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The BA II Plus Professional calculator features all the great features of its predecessor while packing in even more time-saving functions to make short work of complex equations. It's an ideal choice for entry level and advanced finance, accounting, economics, investment, statistics, and other business classes. It's also a great choice to bring to the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) exam. Along with the standard capabilities of time-value-of-money, accrued interest, amortization, cost-sell-margin, and depreciation calculations, users can calculate more advanced business and finance related issues. It will handle net future value (NFV), modified internal rate of return (MIRR), modified duration, payback, discount payback, and more. Its rugged metal exterior, firm-touch keypad and anti-slip rubber feet make it ideal for anyone in accounting, economics, investing, statistics, and related businesses. It also comes with a black protective case.
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 Hit the ball out of the park |
| Review Date: October 23, 2004 |
| Reviewer: T. HOPE, Nevada |
Finally! This is a superb upgrade to TI's previous BA II product. I hated the previous model with a passion given the near "touchless" keypad (allowing for frustrating key entry). THIS is the calculator that I would want to use for the CFA exam (did I mention how much I HATED the previous TI BA calculator??).
For those thinking of the HP12C line, I had a 12C for many years and loved it. However, after it got ruined due to a playful two year old, I bought a new one and found it cheaply made compared to the one I bought in the 80's (very disappointing) and have since abandoned using it. Interestingly, I found the following calculation example from a review of the HP 12C Platinum edition to be very interesting: "If possible, I would suggest that potential users and buyers try this data set on both the 12C and 12cP before buying. Clear register. Find [i] after input [PMT]=-1458;[FV]=0,[n]=84,[PV]=103600. The HP12C would take 20 seconds "running" while the HP12cP would take about 30 seconds to give the same answer [i]=0.4059!"
How long for the BA II Plus Professional? I timed it at about one second.
As calculators go, this is a mighty sweet device -- especially given the clear HP-like display viewable at all angles!! Count me as a definite TI BA II convert! |
Easily better than ANY current HP--and 1/2 the price!
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| Review Date: March 4, 2005 |
| Reviewer: Pruitt Hall, Greensboro, NC USA |
Have been a stalwart HP financial calculator user for over two decades...started with an HP41 in college with financial templates. I always admired HPs for the durable build, ease-of-use (once you got over the RPN hurdle) and displays. I finally needed to replace my over decade old HP 12C and the newer HPs simply do not impress me. Cheaper (as in WAY cheaper!) build...the HPs that came from Malaysia were fantastic calculators...solid keystrokes, superior grade of plastics, the whole nine yards. The newer HPs are made of a plastic that is a giant step backwards. The keys are now laughable, no 'HP Feel' to them at all.
I took all of this in and thought to myself, 'I guess everything is getting cheaper, nowadays...'. Then I ran a NPV calculation at the store and was downright shocked to see it ran slower than my old HP. The one thing I thought MIGHT save the purchase (i.e. cheaper plastic but faster processor) didn't happen. I tried all of the newer HPs...the one display model of the OLDER HP12 (the non-Platinum model and still made in Malaysia) definitely runs TVM calculations quicker. This is NOT how to impress old bankers with a new product.
Time to check out the Texas Instruments BA II Plus Professional. At first glance, to an old HP user, I thought it really LOOKED TI-ish; that is to say, very non-HP. But upon pressing a key or two, I was impressed that TI at least made an attempt at obtaining the old 'HP Feel' to their keys. Not as 'pretty' as HP's angled keys, but good tactile feedback and get this: If you'll hold up the TI BA II PP horizontally and sight down the keys, you'll see they are actually angled! Nice touch, TI.
Nicely laid out TVM section (my only reason for owning a financial calculator, thus supremely important to me) and intuitive to boot. Speed of calculation simply SMOKES current HPs...there is absolutely NO CONTEST. A complex Internal Rate of Return took two to three seconds. TI hasn't been simply sitting around and 'repackaging' anything; whatever is under the hood of this calculator is current and fast.
The rest of the calculator is nicely laid out...keys are pretty much TI convention, which to me is different. I miss a prominent ENTER key.
Likes: I like TI's 'CHAIN' calculation mode. It's similar to RPN without the ENTER keystroke. Remember this if this is your first financial calculator: Most financial calculations are run in CHAIN or RPN mode (and, sadly, no, the TI doesn't support TRUE RPN), not the Algebraic Operation System (AOS). To TI's credit, the calculator defaults to CHAIN calculation (for newbies, this just means that the calculator runs the operation AS IT IS ENTERED; NOT following Algebraic heirarchy of operations). But it is nice that TI recognizes how financial people enter calculations and, unlike other TI calculators, AOS is NOT the default entry mode.
Love the fact that the compounding rate is defaulted to 1, not 12 (HPs always default to 12). Love the fact that interest is always entered as a whole interest number (it divides it for you, automatically). Good, not great, manual. Battery access is very easy. Quality looks genuinely good, but time will be the only final arbiter on this one, but the product appears to be (in my highest compliment) equal to older HPs in every respect.
Dislikes? Quibbling ones to be sure, but the compounding rate mentioned above is a pain to get too; I must have looked 30 minutes in the manual to finally find it (hint: you have to use the Down Arrow key to roll through a series of selections to get it...and it's NOT the first choice). Wish for (on all financial calculators, not just TI) normal AA or AAA batteries...why the manufacturers have to insist on the round, hearing aid style battery is beyond me. I mean, really, how big is a AAA battery?
Wish TI would step up to the plate and offer some mortgage/realty functions in a financial calculator without forcing a user to own 2 calculators. Wish it were programmable, which is just a follow-on to the mortgage/realty/specialized functions.
If TI offered this same model with enhanced functions, programmability and a normal battery, HP could give up the calculator market.
As it stands, a worthy heir to the older HP calculators. I'm sorry to see HP cheapen the product so badly, but TI will gain market share on this one. A solid keeper. |
Works well & looks great!
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| Review Date: October 12, 2004 |
| Reviewer: Let it Be, Singapore |
WHO WOULD BUY THIS? The Texas Instruments Business Analyst II plus Professional (BA2+PRO) is the latest business calculator which would appeal to the demanding business user who wants features, functionality, solid construction and a calculator which has a really professional look.
WHAT'S NEW? Compared to the BA2+, this 60% more expensive BA2+PRO "upgrade" offers several new functions like MIRR, NFV, Modified duration, payback, discounted payback.
My first out-of-the-box impression of the BA2+PRO, is its large, clear and contrasty monochrome LCD display screen, this is a nice improvement over the TI BA II plus (BA2+).
The BA2+PRO is quite nice to hold, it feels "heavy" and looks as solidly constructed as the HP12C, it would not slip on the desktop when user press the buttons and facilitates one or two index finger(s) operation. In contrast, most BA2+ users would have to hold the calculator on one hand while operating the calculator with the other.
The buttons on the BA2+PRO are "harder" than its predecessor the BA2+. Users who are accustomed to the soft-touch BA2+ buttons will notice the difference. However, seasoned HP12C users would welcome the same "firm-touch" buttons on the BA2+PRO which is as tactile as the keys on their HP12C.
Unlike the BA2+, battery replacement on the BA2+PRO is convenient, its sliding battery compartment is user-accessible without the need for a screwdriver to open the casing.
With its contemporary design and its manufacturer supplied soft accessory "leather-like" case, the professional look of the BA2+PRO appeals strongly to the fashion conscious users.
HOW DOES IT RANK AGAINST ITS' COMPETITORS? I have recently purchased the BA2+PRO to complement my Hewett Packard 12C(HP12C) for my studies and professional examination.
The newbie speed demon BA2+PRO surpasses the HP12C in processing speed for TVM calculations and its excellent user-friendly statistical worksheets plus many more added functions but it still NOT a comparable user programmable upgrade versus the HP12C/12cPlatinum.
Both my HP12C and the state-of-the-art BA2+PRO are great complements to each other. However, I would suggest to prospective users who intend to own and use both the BA2+PRO and the HP12C to do so only IF they are not confused by the functions, feel and the handling of the two different software and hardware form factor.
The BA2+PRO is also smartly priced between the economically priced BA2+ and the more expensive HP12C/12c Platinum.
Judging by the excellent work done on their BA2+PRO, TI seems capable to offer a highly specialized user expandable "equation solver" financial calculator which could rival the HP17BII+ or HP19BII series,IMHO.
Although BA2+PRO users cannot program the BA2+PRO to solve and find the price of a European call option using Black-Scholes option pricing model but for a newbie, the BA2+PRO is already the deepest in-the-money financial calculator in its category.
MY RECOMMENDATION for would-be owner of financial calculator who has a USD$60 budget, time and patience to learn only ONE business calculator, the BA2+PRO should be your best informed choice.
Thank you for reading my user experience with the BA2+PRO.
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well done
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| Review Date: November 5, 2004 |
| Reviewer: Raegen W. Richard, Federated States of Micronesia |
| some reviewers seem to dislike the changes b/c the buttons require a firmer touch. Personally, I found the change to be great! If you have big fingers and like to key in quickly you will probably feel the same way. Additional functions are nice too. |
The new standard in financial calculators
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| Review Date: February 13, 2007 |
| Reviewer: A Southern Gentleman, Baton Rouge, LA |
I recently purchased both an HP 12C and a TI BA II Plus Pro. I have also used the HP 12C Platinum edition. While I am well-versed in RPN and like the HP models of calculators, I think the BA II Plus Pro is fit to surpass the 12C as the new standard in financial calculators for a number of reasons.
First, the newer 12C models are no longer made in Singapore. They definitely do not feel as sturdy as the older ones. While many like the firm tactile response of the 12C keys, the BA II Plus Pro has a similar tactile response.
Second, HP failed to improve the design of the 12C Platinum by adding trigonometric functions. The BA II Plus Pro includes the trigonometric functions, and one could viably use it for a general-purpose calculator, not just a financial calculator. One improvement made in the 12C Platinum edition, while bemoaned by fans of RPN, is the choice between algebraic and RPN modes.
Finally, the BA II Plus Pro is significantly faster than the 12C and slightly faster than the 12C Platinum. While the 12C models are programmable and the BA II Plus Pro is not, if you are merely looking for a sturdy financial calculator and do not care about the 12C's programming capabilities, I would recommend considering the BA II Plus Pro. However, keep in mind that while the BA II Plus Pro has an adequate manual, the 12C manual is excellent in every respect and much more in-depth.
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