Lamar University Press (Beaumont, Tex.), Vol. 29, No. 47, Ed. 1 Wednesday, April 11, 1979 Page: 4 of 6
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UNIVERSITY PRESS April 11,1979*4,
Necessity or status symbol
Calculators educational tool
By CHERYL OATHOUT
CCRS Writer
Copyright, CoQoglato Consumer Reporting Service
(Editor’s Note: The Collegiate Consumer Reporting
Service, University of Arizona, Is designed to help coOngt
newspapers report consumer news of Importance In
students. If you have Information or Ideas concerning •
specific consumer Issue, please write the CCRS at MU
North Campbell Ave., Tucson, Arts. 85711.)
With millions of America’s college students spending
over $120 million each year on hand-held calculators, ths
silicon chip wonders have become a major educational
tool.
Calculators that used to cost $1,600 a decade ago now
retail for less than $10, Business Week magazine reported.
And the market’s explosive growth has "transformed a
three-ton, $200,000 computer of 23 years ago into a 15-
ounce, hand-held unit priced at $300 today.”
Even with a wide range of models more financially ac-
cessible to students, three criteria should be taken into ac-
count when choosing a calculator; personal needs, tha
unit's power source and the manufacturer’s warranty.
The most expensive units—the programmable
models—are like mini-computers, says David J. Blumer,
a research chemist Who earned his doctorate as a
teaching assistant at the University of Illinois.
A student, however, must write a program to solve a
problem, Blumer claims, and "by the time he’s through
writing it, he should have memorized the equation.”
Programmable calculators may be nice, but Blumer ad-
vises undergraduate students to buy units which “fit to
your own personal needs. Some want to get off as cheap ag
they can, some want prestige.”
He suggests that the basic four-function calculator
costing under $10 is usually adequate for a business major
or for personal use, but would be inadequate for a student
taking upper-level science or engineering courses. “Their
calculators need to be able to do logarithm, square roots,
trigonometries, powers, and other math functions.
Usually calculators with all these features can be pur-
chased for under $40.”
Business calculators may be needed for figuring in-,
ventory-control, calculating capital budgets, forecasting
market shares, and a variety of “financial analysis”
operations, according to Peter L. Bonfield, division
manager of professional calculators for Texas In-
struments in Lubbock, Texas.
Bonfield adds that studies by his company show more
college students buying “professional and scientific
calculators with memories, statistical functions, trend-
lines, etc.”
This trend is due to “increased awareness of the
capabilities of calculators and how they can be applied to
class work,” he contends. Blumer basically agrees with
this assessment, but says, “often it’s just a status sym-
bol” to have a more complicated calculator.
A common problem which plagues students during
exams is batteries which die, Blumer says. Carbon bat-
teries are notable for this, and he doesn’t recommend
them. “My calculator runs on a watts battery, or liquid
crystals, which ran for a year with no recharging.”
Sally Browne, director of consumer affairs in the Elec-
tronics Industry Association in Washington, D.C.,
suggests checking the power source before purchasing a
calculator. “If a machine is going to be used often, con-
sider a more expensive, rechargable battery with a DC
adaptor for household current, as opposed to disposable
batteries which must be replaced and end up costing
Some calculators have energy-saving devices, such as
Texas Instruments’ “automatic power-down, which dims
the display light after a coapis at
says TI's Bonfield. These features can increase the life of
a battery considerably.
Browne also advises students to shop not only for price,
quality and number of functions, but also warranty. “Find
out whether it is an American or foreign manufacturer, or
at least whether there is a repair center in the United
States,” she says.
Some unites must be sent back to the factory or to a ser-
vice center, she says, but some manufacturers only
require the customer to return it to the store where it was
purchased or to an authorized dealer. Browne warns that-
shipping costs may end up costing more than the unit is
worth. Most warranties are for 90 days or a year from
date of purchase, she adds.
For advice in selecting a calculator which will fulfill I
course requirements, graduate student teaching assistan-
ts and professors are an excellent source of help, Blumer
says.
‘&‘UctaJ& '*■ 'paimnfa
PROBLEM PREONANOY
Free and confidential
Pregnancy Testing • Counseling
Referrals
“Located near campus”
Call
(713) 832-4739
1044 East Virginia
Beaumont, Texas 77705
imi m a«M« mi wuyi iku imy,
“Try it out, test the calculator by working problems on It.
If you don’t know how to operate certain functions, read
the instruction manual, and then ask a salesperson if you
don’t understand. Instruction manuals should be clear.'
The display panel should be easy to read, keys easy to hit,
and the size comfortable.”
•V
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Speed limit violated
by large percentage
Research conducted for the Texas
Office of Traffic Safety shows that,
despite the fact the 98.9 percent of all
surveyed drivers know that the
speed limit is 55 mph, 78 percent of
the Texas drivers surveyed violated
that speed limit in the course of their
normal driving habits.
Creative Consumer Research of
Houston, which designed and
initiated the study, reports that
drivers violate the speed limit
primarily because of social pressure
— from peers and from society’s
lifestyle schedules.
The study, based on interviews
with 4,000 Texas drivers, was
designed to elicit drivers’attitudes
toward the speed limit.
According to the study,’only 17
percent of the drivers surveyed
define “speeding” as “anything
over 55 mph.” However, 37 percent
defined speeding as anything over 60
mph.
Most of the drivers surveyed
believe they can drive 57.7 mph
without getting a ticket. With male
drivers, the average went up to 58.3
mph.
The most comfortable speed, on
the average, is considered to be 62
mph. However, the “safest” speed is
perceived by Texas drivers to
average 59.3 mph.
The majority believe that the 55
mph speed limit saves energy,
reduces accidents, is safer, and is
mandatory to receive federal fun-
ding.
Eight percent of the surveyed
drivers have personally experienced
an accident involving speed of over
55, and another 11 percent have had
an immediate family member in-
volved in an accident
Twenty-one percent of surveyed
drivers claimed they have been
ticketed for speeding within the past
three years. Of the 21 percent who
had been ticketed, 30 percent repor-
ted that it slowed them down, 13 per-
cent said it slowed them down for
awhile, 11 percent reported in-
creased awareness of speed and law
enforcement, and 3 percent noted an
increased attention to driving.
The average 55 mph-driver is 43.5
years, the oldest of any driving
group, and is more likely to be a
woman. Compared to violators, this
driver is more likely to be* a blue
collar worker and is the most likely
co be married, the survey shows.
The speed limit violator averages
between 32 and 37 years old; the
younger the driver the more likely
they are to exceed the speed limit.
Males drive faster than females on
the average, and the “excessive”'
violator who drives 65 or above is the
least likely to be married, according
to the survey.
The greatest influence factor for
the “excessive” driver (65 mph and
over) is reported to be increased
i visible enforcement.
I
Special
Occasion
Dresses
You will only
find at
Patsy’s
l
i
sscc EVENT*
Travel Committee presents
Guadalupe River Canoe Trip
April 20-22 L.U. $40
for more information call 838-7531
Videotape Committee presents
Dresses for
the young and
young at heart.
Open 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. daily
3805 Twin City High way •Jefferson City Shopping Center
Port Arthur, Texas 77640
962-5871
^c**^** *** * *** sfesfc******
Read all about it
□ m 0 b 0
#w\ puakVep THB PORTION pi YOUR RE03RDS
££THt7\ gulf sVtes utilities cApany
Arf \ P. o. BOJ%»7 BEAUMONi TEXAS 7770fl
__ billing Wter reaAg dates Ater reaoi As ut
g I DESCRIPTION PRESENT | %EVIOUS PRBSNT | PREVljUS ui
ELECTRIC 03/20 02/15 52394 51314 108
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TEXAS 7770^
l^TER READING DATES
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1PESENT | DEVIOUS
pr|
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pus
IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS
ABOUT YOUR BILL. PLEASE
ELECTRIC 03/20 02/15 52394 51314 1060
'ELECTRIC FUEL ADJUSTMENT $.01683 PER UNIT
SALES TAX
DISCOUNT IF PAID ON OR BEFORE PROMPT PAYMENT DATE
► BALANCE
"YOUR CURRENT BILLING PERIOO IS FOR 33 DAYS”
"YOUR AVERAGE DAILY COST WAS $1.27”
ACCOUNT NUMBER
r
,04730-56901
E CLASSIFICATION
RESIDENTIAL
FRANKLIN, HENRY
2620 SOUTH ST.
PAVMOIT DATE
4/17/79
71.99
AMOUNT
24.66
18.18
0.42
1.24CR
28.71
AfrCNAENOEAEO
70.75
PLEASE RETURN THB PORTION
WITH YOUR PAYMDfT
^^7
GULF STATES UTILITIES COMPANY
HENRY FRANKLIN
2620 SOUTH ST.
BEAUMONT, TX. 77702
GULF STATES UTILITIES CO.
P. O. BOX 3007
BEAUMONT, TX. 77704
2620 SOUTH ST.
9 0103
-0473058901 -000430500044320001757
ACCOUNT NUMBBt
04730-58901
BEAUMONT
-0
Your electric bill now contains more
information to help you understand how it was
calculated.
Look over the sample bill and the following
explanation of the new system. And you may
want to keep this to refer to when the new
bill arrives.
Gulf States has also enclosed return envelopes
for additional pay-by-mail convenience. Just
detach the right side of the bill and place it with
your payment inside the envelope.
Helping people understand how we serve
them, helps us as well. So if you have any
questions, please give us a call.
Breakdown of tha naw bill:
1. The date we read your meter for this bill.
2. The date we read your meter last month.
3. This month's reading.
4. Last month's reading.
5. The difference between your present and
previous meter readings is measured in kilowatt-
hours. (A kilowatt-hour is the amount of
electricity needed to light ten 100-watt light
bulbs for one hour.)
6. The electric fuel adjustment charge is for
the electricity you used this month. GSU makes
no profit on this adjustment charge.
7. If a balance is shown, it represents the
amount still owed from a previous bill.
8. The difference between your present and
previous reading dates represents the number
of days in this billing period.
9. Your average cost per day was calculated
by dividing the cost of the electricity used, by
the number of days in this billing period.
10. If you utilize our easy pay-by-mail
service, you may write your account number on
checks payable to Gulf States Utilities or simply
GSU.
11. If your bill is paid by the "prompt pay-
ment date" you need pay only the "amount due
when rendered." If you pay after the date you
must pay a higher rate as shown in "amount
due after prompt payment date." If your bill
shows a balance, then the collection date for
that portion of your bill will be earlier than the
"prompt payment date."
12. To pay your bill by mail, simply tear off
this portion of your bill and enclose it with your
payment in the enclosed return envelope. Please
make sure the GSU address shows through the
envelope window.
OULF SHUTS UTILITIES COM.
W.C. Fields
April 16 - 20
9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Videotape Lounge Free
All school election picnic
April 18
3:00 p.m. until dark
SAGA Food Service
Cardinal Park
Travel Committee presents
I May 19-26
Bahamas Trip
for info call 838-7531
$328
I Concert Committee presents
&
i
I Thurs. April 19
1 »p~
.m.
SSC Ballroom
LU-$2.50 GP-83.50
Atari Football Tourney
April 19
SSC Games Area
3:00 p.m.
Free
Kurt Van Sickle
April 20
9 a.m. - 2 p.m. SSC Perch
Free
1
Setzer Student
Center Council
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Shockley, Tara. Lamar University Press (Beaumont, Tex.), Vol. 29, No. 47, Ed. 1 Wednesday, April 11, 1979, newspaper, April 11, 1979; Beaumont, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth499730/m1/4/?q=Lamar+University: accessed June 10, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Lamar University.