fx-8200 AU

The Most Educationally Relevant Cop Or Drop of The Year

A. J. Li

NESA RECENTLY RELEASED THE NEW fx-8200 AU IN JULY. Marketed as the “ideal” scientific calculator for students and with a plethora of new functionalities that have somehow still allowed this calculator to make it onto the approved NESA list, does it actually live up to the hype? Should you consider getting it yourself, or is it just a simple reason to cheat on your current calculator?

Starting off with functionalities, the fx-8200 AU boasts an expanded list from existing NESA approved calculators.

The fx-8200 AU really is a step up from the fx-82 AU PLUS II (2nd Edition) model. It contains all the functionalities of the fx-82 AU PLUS II calculator models, and then some. New functionalities that stand out are the exact value output ability and the logarithms of any base. Long gone are the days of having to use change of base law when using your calculator, and trigonometry has also gotten slightly easier with the ability to view outputs in exact values and being able to work in terms of pi, instead of that annoying, irrational decimal vomit. 

Another functionality worth mentioning is the new function table, where you can define f(x) and g(x) and then compare/evaluate values for each extremely quickly and easily, making graphing questions and composite function questions much easier. All in all, this calculator is in a league above others in terms of functionalities and it is a wonder it is NESA approved.

Examples:

Functionalities: 10/10 

Now, considering the price of this calculator, the fx-8200 AU is modestly priced at $50. This is excellent pricing for a new calculator with all these bells and whistles, especially when compared to veteran models such as the fx-82AU PLUS II 1st and 2nd editions, $40 and $45 respectively, which most boys currently use. At this price of $50, it seems like an easy decision from this point of view. Why buy an older model of a calculator for $45 when you can get the newest one for just $5 more? In terms of functionalities, it even beats out the fx-100 AU PLUS 2nd Edition, which costs even more than the fx-8200 AU at $55. This of course assumes you are currently in the market for a new calculator. For those who are content with their current calculators, the appeal may be slightly soured, but it is definitely still there nonetheless (especially if you don’t currently use a NESA approved one)! 

Price: 8.5/10 (higher means better priced)

In terms of aesthetics, which is obviously of paramount importance when choosing your calculator partner, the fx-8200 AU does not shine here in my opinion. Looking like a bit of a brick, it feels like the calculator can’t decide whether it wants to give a circular and rounded aesthetic or a square and rectangular aesthetic, instead opting for a somewhat strange melange of the two aesthetics. The colour palette is basic and quite muted, with contrasting dominant colours of black and light grey with accents of royal blue. The printed symbols also feel a bit thicker and bolder compared to other calculator models, making this calculator somewhat lacking in elegance and refinement. Furthermore, the case has quite a large ugly clip at the top which adds to the calculator’s lack of sleekness. The aesthetic of the calculator does seem like one that will grow on you with use and given time though, so perhaps all is not lost in this regard.

 

Aesthetics: 2/10

Finally, in terms of usability and user experience, the calculator also has its pitfalls. Many of the buttons are in different places compared to the veteran models and while this is not necessarily the calculator’s fault, it certainly will make transitioning to it more difficult and at times frustrating. Furthermore, essential functionalities sometimes don’t even exist on the main buttons panel, instead you’ll have to navigate through the calculator’s “catalogue” to use the functionality you would like, examples being factorials, absolute values, permutations and combinations. However, it would be unfair to say these changes are entirely negative since these buttons have been replaced with arguably more useful buttons such as the “variable” button where you can define your own variables, and the “function” button where you can define your own functions. The buttons on this calculator are also harder to press when compared to other models given their perfectly circular nature. The case also seems like a massive step backward where you will need to fiddle around with it and clip it on instead of just sliding it back into place as you do with current models. All in all, this calculator seems trickier to use when compared to veteran models.

User experience: 4/10

The fx-8200 AU is shaping up to be a real game changer in the world of HSC calculators with a plethora of useful functionalities at a fair price. However, it suffers from some aesthetic and user experience issues which may cause some people to hesitate when purchasing it. Overall, in my opinion, this calculator is a cop, with its value increasing the closer you get to Year 12

Final verdict: COP