Great budget graphical calculator for pre-calculus & business stats

Casio FX-7400GPlus Graphical Calculator
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Summary
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The Casio FX-7400GPlus Calculator is one of the most affordable graphical calculators on the market and provided all of the required and most of the optional functionality that the much higher-priced TI & HP units boast of at ½ the price.
I brought it for my Math 105 (pre-calculus) course and had a very positive experience using it.
Note: My review exclusively addresses the normal calculator, Graphing, List and Programming functions of the calculator. I did not have occasion to try the Stat (statistics), List and Link (communication) functions of the unit so my comments are based on descriptions from the manual.

Detailed Overview
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The FX-7400GPlus graphical interface is based on an iconic menu system with a screen that is 6 lines by 13 characters wide. Its keyboard layout is simple and much less intimidating than the TI models.

Graphing
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Its Graph mode allows graphing equalities, inequalities and parametric functions. Up to 10 functions can be graphed and stored simultaneously.
Settings are customizable for all standard graph window and zoom settings. It includes trace and manual plot functions and includes the option to plot continuous or dotted curves.
In comparing with the TI calculators of my classmates, it seems to do a better job of plotting piece-wise functions. It lacks the Intersect and Zero (root) function of the fancier TI & HP models.

Table functions
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The Table module uses the same functions that are entered into the graphing module so you can generate tables or graphs from the same set of functions. You can generate discrete lists, manually input values or do both for a table. Tables do lack the ability to display units after the decimal due to screen restrictions. This however applies to the TI & HP models as well and is more a result of the narrow screen width of most graphical calculators.

List functions
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The List module allow input, recall, and sorting of a list contents. The FX-7400GPlus also allows graphing of and inputting scientific calculations into the list.

Stat functions
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The Stat module allows the entry of lists or statistical calculations and generating scatter diagrams of xy Line graphs. The manual claims to do Histogram, Box, Pie, Stacked, Bar and combined Bar & Line graphs.
It also offers Paired-variable statistical operations and graphing including Linear, Med-Med, Quadratic, Logarithmic, Exponential and Power Regression. The regression formulas can also be copied to the Graph mode.
Note: I have not had occasion to test these options.

Programming
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The programming module was a pleasant surprise as I did not expect it in what was supposed to be a low-end calculator. I was actually able to do a few programs including quadratic formula, linear equation systems and graph reflection solutions. The memory in this model is just 20,000 bytes (8KB for programming) and while this was sufficient for my use, it may be a limitation for those planning intensive programming projects on their calculator. The manual includes source for sample programs that can be input into the FX-7400GPlus.

Connectivity
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You can connect the FX-7400GPlus to another Casio Graphical Calculator, or to a PC or a Casio Label Printer. You will need link software and a specialized cable to interface the FX-7400GPlus with your PC. As with all manufacturers, the optional cable is quite expensive in relation to the price of the calculator.

Miscellaneous
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The FX-7400GPlus uses two AAA batteries and includes a backup battery that retains your data and programs as you replace the main batteries. It also includes a hard plastic cover to protect your calculator. The manual is adequate and covers all functionality in a satisfactory manner and its index is detailed.

Recommendations
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If you are looking for a graphical calculator on a small budget that can aid you through pre-calculus classes the FX-7400GPlus is a good option for you. If your curriculum is focused on calculus, or you intend to do a lot of programming on your calculator then consider the more expensive Casio, TI or HP models. If connectivity is an issue, then look for a model that includes the connecting cable and software as this often costs twice as much as the calculator itself.