A few interesting points:
- This is easily the lowest price I have seen for a 33S preorder. The total cost appears to be just $49.97 + $1.87 shipping = $51.84.
- The ad stresses that the 33S is acceptable for use on NCEES exams. It is the first 33S ad that I have seen to make that point. This is an important consideration for many engineers and surveyors. Perhaps HP is now stressing it in its marketing literature.
I would question the ad's assertion that the 33S is "one of the few calculators" allowed on NCEES exams. In fact, practically any non-graphing calculator should be OK. However, it's hard to find a current-model calculator (from any manufacturer) that is both (1) acceptable under NCEES criteria, and (2) programmable to any significant degree. Old discontinued HP and TI keystroke-programmable models should be OK, but they have become relatively expensive collector's items.
If you want an inexpensive programmable for the NCEES exams, the 33S appears to be the best option (the HP-9G is another possiblity, but it has a much smaller memory and no RPN). And since the 33S has an algebraic mode, even some TI users are waiting for it.