Rough estimates suggest it was about 1, 500 times faster than the best mechanical hand-cranked calculator of that era, he added.

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Since we're hard pressed to think of a scenario where having a calculator and card reader on hand would be essential to your well being -- especially considering that handy "Calculator" app that comes pre-loaded on most every computer these days -- it's difficult to postulate when this awkward combination of gadgets would actually come in handy.

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Each holding a calculator in their hand, the customer types in a number, each strong keystroke resonating against the hard plastic.

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The Chinese stall representative responds by shaking her head angrily and pointing to the original price on the calculator in her left hand.

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Jobs and Steve Wozniak famously created the Apple computer in Jobs' family garage, building the device by hand and financing the company through the sale of Wozniak's fancy calculator and Jobs' VW camper van.

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But while this whole story certainly sounds plausible, the unidentifiable device in the gentleman's hand could be anything from an old HP iPaq to a five-dollar tip calculator, so please do your duty as responsible readers and begin dropping your wild theories and baseless debunks into the comments below...

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Stylistically, Casio has created an attractive calculator designed with a solid body and slightly oval shape that fits comfortably in the hand, and finished it in several shades of blue to evoke an intellectual look.

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