HP 17BII Financial Calculator
by Hewlett Packard
Average Customer Review:
Electronics
list price: $101.39
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Editorial Review

With the HP 17BII financial calculator, you can perform more than 250 business and statistical functions from wherever you happen to be. You can calculate loan payments, amortization, interest rates and conversion, internal rate of return, net present value, bond price and yield, depreciation, and percentages, to name only a few.

The bottom line on the two-line display shows the menu labels for the five major menus in the calculator: Financial, Business Percentages, Statistics, Time Manager, and Equation Solver. The menu keys allow you to shift between functions. The top line shows the numbers or letters you enter and the resulting calculation. Each menu has subfunctions and built-in variables for greater complexity. A beeper sounds when you press the wrong key, when an error occurs, or when you are late for an appointment.

The HP 17BII has 8,000 total bytes in RAM (6,750 bytes plus 1,250 for your built-in variables). You can monitor the available memory (both in bytes and percentages) by pressing shift-MEM. The calculator retains current functions until you press "clear data." If you accidentally shut the machine off, just turn it back on and your calculation will reappear. After 10 minutes of nonuse the calculator turns itself off, but your most recent information will still be there.

The HP financial calculator interfaces with an HP infrared printer (sold separately), allowing you to print tables, lists, and payment schedules whether you are--in a meeting or on an airplane.

A protective cover is included to keep your calculator dust-free. Batteries are already loaded, and the calculator is backed by a limited one-year warranty. --Dana Van Nest ... Read more

Features

• 2-line, 22-character LCD
• Over 250 built-in functions
• Algebraic notation
• Reverse Polish notation
• Business/finance features

Reviews (35)

Love it, but no Trigonometric Functions
Super durable and reliable: I've had this calculator since 1992, I used it for my BA and my MSc.It has outlasted 4 laptops.
Batteries last a long time, but keep more handy.It uses LR44 (Maxell) equivalent to LR44H, L1154, A76, V13GA, LR44, AG13, PX76A, 675A, 303, G13A. 11.6x5.4 mm Size equivalent to 357, 303, SR44, S1154.
PLEASE NOTE: If you need Trigonometric Functions, this calculator is NOT for you.

OK until the keys quit
Great calculator, and HP's excellent manual does the job. HOWEVER, it should last. The early HP25 could be dropped off the table, and I still have one - unfortunately the battery died, or it would be active still. The operator keys stopped working on my 17BII. Power came on, self-test wouldn't test, and the operator(+ - x, etc. ) had no effect. People should buy HP calculators because they work well, they are well documented and they LAST. No matter how marvelous a calculator is, if the keys don't work, it is less than a paperweight.Charles Elliott

The best financial calculator around
Nothing else even comes close.None of that annoying 5 minute wait like the 12c while you stare at a screen that says "running".Also, the 17b2+ has been visually cheapened (cheap plastic, rather than the metal-like cover).This is the banking gold standard.Easy to use and very intuitive. ... Read more

Asin: B00000JBLQ
Subjects:  1. Calculators - Financial    2. Hewlett-Packard    3. Calculator (Calculators)    4. Financial (Finance, Business)    5. Hewlett Packard (Hewlett-Packard)    6. (HP)    7. (Hewlet Packart)   

Auditing and EBiz and E-Commerce Package (8th Edition)
by Prentice Hall
Average Customer Review:
Hardcover (05 July, 2000)
list price: $141.00 -- our price: $141.00
(price subject to change: see help)
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Reviews (6)

One of the best book I have ever read in Auditing
The authors did a great job in putting together all the essential elements in a logical order. Some ppl have difficulties in understanding the later part of this book because they don't have hands on experience in auditing. I used this book too when I was doing my undergrad degree in HK, this book was extremely terse to me at that time. But after spending few years in one of the Big 5 I find this book makes perfect sense to me right now. I am currently doing a PhD in accounting in the States, and I decide to buy this book (again) as a reference on my desktop.

Too thorough and it's clumpsy
In short, it's too thorough which makes studying this textbook a tough task. You don't know what's important and what's not. Though the general layout of the text is systemetic and unconfusing (definitely you won't find following the author's path difficult), the problem of this books comes from the author's ambition to include a lot in one book and failure to do so by dividing the content into more chapters/sub-chapters. This problem is particularly apparent in the later parts of the book, where different cycles of financial statements are analysed.
This is the comment I also heard among many of my fellows at the university. They all agree this is not a good textbook afterall.

I recommend the book
To survive my tough auditing class, I used two different book of which the Loebbecke is truely the better choice. Thorough and understandable. However, the structure of the book is not in a logical order. ... Read more

Isbn: 0130555061
Sales Rank: 782470
Subjects:  1. Accounting - General    2. Business & Economics    3. Business / Economics / Finance    4. Business/Economics    5. Business & Economics / Accounting / General   

Financial Shenanigans: How to Detect Accounting Gimmicks & Fraud in Financial Reports, Second Edition
by McGraw-Hill
Average Customer Review:
Hardcover (01 March, 2002)
list price: $27.95 -- our price: $18.45
(price subject to change: see help)
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Reviews (23)

Spinning Up - Getting inside Accounting Issues
As a non-CPA, non-Auditor, I haven't spent my career learning to see through the ingenious little deceits that accounting professionals have dreamed up over the years.

"Financial Shenanigans: How to Detect Accounting Gimmicks & Fraud in Financial Reports, Second Edition" by Howard M. Schilit provides an excellent 101 on basic tactics that have scarred public companies in recent years. Schilit makes the issues very accessible for the non-accountant, and provides real world examples that tickle the long-term recall.

Looking at seven basic shenanigans, Schilit walks the reader through the logic, the implications, and how to root out these issues:

1)Recording revenue too soon,
2)Recording bogus revenue,
3)Boosting income with one-time gains,
4)Shifting current expenses to a later or earlier period,
5)Failing to record or improperly reducing liabilities,
6)Shifting current revenue to a later period, and
7)Shifting future expenses to the current period as a special charge

An excellent primer for new financial managers.

Useful framework for analysis
This book was updated on the heels of the WCOM and ENE scandals. There are many interesting techniques available for the researcher here. It requires a meticulous person to properly apply these techniques. However, the average person with a limited number of holdings might do very well with applying these techniques to their portfolio. See the table of contents for a listing of the 7 "financial shenanigans".

Some of the items on Schilit's governance wish list are dealt with by the Sarbanes-Oxley legislation. This will do away with much of management's self-dealing and sleight of hand when presenting pro forma earnings. Some of the "shenanigans" have been dealt with FASB promulgations so there are less of an issue.

Schilit is too harsh on the FASB over the failure to expense stock based compensation the first time it was considered. The forces that oppose the FASB n that issue generated a considerable political threat to FASB's existence in Washington. FASB backed down was preserved and we are all the better for it. FASB is addressing this issue in an exposure draft and it appears likely that it will move forward this time despite the same forces trotting out the same vacuous arguments a second time. Schilit should have given better context with his critique of the FASB.

I remember seeing a piece in Grant's interest rate observer (a newsletter) about a presentation by Trevor Harris (an accounting expert employed by a bulge bracket firm). The article stated that hedge fund managers treated Harris like a rock star, because they needed to learn how to analyze the names in their portfolios better. Harris was simply presenting topics much like are found in this book.

In this book you will learn about many of the manipulations that have been used in the past by companies. Schilit uses the "case" method of teaching. The examples almost all have a real life demonstration of how the trick manifested itself.

At times, the book reads like an advertisement for Schilit's CFRA subscription service. There are 13 such references in the index. I guess this is to be expected, but is still a distraction in an otherwise fine book.

An easy to read accounting book?Somehow it's true!
This accounting book covers everything we wished we learned in our introductory accounting class, namely "How do we know if the managers are lying to us?"

In a very easy to read format, the book groups accounting tricks into seven major accounting shennanigans and then cross-references them to a variety of accounting scandals.In the end, you're left with a deeper understanding of the major ways people can manipulate financial statements for their own game.


This is a surprising interesting book given how dull most accounting texts are.It's appropriate for novice investors and accounting students as well as more advanced accountants.The book practically reads itself. ... Read more

Isbn: 0071386262
Sales Rank: 12002
Subjects:  1. Accounting - Financial    2. Business & Economics    3. Business / Economics / Finance    4. Business/Economics    5. Financial Accounting    6. Fraud    7. Misleading financial statement    8. Misleading financial statements    9. Personal Finance - Investing    10. Business & Economics / Personal Finance / Investing   

Leatherman 63050103HSuper Tool 200
by Leatherman
Average Customer Review:
Tools & Hardware
list price: $80.00
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Editorial Review

Tim Leatherman is our hero. Let's face it: if you're intotools, you can't resist an ingenious gadget, and the Leathermanmultipurpose tools are the ultimate. The Super Tool in particular isone of our favorites, as it's the biggest, strongest tool Leathermanmakes, and it packs just about everything you could want--needle-nosepliers, wood saw, wire stripper, crimper, knives, punch, screwdrivers,file, wire cutter, bottle or can opener, and even a ruler. The toolslock in securely every time and release smoothly and easily. Made ofall stainless steel, the Super Tool is backed by Tim Leatherman's25-year guarantee. You just can't beat this. --Kris Jensen-VanHeste ... Read more

Features

• Locking blades and tools
• 17 tools in 1
• Locking mechanism prevents accidental closing
• Weighs 9 ounces
• 25 year warranty

Reviews (12)

Arguably the very best multi-tool out there
I've owned SOG, Proto, Gerber and a few other Leathermans but without a doubt, this is the very, very best one that I have used to date. It has heft, a comfortable yet powerful pliers grip that doesn't bite into your palms, backwards compatibilty with the earlier Leatherman accessories, a well-thought-out array of "tools" and a terrific positive lock mechanism that secures the selected "tool" in the open position. The leather case is a bit obtuse for quick access but one quick visit to the Leatherman website and I purchased a ballistic nylon case with velcro closure and a loop for my Mag-Lite AA flashlight. I wear it every day and have reached for it countless times. If you're in the market for a quality big-league multi-tool, do yourself a favor and take a long, hard and close look at this beauty from Leatherman. I don't believe you'll be disappointed.

Absolutely Essential!
If every company produced products like Leatherman and backed their products like Leatherman, the world would be a better place.I use my Supertool every day and feel lost without it.It's like a comprehensive tool kit in one small and sturdy package.Even if I forget every other tool I need for a job, I usually can still manage if I have my Supertool with me.Thanks Leatherman for making something actually worth every penny I paid... times 1,000!

A great Improvement
I own a Leatherman supertool, and it has served me faithfully for a long time.When Leatherman came out with the "200" I knew instantly that I had to upgrade, and I haven't been disappointed.The curled edges and lock releases were perfect additions to a nearly perfect tool.Obviously, a multi-tool is no replacement for a well stocked tool box.Be especially careful with electrical work.I was removing a Battery from a truck and accidentally touched the terminal screw and the frame at the same time.The arc ruined the tip of the medium flat tip screwdriver.Of all the multi-tools I've tried though, this is the best one hands down, and for what it is, nothing compares. ... Read more

Asin: B000065UE6
Subjects:  1. Hand Tools    2. Multi-tools    3. (Swiss Army Knives)    4. (Knife)    5. (Multitools)