There once was a day when I collected calculators. First, I had half a dozen HP calculators with differing features.
As both the Mac and PC matured, I started to collect calculators for each.
In each situation, the price tag on the calculators– both those built of atoms and those that were digital– dropped steadily (making it easier to add to my calculator collection).
Today I have more calculators than I can use, but still add to the collection when something new and different comes along. That would be Console Calculator.
This one looks and feels as if you’re typing something in the Mac’s Terminal window. If you’ve never tried Terminal, then Console Calculator will look as strange as a gay minister at a tea party convention. Out. Of. Place.
The good news is that Console Calculator is actually a pleasure to use. The bad news is that you won’t be pressing buttons to calculate some formula. The good news is that you keep your hands on the keyboard and enter formulas the old fashioned way.
Console Calculator features standard scientific calculator functions. Results are displayed as you type.
Programmers in particular will like the ability to define custom functions and variables, and pull up past entries with the arrow keys.
Decimal precision is over 100 digits, and there’s a built-in unit converter. Preferences even give you options to make the background transparent.
As much as I enjoy a geeky Mac tool from time to time, Console Calculator isn’t for everyone. If you need buttons to click, look elsewhere.