You should look at the free http://www.speqmath.com/ - it has a very
nice free-form input, does binary/hex/octal/etc the usual way (0xff,
for instance).

It does unit conversions, though it's not perfect.

5Ohm/35A
	Ans = 0.142857143 V

Works, but

5Ohm * 0.14285V
	Ans = 0.71425 Ohm*V

gives you the weird Ohm*V (A is defined as an amp, but doesn't have a
conversion... sigh).  Still, it has a ton of constants and units, so
you can convert nearly anything into anything else, and you can do it
in binary if you like (useful for A/D conversions).  It is also very
nice for graphing functions and plots.

I don't use it very much - I use excel for most complex stuff
(analysis toolpack provides dec2hex and hex2dec, which is sufficient),
but I'm starting to use it more.  Saving an excel spreadsheet with
calculations and being abel to modify one variable and have the whole
sheet change, and being able to send that to any client knowing they
already have the software is pretty powerful.

So, the real answer for me is "excel" (no, google spreadsheets doesn't
cut it yet).  When I need to solve something algebraically, I usually
grab a pencil, but occasionally I'll reach for the TI-89.

But since you're looking for a standalone calculator, Speq, and TI-89
are my picks.

-Adam

On Thu, Oct 23, 2008 at 2:46 AM, Forrest W Christian <forrestc@imach.com> wrote:
> I'm getting a bit tired of using windows calc and/or the scientific
> calculator I keep in the drawer for EE and/or embedded programming
> calculations.
>
> Over the years, I've looked at various software and hardware
> calculators, and really haven't ever found one which I felt was oriented
> towards the type of calculations that someone doing embedded work would
> need ...   I.E. things like unit conversions (*F/*C, in/cm), base
> conversions (dec/hex/binary), ohms law calculations, etc. etc. etc.
>
> One personal peeve I deal with is when I am doing base conversions...
> yes, I know the calculators have the concept of "base", but why can't I
> just enter the value as 0x345 and have it know that is hex, instead of
> having to switch to hex mode, enter the value, then switch to
> decimal...  Then when I do another one remember to switch to the
> appropriate mode first.
>
> I've seen some programmer's calculators which are basically based upon
> entering a c-style expression and it evaluates it.   I like this, but I
> also would like the calculator to know things like unit conversions and
> ohms law, which usually these are lacking.
>
> Does anyone have a favorite ee and programming calculator that they
> wouldn't give up?
>
>
>
> --
> http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive
> View/change your membership options at
> http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist
>



-- 
Save Money * Save Oil * Save Lives * Save the Planet
http://www.driveslowly.org
-- 
http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive
View/change your membership options at
http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist