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AnalogFeelGood OP t1_j9gzf8q wrote

Reply to comment by bleepbleepblorpblop in Sharp EL-2607 my Dad has been using to do his income taxes since the mid-80s. by AnalogFeelGood

Here, just for you.

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RealCowboyNeal t1_j9hr1y7 wrote

I'm an accountant old enough to remember the days when every accountant had one on their desk. My first firm had plenty of old timers clacking away on these things all day. I actually find that super satisfying, real soothing in an odd sort of way.

I had one at my desk when I was a rookie but being younger I used excel as god intended. A partner came over to my desk once to go over my work and he ran some numbers on the ten key I never used. I said no that's wrong, the real number is such and such, and couldn't figure out how to use the damn thing. The partner found it hysterical that a licensed cpa with degrees and everything didn't know how to use a ten key. (I find it amusing and depressing when they don't know how to use excel, but who asked me.)

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faates t1_j9ikw1j wrote

Im no fancy cpa but we use similar machines in the toll booth i work at. I did take classes in excel though and dear god i wish the state would buy us some new fucking equipment lol.

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StrangeRover t1_j9l6c7r wrote

Late-30s engineer here but I learned 10-key "helping out" at my family's small business back in the early 90s.

It still frustrates me up this day that Excel doesn't have an entry mode equivalent to the 0/00 switch on an old 10-key (e.g. "1547" comes up as "15.47"). Of course I could use a helper column, but the inconvenience isn't worth it for less than 50 or so lines.

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