(Part 3) Top products from r/EngineeringStudents

I too am an EE and I agree with a lot of the other posts here.

RPN all the way man. TI's are for squares...actually not really because you have to press at least two buttons to do a square on a TI calculator. RPN calculators were invented by EEs, for EEs as far as I can tell. Doing math on circuits is breezy when you have an RPN calculator.

Calculators I use(d):

Casio fx300MS-

Absolutely incredible calculator. TI sci's always felt plasticky to me, like they were made for 5th graders who smash things. My dad used these as an engineer at work, I got one for school in middle school and used it again in college. Greatest scientific calc I've found (at least when considering 2 line LCD matrix type calculators).

TI-84 plus-

Decent. I don't recommend it. It's great for programming, but other than that, it's pretty clunky and slow as hell. Pretty expensive for what you get. But it's the standard. Every engineer owns one of these or an 83, save for a few people. Most of my EE friends don't carry one anymore.

TI-89 Titanium-

Great calculator, saved my ass too many times to count. The CAS is so useful. There are a ton of things on it like angle() or mag() which help a ton in phasor notation. Bad-assery when it comes to solving algebra with complex or non-complex (weeny) numbers. Unfortunately, not allowed on many exams, though I have had a few and I just feel like the professor has no idea what they're allowing me to do by having this on an exam. Total unfair advantage. This thing is a beast.

HP-48S-

This one is my favorite calculator for a quick equation without squares or stuff like that. Fast as hell. Unfortunately it's the dodo of the HP calculator family. You can usually find these cheap on eBay, as well as the 48G. I recommend picking one of those up there before going in on a 50G. The 48 series is one of the best calculator series of all time, and only recently did the 50G come out and, to me, it's just not worth it. It's overhyped and it's not that good. Pick up a 48 series and join the family.

TI-92 Plus-

If you are a real nerd, this is a fun calculator. By god, no one will let you in an exam with this thing. It looks like a damn computer. But it is cool for programming and has the same 'OS' as the TI-89. There is a new version, the Voyage 200, that is much better, but I don't have that one. They're just cool if you have money to blow. The functionality really isn't there.

The calculator I want really bad:

HP Prime-

Why it looks awesome: 1) Cheap 2) HP, so you get RPN 3) Fast as shit for a calculator in terms of graphing/programming 4) New so there is a good amount of software support. 5) It's seriously sexy. The buttons are like the old 48 series buttons (press one, you'll never forget it). It's thin, the screen is large. I just adore it.

I'm getting one of these soon because it is probably the most attractive calculator on the market to me right now. Many TI calculators are adding so much it feels like they're trying too hard. The bottom line is that RPN is the way to go. It's just faster. The thought process is much easier to work with. Working on a TI is a mess of (x*y)\^2/(x+1/x+2*x+y)*(1/y*3*x)\^3, double checking for errors, syntax, yadda yadda etc etc. Working with an HP is just bam bam bam bam bam answer. It's so nice.

Sorry for the long ass response but I saw EE and calculator and I'm an EE who has had a strange interest in calculators since like freshman year of high school.

TL;DR-
Go RPN, I like HP.

All my school documents (including Eclipse projects/workspaces and MATLAB files) are stored with Dropbox - at CC, several students have an Engineering shared folder going, which has all sorts of goodies in it, like the PSPICE exe distributed by the teach, notes from other students, etc... everybody here should do this at their campus!

Also, iPad 2 w/

• GoodReader -- For all of my textbooks, lecture notes and assignments posted by instructor on school intranet - can highlight, annotate, etc, all digitally.
  
  
• Noteshelf -- For all note taking, in multiple colors - notes can be tagged and exported as PDF for studying for exams on any device, no wasted paper and hitting undo is faster than erasing
  
  
• Cregle iPen -- Not perfect, but better than a touchscreen stylus - can rest my palm on the screen while writing without leaving stray marks
  
  
• DodoCase -- keeps it safe in my backpack
  
  
• iTunes U -- for MIT OpenCourseware videos
  
  
• WolframAlpha -- sometimes useful for visualizing problems
  
  Android phone w/
  
  
• HandyCalc -- very excellent calculator
  
  
• ElectroDroid -- very handy during my circuits course
  
  
• Monoprice $7 earbuds - amazing for $7! Blocks out noise for studyin.
  
  
• Tasker for silencing my phone/enabling airplane mode when I'm scheduled to be in class on Google calendar, automatically launching...
  
  
• WIFI Web Login -- ...and authenticating me on campus wifi when I connect to access points
  
  
• ...writing two apps, one to organize course assignments, one that helps with general ed courses... :)
  
  Also,
  
  
• TI-86 -- old faithful
  
  
• spare AAA's
  
  
• Ampad graphing paper pads for homework assignments (one per class)
  
  
• mini stapler with mini staples
  
  
• one small 3-ring binder for class handouts
  
  
• [ALVIN Draft Matic Mechanical Pencil Size 0.7mm] (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000HF6I90/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B000HF6I90&linkCode=as2&tag=semboftrut-20) -- best mechanical pencil I've ever used, no slipping lead
  
  
• Pentel Super Hi-Polymer Lead Refill, 0.7mm Medium, 2B, 144 Pieces of Lead (50-2B) -- nice and dark pencil lead - more smearing, but less effort to make visible strokes
  
  
• Subsonic -- music and podcasts on my phone, tablet, computer, streaming from friend's houses, everywhere!
  
  
• EasyBib.com -- because I will never remember how to do MLA citations properly
  
  
• Word -- old faithful
  
  
• 13" 2011 Macbook Air w/ VMware Fusion for Windows when needed.
  
  In search of an amazing eraser to go with the draftmatic. Open to suggestions!

Aerospace engineering?

I'm not sure if it's required of you, but learning matlab or fortran sooner than later would help.

"Fundamentals of Aerodynamics" by John D. Anderson, Jr. is a great book for information on multiple aerodynamic subjects. I needed it for one class but I'm still using it 2 years later. The newer version is expensive, as always, but you may be able to find an older version online. Hopefully you can see that link. It would be the first link I send to a UK resident that isn't blocked by region...

Taking an interest in flying is also helpful. If you have RC plane or amateur rocket experience; then you have employable experience for certain jobs and hopefully a better understanding of the dynamics of flight and control.

Caffeine. Coffee has been scientifically proven to be the best way to deliver caffeine to your body. During exams, drink liberally.

I'm not really good at physics, and I took a course taught by a professor who proudly taught tough introductory physics courses (5 credits each for Physics 1 and 2 w/ labs). He was funny, but the way he did tests was that he taught the equations (but advised against just memorizing formulas), why they worked, and how they come about with aid from the text book, gave us hints, but the exercises were all pretty unique and mostly from this book. I didn't know what my grade was until the end of the class. Thought I was gonna get a 2.0, but turned out I got a 3.0. That book was also pretty easy to read, I know there are illegitimate copies available using bittorrent.

So by reading the text, doing the assigned homework, and seeking resources outside the text or professor like youtube videos or something that show a different way of looking at the problem really help. If you study, practice, and ask questions, there isn't any reasonable explanation for failure.


Basically, you have to know the calculus and algebra used in physics well and use logical and creative thinking and you can figure out the solution.

Your interests are almost identical to mine! I didn't fully decide on my major until Junior year (Electrical Engineering). Started going into Biomedical end of senior year, went to grad school for it, found out it wasn't for me and switched back to EE. Now I'm researching Aerospace navigation systems and absolutely love it.

So no, you aren't going to die if you don't have your life figured out by end of sophomore year. The nice thing about engineering is a lot of the skills carry over between disciplines.

My suggestions are to study topics you are interested on your own; don't wait to learn it in your classes. If you think you are interested in computer engineering and computer science, start teaching yourself digital electronics, learning C and building projects with microcontrollers (AVR microcontrollers are very common) Don't wait for your career to find you, you have to seek it out. Follow your passion and the rest will come naturally.

Side note: I've been teaching myself AVR microcontrollers and digital design this summer, with the end goal of launching a high altitude balloon carrying an HD camera, temp sensors and Geiger counter. Here are the books I've been using, both are fantastic and easy to follow.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/1449355781
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0123944244

Okay, here are my mechanical pencil picks (with the caveat that I'm much more of a regular wood pencil geek.)

If all that adjustability is your primary thing - I like OHTO Super Promecha I've got the 1500S, but I don't think the newer P model is too different. All my instructions came in Japanese though. The newer models are lighter I've heard. The 1500S sort of plows along. Heavy.

Now, if you're open to trying some other pencils! There are some more I like. (Have you tried the straight [staedtler 925] (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002BNHMC8/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_dp_ss_1?pf_rd_p=1944687662&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B004G0AFP0&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=01DEWCGZNSCG129SB52Q) btw? Cheaper, and very popular.)

uni-ball Kuru Toga It's so lovely, a ratchet mechanism turns to keep it sharp as you go. (This only works when you lift your pen, so much less so on some constant cursive note taking). And inexpensive enough you should just try it. For fun. (More a writing pencil than drafting pencil.)

Pentel Graphgear 1000 Good, solid, economical. Advances pretty small amounts of lead for more precision. Has retractable tip for pocket. Has this strong spring clippy thing that gives me something to harass with my fingers. I like this pencil.
Also the PG105 but no clip to fidget with.

This one. I thought it was really good actually, I remember it making the concepts pretty clear. But yeah the end is definitely where it got much more difficult without the right math background. But, my schools 4 year plan I have been following isn't very good, as my friends and I had figured out the hard way.

On the bright side, when I do get around to taking Calc 3 this fall, a lot of the concepts will be familiar. I've already had experience with vector calc, partial derivitives, and double/triple integrals.

My favorite two books for Calc 1,2, and 3 hands down:

How to Ace Calculus

How to Ace the Rest of Calculus

They're short, to the point, and pretty funny honestly.

The Civilized Engineer, by Samuel Florman. This isn't a technical book, but it teaches the importance of looking at the big picture, of being ethical, of the need to expand your skills beyond the purely technical.

As a ECE this book is awesome and only $20. Great practical as well as theoretical info. https://www.amazon.com/Practical-Electronics-Inventors-Fourth-Scherz/dp/1259587541

Try 'Practical Electronics for Inventors' by 'Paul Scherz'. This book is awesome. It is quite cheap too.
https://www.amazon.com/Practical-Electronics-Inventors-Fourth-Scherz/dp/1259587541

You can also try 'The Art of Electronics'. Its 3rd edition was released a year back I think. It has an informal style, so, I suppose you'll like it.
https://www.amazon.com/d/cka/Art-Electronics-Paul-Horowitz/0521809266

This site is also good.
https://www.allaboutcircuits.com/

staedtler 925 all the way.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002BNHMC8/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I HIGHLY recommend splurging on a nice pencil. Something you use every day you will easily see that spending over ten dollars is worth it.

This set is fantastic for 0.38 mm pens. They aren't quite as inexpensive as the Pilot equivalent, but the color selection is fantastic for complex drawing. I found myself using a black pilot for writing normal notes, but the colors for diagrams and notation.

Vernier Calipers - $8.89

HP-35s Scientific Calculator. The best* calculator allowed in the Fundamentals of Engineering Exam and will get him weened off graphing early. - $43.50

This is my opinion. They are several great calcs allowed as was pointed out below.

I know some people recommend metal pencils. I however don't. You will lose pencils, it happens. However you do need a high quality mechanical pencil with a big eraser that if you do lose, it won't be a huge loss. I highly recommend the Pentel Twist Erase with 0.5mm lead - $8.63

I've got 3 of these and it has served me well with school projects as well as just general hobby work.

https://www.amazon.com/Akro-Mils-10164-Plastic-Storage-Hardware/dp/B000LDH3JC/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1511034951&sr=8-2&keywords=small+parts+storage

If you're more interested in a more portable option I would suggest one of these:

https://www.amazon.com/Plano-Molding-5324-Organizer-Compartments/dp/B003MP9FH4/ref=sr_1_13?ie=UTF8&qid=1511035029&sr=8-13&keywords=portable+small+parts+storage

Or one of these:
https://www.amazon.com/Small-Portable-Parts-Storage-Warranty/dp/B016F1OE86/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1511035061&sr=8-3&keywords=portable+small+parts+storage&dpID=41xYJViFYwL&preST=_SY300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch

The Art of electronics is a pretty good overview.

Disregarding not being able to use it on certain exams I haven't seen a calculator better than my TI-nspire CAS. As far as I know it can do just about anything and personally I find it much easier to type things in and do it quickly. the screen is also fairly big

I got the non color version from Amazon new for $60 like 5 years ago

edit: https://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B000QSX9EK/ref=dp_olp_0?ie=UTF8&condition=all&qid=1486517993&sr=8-4

Pick up an old SMAD

It has first order analysis for everything. Great book.

edit: when people say 'aerospace' I never know what they are really talking about. 'aero' and 'space' can be dramatically different.

available at 0.9 as well, which I prefer because the lead never breaks.

The retracting tip is its main advantage over the p20x line, mainly because deformation in the little barrel at the pencil is the only way you can ruin that pencil. They used to come with a little pick thing that let you ram clear and straight it (it was attached to the eraser!), but now they don't sell them with that piece anymore and when the tip is bent, the whole thing stops working.

Another one I like is the Pentel Sharp Kerry pencil.

http://www.amazon.com/Pentel-Mechanical-Pencil-Metallic-P1035A/dp/B0006SW6YO

http://www.amazon.com/Schaums-Outline-Differential-Equations-Outlines/dp/0071824855

pretty much what you want and more

Parts will come back a LOT so you want to be familiar with that if at all possible. I think that is the technique I use most and unlike Trig Sub you cannot just use a table.

When I was struggling in the calc series I found the How To Ace Calculus books to be very helpful. They are good at translating the math into verbal explanations of concepts so I could connect the computations to a bigger picture. You might see if your library has them, if not, they are very cheap on Amazon. The 2nd one has about 25 pages on Series and then the rest is stuff that you see through Calc 2 and Calc 3.

What part of series is messing you up? Just a general foggy confusion or is there something more specific?

I picked up a bunch of cheap part drawers like these when they were on sale at a local store. Very easy to organize stuff if you have the desk space.

I highly recommend the HP 35s. This calculator is HP's non-graphing RPN calculator, and is approved for the FE exam.

RPN takes a little getting used to, but once you use it for a few days, you will find it to be both faster and more accurate than non rpn calculators. It does everything the TI 36 does, it just does it faster.

Alvin Draft/Matic. Extremely well built, smooth and easy to work with. A bit expensive, but I've been using the same one for three years.

Some companies make workbooks that have short explanations of topics followed by problems with solutions in the back of the book. These kinds of books might allow you to practice the problems with a solution to get a better understanding for your actual homeworks.

(here's one: https://www.amazon.com/Schaums-Outline-Differential-Equations-Outlines/dp/0071824855 )

highly recommend this book: https://www.amazon.com/AVR-Programming-Learning-Software-Technology/dp/1449355781/

Granted, it's not Arduino (it's AVR, the microcontroller Arduino is based on, but you can still use an Arduino with its lessons with some software tweaks) and implies you know a decent amount of C programming, but it's written well enough so even an idiot like me could understand it.

https://www.amazon.com/Uni-Kuru-Toga-Pencil-Lead/dp/B00DR6FATK/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1535943901&sr=8-3&keywords=kuru+toga+lead

​

https://www.amazon.com/Pentel-Automatic-Pencil-Barrel-P1035A/dp/B0006SW6YO/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1535943958&sr=8-3&keywords=kerry&dpID=41Wzu22I1yL&preST=_SY300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch

I've found David Klein's Organic Chemistry as a Second Language to be an indispensable resource.

I used the second edition, but I would imagine the third is still up to par.

http://www.amazon.com/Barrons-FE-Fundamentals-Engineering-Exam/dp/0764137077/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1333371509&sr=1-1

TI-89 Titanium

I upgraded from the TI-83 my sophomore year and never looked back. I call it my PMA, Personal Math Assistant.

However, it would not hold a candle to software on a large device. I'm a MATLAB/Octave guy, but the Python math/sci landscape is looking very appealing.

I got something around an 86% in Texas just by flipping through this.

http://www.amazon.com/Barrons-FE-Fundamentals-Engineering-Preparation/dp/0764137077

Much cheaper.

I always keep a Uniball Vision in my pocket

It takes a while to break them in at first, but I've actually gone all the way down to 0.38.

Required reading for my intro to civil class. http://www.amazon.com/The-Civilized-Engineer-Samuel-Florman/dp/0312025599

I think the Space Mission Engineering and Orbit and Constellation Design and Management textbooks should have what you're looking for!

here is a ti nspire cas for $30 plus a little shipping. You can get it for a little less but I don't trust the sellers for those. This is the calculator I used and this is where I bought it.

well you can read course curriculums, hell you can take all of MIT's aerospace engineering courses online for free im sure. they have lectures and exams available.

high level textbooks...after the calculus/physics ones?

http://www.amazon.com/Aircraft-Structures-Dover-Aeronautical-Engineering/dp/0486485803

http://www.amazon.com/Introduction-Space-Dynamics-Aeronautical-Engineering/dp/0486651134/ref=pd_sim_14_3?ie=UTF8&dpID=514GSwPXTEL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR101%2C160_&refRID=1Z881GSF57615HXRYT1N

http://www.amazon.com/Fundamentals-Aerodynamics-5th-John-Anderson/dp/0073398101/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1463955973&sr=1-2&keywords=aerodynamics

http://www.amazon.com/Gas-Dynamics-3rd-James-John/dp/0131206680/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1463956004&sr=1-1&keywords=gas+dynamics
important math is just calculus, differential equations, linear algebra. arguably algebra and trigonometry are the most used and needed to master.

no knowledge of any engineering is required for engineering students coming in.

btw astronomy is basically useless unless you want to do planetary science...orbital mechanics is a separate field

I do everything on my surface now, but the few times I need real ink cant go wrong with these