a color display
Post by: TIfanx1999 on February 02, 2012, 10:53:49 am
Actually, I think that it still looks pretty cool despite having a black and white display. :)
Title: Re: New ClassPad 330 Plus does NOT have a color display
Post by: Dingus on February 02, 2012, 11:17:20 am
It's definitely not worth buying!  Calculators without color screens are as obsolete as touch screens that require a stylus.  It's junk and Casio knows it.  If you want a good calc, get an iPad and down load the "Math Studio" app.  Among other things, the 3d graphing that Math Studio gives you is totally awesome! My feeling is that schools are choosing to waste their money on obsolete technology when they buy nshit or classpads but that does not mean that I am going to make the same mistake.  Take a look at the technology in your iPhone or droid and compare that to what you get for your money with a calculator.   :w00t: 

Title: Re: New ClassPad 330 Plus does NOT have a color display
Post by: Juju on February 02, 2012, 12:06:53 pm
Well, the problem here is that teachers want calculators that are supposed to do 2+2, unless you buy an iPad without WiFi support with only that math app installed, math teachers won't really buy that and SAT won't really like (after all, the TI-92 is disallowed because it have a QWERTY keyboard), unless they are one of those teachers that requires laptops and stuff.
Title: Re: New ClassPad 330 Plus does NOT have a color display
Post by: flyingfisch on February 02, 2012, 12:08:34 pm
It's definitely not worth buying!  Calculators without color screens are as obsolete as touch screens that require a stylus.  It's junk and Casio knows it.  If you want a good calc, get an iPad and down load the "Math Studio" app.  Among other things, the 3d graphing that Math Studio gives you is totally awesome! My feeling is that schools are choosing to waste their money on obsolete technology when they buy nshit or classpads but that does not mean that I am going to make the same mistake.  Take a look at the technology in your iPhone or droid and compare that to what you get for your money with a calculator.   :w00t: 



Uhh. I wouldn't go that far. Like juju said, teachers aren't going to like it. And, a small screen would be very hard to use without a stylus. Think of how hard it is to type on an iPhone. (For me, at least)
Title: Re: New ClassPad 330 Plus does NOT have a color display
Post by: Dingus on February 02, 2012, 01:38:07 pm
If you read the newspaper you know that at this time, many schools have issued iPads loaded with textbooks to whole classes, and the trend is going to continue because the schools save a ton of money by not buying printed text books as a result.  So the question is, will these schools also spend money on calculators when a five dollar iPad calculator app can be used?  We are talking about a lot of money and it doesn't matter what the teachers want.  They will be told what they will use and if they don't like it they can find a new job.  No doubt the testing authorities will be required to adapt or find a new job also.  Switching to digital books on iPads is a huge revolution in education.  It is occurring at this very moment.  It is occurring more quickly than anyone ever imagined and no one doubts that for economic reasons it is going to obsolete the use of calculators in math classes.
Title: Re: New ClassPad 330 Plus does NOT have a color display
Post by: flyingfisch on February 02, 2012, 01:52:20 pm
I would rather have a classpad than an iPad.
Title: Re: New ClassPad 330 Plus does NOT have a color display
Post by: Dingus on February 02, 2012, 02:15:41 pm
I would rather have a classpad than an iPad.
Go buy it then if that makes you happy.
Title: Re: New ClassPad 330 Plus does NOT have a color display
Post by: flyingfisch on February 02, 2012, 02:18:21 pm
I don't mean to be rude by saying that, but an iPad simply isn't my idea of a calculator :-\
Title: Re: New ClassPad 330 Plus does NOT have a color display
Post by: AngelFish on February 02, 2012, 02:26:14 pm
If you read the newspaper you know that at this time, many schools have issued iPads loaded with textbooks to whole classes, and the trend is going to continue because the schools save a ton of money by not buying printed text books as a result.  So the question is, will these schools also spend money on calculators when a five dollar iPad calculator app can be used?  We are talking about a lot of money and it doesn't matter what the teachers want.  They will be told what they will use and if they don't like it they can find a new job.  No doubt the testing authorities will be required to adapt or find a new job also.  Switching to digital books on iPads is a huge revolution in education.  It is occurring at this very moment.  It is occurring more quickly than anyone ever imagined and no one doubts that for economic reasons it is going to obsolete the use of calculators in math classes.

It won't be cheaper to use iPads for long. Give it few years and the publishers will figure out this little thing called "DRM" to make sure those schools are forced to keep buying new copies of the books each year.

As for the claim that iPads are cheaper than calculators, um, what? A calculator costs around $130 to buy individually. If bought in bulk, that price goes down significantly. A bottom of the barrel iPad costs around $500. You say that the schools will save money on the textbooks? No, not a chance. As someone who is forced to buy my own textbooks, I can honestly tell you that publishers have no problem charging the same price for an electronic copy as a physical copy. And the disadvantage of electronics is the aforementioned DRM. Currently, most schools will buy a lot of books at once, use those books for a few years (sometimes a few decades...), then go buy more. With electronic books, suddenly the publishers can force schools to buy books every year or two if they want. You're crazy if you think they won't do that as much as they can. Basically, iPads are *not* cheaper than calculators in any sense I can imagine.

Similarly, I find your argument that "...it doesn't matter what the teachers want" to be ridiculous. Yes, it matters. Teachers aren't nearly as replaceable as you appear to think. They're difficult to hire and even more difficult to fire. Any school that annoys enough teachers may face some less than desirable warnings from one of the teacher's unions.

There are some other false claims in your quote, but I think this gets my point across.
Title: Re: New ClassPad 330 Plus does NOT have a color display
Post by: flyingfisch on February 02, 2012, 02:35:03 pm
I just realised that this argument is pretty invalid since ClassPad's are not allowed in most schools.
Title: Re: New ClassPad 330 Plus does NOT have a color display
Post by: Dingus on February 02, 2012, 02:36:11 pm
I don't mean to be rude by saying that, but an iPad simply isn't my idea of a calculator :-\
I understand.  Because of the lack of a mechanical keyboard the iPad wasn't my idea of a computer.  Then I tried one and got hooked.  It's hard to explain except to say that the user experience is far better than any other device ever gave me.  The only draw back is that I can't make a regular phone call on it.  I hope the iPad 3 changes that.
Title: Re: New ClassPad 330 Plus does NOT have a color display
Post by: flyingfisch on February 02, 2012, 02:39:12 pm
OK. Understood :)


And still, we have an invalid argument going on here :D
Title: Re: New ClassPad 330 Plus does NOT have a color display
Post by: Spyro543 on February 02, 2012, 05:16:07 pm
Even though it doesn't have a color screen, who cares? A calc with a touchscreen is always awesome :)
Title: Re: New ClassPad 330 Plus does NOT have a color display
Post by: apcalc on February 02, 2012, 06:47:42 pm
Even though it doesn't have a color screen, who cares? A calc with a touchscreen is always awesome :)

I agree!  It is sad to see new things like this being downgraded just because it does not have a color screen.  Although the color screen is nice, it certainly does not define the product! :)
Title: Re: New ClassPad 330 Plus does NOT have a color display
Post by: Dingus on February 02, 2012, 07:20:04 pm
Even though it doesn't have a color screen, who cares? A calc with a touchscreen is always awesome :)
Would you buy a black and white TV?   After the experience of using color I don't think many people would go back to black and white but the point is that Casio is using ancient technology and in addition many people have had problems with the the Casio gray screen so Surely they will come out with a high end cas calc with color screen so why waste your money on obsolete technology.  JUST WAIT AWHILE.


I disagree!  It is important to downgrade things like this so that companies produce really good products instead of outdated junk.   A color screen is nice and it certainly does define the product! :)a
Title: Re: New ClassPad 330 Plus does NOT have a color display
Post by: TIfanx1999 on February 03, 2012, 10:44:08 am
You seem to forget that the Ti-84 series is a staple in most American schools. They have a black and white low res. display, and have remained relatively unchanged since they were introduced as the TI-82 in 1993. The Z80 is much more ancient than the class pad's processor and the screen is of even lower quality. And oh yea, they're expensive too. I guess despite being "outdated junk", they still server their intended purpose. Since the class pad is more advanced then the standard, I would hardly classify it as "junk". It seems a fancy high res. screen really isn't necessary.
Title: Re: New ClassPad 330 Plus does NOT have a color display
Post by: Dingus on February 03, 2012, 11:15:22 am
You seem to forget that the Ti-84 series is a staple in most American schools. They have a black and white low res. display, and have remained relatively unchanged since they were introduced as the TI-82 in 1993. The Z80 is much more ancient than the class pad's processor and the screen is of even lower quality. And oh yea, they're expensive too. I guess despite being "outdated junk", they still server their intended purpose. Since the class pad is more advanced then the standard, I would hardly classify it as "junk". It seems a fancy high res. screen really isn't necessary.

Thank you for making my point.  The 84 series uses 20 year old technology as you said.  Only the TI cx series uses a modern screen and it is 5 or 6 years old.  It's not about a fancy screen not being necessary.  If the basis for making a judgement is what is necessary, then we should not be using calculators at all.  My point is that calculators use old technology which is ok if that cost savings is passed on to you but it is not.  So if you don't mind being ripped off go for it.  That is your decision to make and your money to spend.  As for myself, I already have some old calculators that have old technology so I there is no point in wasting money on another another.  Perhaps you spend your parents money in which case getting quality for the money is not an issue.
Title: Re: New ClassPad 330 Plus does NOT have a color display
Post by: flyingfisch on February 03, 2012, 02:01:20 pm
Even though it doesn't have a color screen, who cares? A calc with a touchscreen is always awesome :)

I agree!  It is sad to see new things like this being downgraded just because it does not have a color screen.  Although the color screen is nice, it certainly does not define the product! :)

I agree and disagree at the same time. CP300's are in the $150 range. I think that if casio is going to continue to use a B&W screen, they should lower the price. Or they can keep the same price and give it a color screen.
Title: Re: New ClassPad 330 Plus does NOT have a color display
Post by: Dingus on February 03, 2012, 05:43:24 pm
Even though it doesn't have a color screen, who cares? A calc with a touchscreen is always awesome :)

Bingo! ka-Ching.  You are absolutely, totally correct and I agree with you completely .

I agree!  It is sad to see new things like this being downgraded just because it does not have a color screen.  Although the color screen is nice, it certainly does not define the product! :)

I agree and disagree at the same time. CP300's are in the $150 range. I think that if casio is going to continue to use a B&W screen, they should lower the price. Or they can keep the same price and give it a color screen.
Title: Re: New ClassPad 330 Plus does NOT have a color display
Post by: Dingus on February 03, 2012, 05:44:51 pm
Even though it doesn't have a color screen, who cares? A calc with a touchscreen is always awesome :)

Yes!

Bingo! ka-Ching.  You are absolutely, totally correct and I agree with you completely .

I agree!  It is sad to see new things like this being downgraded just because it does not have a color screen.  Although the color screen is nice, it certainly does not define the product! :)

I agree and disagree at the same time. CP300's are in the $150 range. I think that if casio is going to continue to use a B&W screen, they should lower the price. Or they can keep the same price and give it a color screen.
Title: Re: New ClassPad 330 Plus does NOT have a color display
Post by: willrandship on February 04, 2012, 04:56:02 am
There are advantages to B&W displays, you know, like power consumption. Most modern color LCDs require a backlight, and those that don't cost more than double (reflective/transflective vs transmissive, big price gap in color, but with B&W reflective becomes a viable option)

Besides, it's still just a calculator. They don't design these things for the graphics. Most of the money doesn't go into the screen anyways, so a change to color without causing a large power draw (there's a reason the cx has a rechargeable Li-Poly battery) would increase the price of the calc, assuming all other costs were to remain the same, including profits.