What are the differences between clear and erase buttons in Calculator?

Am II the only one who hates the change? I use the scientific calculator to balance my checkbook, since the simple one does not have memory buttons. The old clear (C) button would do just that- clear whatever was on the calculator screen. So a series of subtractions would be entering a figure, hitting M-, MR, jotting the number down and then hitting the C key and going on to the next entry. But with the erase button, a simple push down only erases one digit, and if you don't notice this, you end up adding the next figures to the previous figures. And I have not been able to figure out how long you have to hold the erase button down to get it to erase everything on the calculator screen. So I have to watch closely every time when before a simple press of the C button worked like a charm. Apple, I would like the C button returned!


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iMac 24″, macOS 15.0

Posted on Sep 20, 2024 11:20 PM

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Posted on Dec 21, 2024 4:11 AM

After reading through the posts, I have confirmed that holding down the erase/delete/backspace button for about half a second ends up working the same way as the old AC button, thank goodness! I confirmed after entering in 20 random digits and then holding the button for the half second, and it cleared.


While this isn’t what I’ve been used to, it’s good to know that there’s a way to make the clear happen 👍

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23 replies

Jan 20, 2025 6:20 PM in response to Bob Burlison

What a regression! I am missing the C / AC button entirely. Now I have to press "backspace" a bunch of times to clear out a number, one digit at a time. 😵‍💫 Can anyone recommend a free calculator that has a Clear button? Remember those early Apple ads that showed us all of the equipment a Mac could replace? Well, that pile of stuff is looking pretty good right now.

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What are the differences between clear and erase buttons in Calculator?

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