TI-89 Calculator

[adciv]

It has happened. I needed a new calculator as my faithful 7 year old TI-86 graphing calculator was wearing out (dead lines on the screen). So I searched on found that the 89 is the successor to the 86 and order one. So I turn it on and go "Fuck, where'd I put that manual." The TI-89 is not a calculator. It is a hand held computer. It comes with a calendar, spreadsheet, datebook, clock, contacts directory, finance program, notebook, day planner and more. This thing has more functionality than my first computer.

I'm still trying to figure out how to do basic math with it.

[Deacon]

So, is this science, or something? I don't understand why it's here.

[adciv]

/headdesk. Damit, wrong subforum. Should be Rants and Raves.

[ampersand]

Ah, the TI-89. I once had an TI-92, the upgrade to the TI-86. Texas Instruments retired that one and made two new version of it. The TI-89 is one version. The upgrade to it is the Voyage 200. It's basically the TI-89 with more memory. I particularly like its symbolic equations program where you can ask it to integrate and differentiate functions. I would like to think that if the TI-89 a tricorder, the Voyage 200 could be a medical tricorder. Although I don't know enough about Star Trek to know if the comparison is valid.

[Binks]

TI-89's are great once you get used to them and if you can code in BASIC (their modified version). I've had mine for 3+ years now and, besides a broken battery cover (which is par for the course for technology in my hands, I've done that to every remote I've ever had) I couldn't be happier. Yes it is huge, yes it is complex, and once you get it down it is awesome.

The best part is writing a program to perform a long complex equation, then bringing the calculator in to the test and being able to finish much faster than the people who have to manually type the problems in. For my calc 2 class I had the TI set up to take the first and second derivatives of an inputted function and save both as functions, which came in extremely handy, for physics I have the 5 main equations programmed in. It's just so adaptable, and provides great amusement in class as long as the teacher doesn't look to closely (you see a kid sitting in the back of the room, with papers in front of them and a calc in hand looking very serious what do you assume, that he's playing a game or programming something or working on the homework?)

[leviathan3k]

Funny, I thought the TI-86 was the top of the line.

Most of the TI-8x calculators were based off of the Zilog Z80 processor, while the 9x were based off of the Motorola 68k. The 89 is actually an extension of the 9x series, designed to fit inside the vertical form factor.

The difference is important, as the extra capabilities of the 9x line mean they're prohibited in some spots that the 8x line aren't.

And uh.. there really isn't a massive difference between 9x series calculators, other than memory upgrades and form factors.

[Gowerlypuff]

Just do it in your head. You don't need a calculator!

[Roberpb0270]

I have a Ti-83. I feel so un-technological

[adciv]

And uh.. there really isn't a massive difference between 9x series calculators, other than memory upgrades and form factors.

When I turn on a calculator for the first time and feel like I'm looking at Windows 3.1 instead of DOS 2.0, there is a big difference. I've never had a GUI in a calculator before. Calculators are NOT supposed to have GUIs!

[ampersand]

I predict: The next step for TI: Calculators with web browsing, wireless internet and instant texting capabilities.

[edge]

I had a TI-83, but seem to have lost it somewhere. When I was taking my electronics classes, a buddy of mine had an 86 that I just thought was awesome. He had a bunch of apps on it, an assembly compiler (maybe this comes with it?), a Tetris clone, a Mario Bros. clone, and a few other games.

...TO EBAY!

[Deacon]

And uh.. there really isn't a massive difference between 9x series calculators, other than memory upgrades and form factors.

When I turn on a calculator for the first time and feel like I'm looking at Windows 3.1 instead of DOS 2.0, there is a big difference. I've never had a GUI in a calculator before. Calculators are NOT supposed to have GUIs!

OK, so which of the 9x series has that to the exclusion of its 9x siblings?

[Dr. Tower]

I'm still using my TI-85 that I've had since... '96? Yeah, I think it was my sophomore year in high school that I got that. Lost the face plate before I left HS, but other than that haven't had any problems with it.

[adciv]

Deacon, the 89 has a GUI. None of the others I've had have had a GUI.

TI:
82 - Got in 8th grade for Geometry.
83 - Got sometime in HS dues to mom accidentally recycling 82 (we think)
86 - Got Freshmen year for Differential Equations, 83 doesn't have required functionality
89 - Got yesterday due to dead lines on the 86

[Deacon]

Oh, so you just misread his statement that there's not much difference between the various 9x models.