The Electronic Calculator

In many ways the little electronic calculator, introduced to the mass market in the early 1970s, was the first personal computer. Now calculators are everywhere but back in the 1970s they were still fairly novel and even a bit mysterious, this book from 1976 by Claude Birtwistle is here to help!

It explains what calculators actually are, and how to operate them. Now this might seem so simple nowadays that it barely needs mentioning but we must remember that in the 1970s few people had access to electronic or computerised devices as they do now. Plus during my years working in IT i have found it essential to never under-estimate how clueless the user might be...

The sections on using the calculator memory and constants are actually pretty useful. I use a Commodore 776M (contemporary with the book) as my daily driver so hopefully this book can help with my future calculations.

The sections on using calculators for managing your money are, probably, also very helpful but i don't have any money so i can't say exactly how useful they might be. The one criticism i have with this book is that it does not have any photographs of suitably retro 1970s calculators so here are a few from my large calculator collection.