TI-Nspire CAS Review by Kelly Williams

The TI-Nspire takes a powerful document approach that is totally different than the Ti 83/84 series. Its document based UI is more like a computer program than the old million button scientific graphing calculators before it. The file system helps keep things organized.

This calculator is on sale on Amazon for nearly 35% off through this link right here.

The calculator comes with desktop software that duplicates the functions of the calculator. On a MacBook Pro, it installed right away without problems. There is a link included with the software that allows you to backup and update the Nspire as well as move files back and forth.

The keyboard is split into three parts:

1. Top: navigation, both on screen (touch pad) and primary menus/features
2. Middle: numeric and basic operators along with some more menus and shortcut keys
3. Bottom: alphabetic keyboard (not QWERTY!) for entry of function names and such along with some special function keys

This TI-Nspire CAS Touchpad is quite a revelation. It took me only a few hours to understand a large majority of the functions it offers (looking at a guide). The keypad is clear and obvious unlike the original versions. I was amazed at how much I could do with this device with so so few key presses. This is a real time saver.

Click here to get it at Amazon for the best price.

The large screen is a bonus. The characters are clear with high resolution. The large screen means that everything you do is easier to see and analyze. The screen is adjustable but it is still a calculator screen. You need light to see it well as it is not back-lit like LCD computer monitors.

Let’s take a look at the features:

• Advanced graphing calculator ideal for classroom use
• See multiple representations of a problem individually or together on a single screen
• Dynamically link representations of a problem to see how changes to one affect others
• Grab and move graphed functions in real time to observe relationships and patterns
• Can be used on the PSAT and SAT college entrance exams and on AP tests
• This is on sale at Amazon through this link right here

The good

• Fast – the calculations and graphing are significantly faster than on my TI-89 Platinum.
• Extensive built in library.
• Document based UI – once you get used to it it’s great.
• Scratchpad feature – easily use as calculator or for graphing without interrupting current document.
• Get the TI-Nspire CAS at Amazon here.

The bad

• Unlike the 80 and 90 series calculators there is no program editor.
• The keyboard isn’t QWERTY which can make it take a while to get used to.
• Less documentation compared to past models especially on the internal function libraries.

This graphing calculator is useful for

1. Students majoring in (or planning to major in) advanced math, engineering and certain advanced science classes like physics.
2. You are a professional engineer or someone who has to apply a small number (say 5-20) of formulas over and over and

The new design makes doing more even faster than before. The key design aspect here is usability and allowing people to work faster. The various components that contribute to this like the display, keyboard, file-system and templates definitely goes a long way in achieving that goal. You can get the cheapest TI Nspire price at Amazon here.

Let me show you what current owners have to say about it:

This calculator is extremely powerful. The main reason I got it was to do complex matrices so I can solve simultaneous equations. Its templates make entering formulas nearly identical as to how you would write them out by hand. Entering stuff into a calculator has never been easier. The resolution and screen size is just amazing compared to the other TI calculators.

Not many issues, just that the keyboard on the bottom is not in QWERTY, which makes typing harder. Also, I could not get the software that came with it to install onto my computer directly, so I had to just download a copy from TI’s website.

I definitely recommend this calculator to anyone who has to do any mathematics that takes calculus or beyond.

Lindy

Review Paraphrased for size — view original review here.

TI-89 Titanium Review by Kelly Williams

My Overall Rating:

Like many people I started off with a TI-83 and then later a TI-84 model in early high school. After taking calculus, and learning about differential equations, and multi-variable functions, I needed a calculator that could do symbolic computation. With the TI-89 I pleasantly ended up getting a lot more than I expected – its one sweet calculator with a hell of a lot of features and functions.

Besides the typical basic math, algebra, calculus, graphs, matrices, and statistical functions you can do some neat things like graphing 3-D, create animations and contour plotting. Graphing functions include function graphing, parametric graphing, polar graphing, sequence graphing, 3-D graphing, and differential-equation graphing.

This calculator is on sale on Amazon for nearly 35% off through this link right here.

The TI-89 Titanium also includes symbolic manipulation, constants and measurement units, statistics and data plots, a numeric solver, a text editor, programming capabilities, tables, a split-screen function, variable management, and the ability to link to other calculators or a computer.

You can create custom menus or use the default menu. Another interesting and useful feature is the Program Editor that lets you write custom applications.

The platinum version just looks plain cool. The large adjustable LCD screen is one of the most readable of the models and can be viewed clearly under a variety of lighting conditions. The calculator also comes with an input/output port and cable, letting you synch up with other TI-89s or TI-92s, as well as a USB port and cable.

You can buy the TI-89 at Amazon by clicking this link.

Pros of the TI-84 Calculator

• Extremely powerful
• 188 KB of RAM, combined with an impressive 2.7 MB of flash memory
• Nice “pretty print” feature which displays expressions as you would normally write them on paper. And it has copy and paste – so convenient.
• Share work with others and connect to any other TI device
• Get the TI-89 Titanium at Amazon here.

Cons of the TI-89 Calculator

• Is a little more expensive than other models, but has come down a lot in recent years
• The menus are different, the interface different, different buttons from the TI-83/TI-84 so it takes a while to get used to
• NOT meant for high school students who are taking algebra, geometry or trig classes (it’s too advanced for just using it for that).

Texas Instruments TI 89 Plus is useful for:

1. Students majoring in (or planning to major in) advanced math, engineering and certain advanced science classes like physics.
2. People looking for unbelievable features and power

Overall this is a great calculator – the price is higher than many other calculators but this is fully justified by the huge number of advanced features it provides. This is indeed a heavy duty calculator totally full of features – so much so you probably won’t get to use a vast majority of them. But once you get used to it the TI-89 is indispensable. You can get the cheapest price for the TI-89 at Amazon here.

Let me show you what current owners have to say about it:

This is the most powerful scientific calculator in its class. Engineering majors and others must get this or a regular Ti-89. If you buy a cheaper model you’ll have to spend $150 more to get this later anyway (like me). However if your Math class will end up in Calculus or Algebra (i.e. if you’re not going to learn Diff. equation or harder), you don’t really need this, you will just waste extra $70 for the features that you will never use (or features that aren’t allowed to use in exam)
But if one is going to use it for simple graphic or solving polynomial equations, then other calculators are fine…

Y. Shin.

TI-84 Plus Review by Kelly Williams

My Overall Rating:

The TI-84 is the next step up from the TI-83 generation series. As expected it does everything the TI-83 did but the question is what else does it offer that goes beyond the older model? Is it really worth the higher price tag? This article seeks the answers to these questions.

So let’s start shall we. The TI-84 plus is fully backwards compatible with the TI-83 product family so any apps you had in other older models can be re-used in the newer model. It displays graphs and evaluates tables on a split screen, allowing you to trace the graph and scroll through table values simultaneously.

This calculator is on sale on Amazon for nearly 35% off through this link right here.

Functionality is also quite similar – you can view an equation, its graph, and the coordinates all at one time. Many plot types are available (scatter, box-and-whisker, XY-line, histogram, and normal probability plots). Advanced statistics and regression analysis, graphical analysis, and data analysis, along with features for calculus, engineering, financial, logarithm, trigonometry, and hyperbolic functions–all crucial tools for advanced analysis.

You can buy the TI-84 at Amazon by clicking this link.

OK great. What else? Well for one thing it’s faster than its predecessors –2.5 times faster in fact which is nothing to sneeze at – the hike in computing power is real can users can actually see the difference. The display has also been upgraded and now has an enhanced high-contrast display (eight lines by 16 characters ). The finer resolution is noticeable and adds to the usability aesthetic.

So that’s pretty nice but what I really like about the Texas Instruments TI 84 calculator is that it has three times the memory compared to older versions (24 KB RAM and 480 KB of Flash ROM) which in itself doesn’t mean much but it translates into being able to store more apps. The TI-84 comes with 13 pre-loaded apps including Cabri Jr., CBL/CBR, Conic Graphing, Inequality Graphing, Probability Simulations, Science Tools, StudyCards, TimeSpan, Topics in Algebra 1 Chapter 5, Topics in Algebra 1 Chapters 1-4, Transformation Graphing, and more. A USB Cable comes included to share files with other calculators or to connect to PCs and share work with other students.

Anything else? Yep. There is an automatic shutoff to save energy and it also comes with a hard kickstand slide case and is supported by a one-year limited warranty.

Pros of the TI-84 Calculator

• 2.5 times faster than past models
• Higher resolution screen display
• 13 pre-loaded apps and 3 times extra memory means you can download and store even more.
• Backed by warranty for one year
• Share work with others and connect to any other TI device
• Get the TI-84 at Amazon here.

Cons of the TI-84 Calculator

• Doesn’t quite pack the punch of the TI-89 or TI-Nspire CAS in terms of college level advanced math functions.

Texas Instruments TI 84 Plus is useful for:

1. Junior high and high school students taking science and math classes and need
2. Anyone who needs to perform advanced graphing functions or equations (financial features are also there).
3. If you want a calculator you can customize, program and share data with others.

All in all the TI-84 graphing calculator stands on its own by bringing enough new features and enhancements to warrant the slightly higher price tag. You can get the cheapest price for the TI-84 at Amazon here.

Let me show you what current owners have to say about it:

This calculator is hands-down the best I have ever had the honor of using. While the TI-84 Plus may not have as much space or as many pre-loaded Apps as the TI-84 Plus Silver Edition, the TI-84 Plus offers everything a high school (possibly some college) math student needs in order to successfully learn and solve mathematics material. The TI-84 Plus comes loaded with several Apps that will make things even more convenient, such as a Probability Simulator and Cabri Jr., a great geometry app. It’s easy to hook up to your computer to transfer new Apps and updates to it using the USB port and the included USB cable. The TI-84 Plus will be a great investment for any student’s education.

Ryan M.

Review Paraphrased for size — view original review here.

About the reviewer: Kelly Williams is a professional product reviewer who has reviewed a large number of today’s most popular products. Kelly is also an engineering graduate so knows the importance of a good graphing calculator.

TI-83 Plus Review by Kelly Williams

My Overall Rating:

Available on Amazon for $98 here.

The TI-83 Plus is pretty much the most popular Texas Instruments graphing calculators on the market or ever has been on the market.

The TI-83 Plus graphing calculator has a formidable array of plot types like histograms, XY lines, scatter diagrams, normal probability plots, box-and-whisker. In addition advanced statistics, calculus, engineering, financial, logarithm, trigonometry, and hyperbolic functions are all within its ample capabilities.

This calculator is on sale on Amazon for nearly 35% off through this link right here.

Equations can be seen on the LCD display in graphic form (8 lines of data can be shown), including the plotting of coordinates. One really cool feature is that multiple functions can be graphed and compared.

This calculator is built to last! The batteries longevity is impressive (used for over 2-3 years without changing) and  I’ve dropped it many times over the years and no problems at all so it’s very durable.

If you want to buy the TI-83 Plus, get the cheapest price at Amazon here.

The TI-83 plus is programmable (BASIC) and if you get the optional TI-Graph Link you can  connect the calculator to your computer and upload/share apps. There are a wide range of indispensable apps for physics, engineering, chemistry etc. Yes…even games are available.

Let’s take a look at all of the calculators’ features:

• Upgradable operating system and software
• Preloaded Apps: StudyCards™, Vernier EasyData™ and more
• Compatible with TI-84 Plus and TI-84 Plus Silver Edition models
• One-year limited manufacturer’s warranty
• Graphing calculator handles calculus, engineering, trigonometric, and financial functions
• Can display graphs and tables on split screen to trace graph while scrolling through table values
• LCD screen features 64 x 96 pixel resolution for clear, readable display
• Built-in memory for storage and analysis of up to 10 matrices
• Backed by 1-year warranty
• Product Dimensions: 7.3 x 3.5 x 1 inches; 8 ounces
• The TI-83 Plus is available here at Amazon.

Who is the TI-83 plus for:

• For high school students taking PSAT/NMSQT, SAT I, SAT II, Math, IC, and IIC
• People lookign for advanced placement courses in chemistry, algebra, pre-calculus, calculus and physics.
• Highly suitable for early level college and business/financial courses.

Overall the Texas Instruments TI- 83 Plus deserves its popularity as relative to the many features it provides it is very good value for the price offered. Particularly for math and science high school students it is highly recommended. If you want to buy this calculator, I highly recommend the cheapest place as being Amazon to get 35% off.

Let me show you what current owners have to say about it:

Evan P.

It has everything you need, for algebra, pre-calculus, and calculus. It is upgradable, so the need for a new calculator doesn’t arise, every few years. Purchasing a graph-link can add on a TREMENDOUS amount of programs to use for Physics, Geometry, and even 3D-Graphs. If you are in High School, do NOT get the ti-92 or ti-89, because they will probably be banned. Also, these 2 calculators are aimed for more college-level students. But in every case, a ti-83+ is ideal!

Review Paraphrased for size — view original review here.