Sorry it took so long for me to reply, but here we go.
I have been using my free time to figure out all of the basic features. FYI, this is the first graphing calculator that I really have learned to use, so some of my observations might be flawed. Most of what I am comparing it to is my 32sii (well, my school's) and my ti-89 (also my school's)
The first thing that i noticed is the speed in graphing functions. This is in comparison to the TI-89 (which is the one function I used on the 89). It graphs them 3-4 times faster, and many times faster than my friend's 48gx.
The feel of the keyboard is also great. It has that "click back" so to speak.
One worry is of the LCD screen. It seems to not have enough padding around it, so that when you press in the back, or front you will turn the pixels on (i dont know how else to say it)
Also, today I was using the calculator, and suddenly 1/4 of the screen on the right side went permanently on. I quickly reset the calculator (using on and f3) but that had no effect. I pressed a few buttons at random and the screen was back to normal. I think this might be a design flaw. Afterwards, i ran a test on the LCD screen and there werent any broken pixels
As for battery life, I have had it for almost 2 weeks, and the batteries that it came with are still running fine. Of course this is with less than an hour of use each day. I will alert you when the batteries do die.
As for cosmetic appearance, it looks extremely classy (who knows waht people will think about it in a few years) The gold gives it an extremely elegant look (and I know that is why I buy a calculator, for what it looks like :) )
I dont have a SD card to test it out with, and havent copied any files to the calculator yet, although it connected to the computer with no problems. As soon as i figure out how to copy files, i will give a speed test on that.
The quick start manual is excellent, although it is a bit redundant and complicated in places due to having to explain stuff in RPN and Algebraic mode. My one regret is it doesnt have an index. I have hardly used the manual on the computer, as it is cumbersome to have to go to my computer, open the pdf, and then do a search for what I want to know. Most of the pdf is pictures, so you can't search, and the pdf has no bookmarks, so if you want to go to page 13-2 you have to scroll down till you see it. I would much perfer a printed manual.
I personally perfer the interface of scientific calculators over that of graphing calculators, because it is so much easier to input data in scientific. That being said, the 49g+ is by far the best graphing calculator that I have ever touched for doing basic math (my experience includes using friends ti-83's, a casio color graphing one, the ti-89, and a few other) It might be because it is RPN, but the keyboard is laid out very well. As for the keyboard layout, my one gripe is that the space key is at the bottom next to the enter key, considering i have used the space key all of twice, i think it should be an alpha function. And actually, having the enter key down at the bottom is not nearly as nice as the wide, mid keyboard enter key, but it is not as bad as people make it out to be.
Overall, this calculator is a great graphing calculator (especially because of teh speed), and a decent scientific calculator replacement. Personally, for most of my school work, I will stick to my 32sii (even for calculus), because I am fast with it, and it fits so much better in my hands, but if i ever am lazy and need to grpah something, or solve a complex equation, or my 32sii is far away, i will reach for the 49g+ over the ti-89.
(oh and the leather case is great. I have dropped it a few times, and it just bounces to a soft fall)
So, in conclusion, if you like powerful graphing calculators, then this is most definitely the calculator for you. It is most definitely worth the extra 50-60 bucks in comparison to the ti-89 (and really and truly, it competes, and wins with the ti-92, plus the 49g+ is much smaller than the ti-92)
If you want a scientific calculator, find a nice old HP, or get this one, and get used to the weird enter key.
-ben