Monroe UltimateX Executive Printing Calculator with Edit and Reprint Capabilities

I hate buying things twice - I listened to my Dad say this over and over growing up. Well, this is one desktop calculator that I do not anticipate needing to replace in my lifetime! A solidly built, good looking desktop calculator. Slightly larger than I anticipated, but fits my desk just fine. I like the feature set and the feel of the keys. Printing is sharp and fast. Just what I was looking for!.

A Monroe adding machine on your desk is a big help if (like me) you’re required to pay Estimated Federal Taxes four times a year. I was getting frustrated with my old desktop calculator: the “dual-powered” liquid crystal display wasn’t very readable unless placed closer to a light source, the keystrokes weren’t very satisfying, and too frequently I had to re-calculate a series to make sure my first entries were all correct.Looking around at various machines that had an illuminated display, I soon discovered that most folks who do lots of calculating with dollars and cents prefer an adding machine instead of the typical ubiquitous calculator. So followed my introduction to the traditional adding machine, and reviews soon enough led me to the Monroe lineup. Weighing cost vs features and performance, I eventually decided to try the Monroe Ultimate X,The fact that there are two calculators operating largely independently of one another in this one machine does require a little bit of a learning curve if (like me) you’ve been used to the functioning of regular pocket-type calculators.The adding machine control keys are all on the right side, while the multiplication, division and percentage, tax, and independent second memory keys are all on the left.On the adding machine side, the “ten key” logic used here (as in apparently all standard adding machines) requires you to assign either a positive or negative value following each numerical entry and the machine automatically accumulates each of these various inputs so that at any point you can then choose to get either the “Subtotal” or a final accumulator-clearing “Total”. Very nice, and very fast when working with dollars and cents if you first select the “Add Mode” [ + ] in the decimal selector because doing so eliminates the need to enter decimal points.The five definable keys can be re-defined to perform alternate functions (I immediately re-defined the “Insert” key to become a one-touch “Reciprocal” key, i.e., [1/x ]. For square roots, just enter a number and hit the [ ÷ ] key followed by the [ = ] key.You can set the “Time/Date” key (as per, say, an atomic clock), power-off the machine, turn it on the next day and a single subsequent touch of that “Time/Date” will display the correct day & month & year and the exact time of the day—AM or PM.On the calculator side, multiplication, division and percentages are handled just as on regular pocket calculators.You can choose to print out each of your entries and the operations you’ve applied to them, or skip the printing and just use the machine’s display only. Using the printer, you won’t have to re-do, say, a year’s worth of monthly income entries to make sure that your initial inputs were all correctly entered, because you can just compare the numbers on the print-out to those on your monthly receipts to quickly verify whether or not the two columns match.I very much like that this is an electric-only machine—because it means one can power it on and leave it on for long periods so that it’s always at the ready to calculate, without any fear of running down a battery (or having to move it closer to a light source as with solar-powered calculators (a small coin-battery IS employed in this machine but only for the keeping the selected “Define key” functions in memory and for powering the tiny red Grand Total and Accumulator indicator lamps on the front panel). You needn’t worry that while you’re writing something down the last numbers up on the display will suddenly disappear in 3 minutes or so as happens on non-electric calculators. An important benefit to me of the electric-only power source is that it enables that really nice blue-green fluorescent display—which always remains bright and sharp and readable even from quite a distance (including the commas and decimal point).The 145 page User Manual details some fairly amazing feats of financial-type calculations that this machine is able to do beyond its superb handling of addition, subtraction, tax figuring, etc.,—some of which I hope to try soon (once my current Quarterly Taxes are done!).

These things last forever! I just had to replace my 30 year old adding machine. I chose to replace it with another Monroe because they last so long!

My biggest complaint about this calculator is the keypad. The presses are way to soft, and don't provide anything in the way of feedback when you have depressed a key. I'd love for a version of this with mechanical switches, but alas. The biggest problem is for me I find myself hammering the keys way harder than I need to and wearing my wrist out, because There is no sense of actuation. "Soft Touch" is just putting bumpers under an already squidgy membrane keypad. For this price, I'd hoped for a better switch assembly than it has, but I suppose what are you going to doo.

Very good quality. I believe the little bit of extra money is worth it (over the next model down) for the soft touch keys. Very comfortable and accurate. A good buy for the long haul.

This would have been the perfect desktop if it still worked. I bought it because the reviews were great. I decided to spring for extra money because I wanted something that would last. I had it 6 weeks. And it just stopped. I'm unable to contact the seller because the return window has closed. $187! Buyer beware.

In addition to quick cross footing including multi transaction discounts, gross-ups, sales tax, etc., it is also excellent as a desk calculator.

Works great!