Graphing calculator - advice??

mmiller2002 · 08-30-05, 04:05 PM

I have a 9th grader this year in advanced geometry. The school suggests a TI-83 ($75), but I see there's a TI-84 ($88) and TI-84 Silver ($117). Any experience with these expensive machines?

I figure this will be a 4-year calculator for her.

Thanks

08-30-05, 06:25 PM

We have a TI83 Plus Silver Edition. Very nice and speedy. THe TI83s work but are slow. I would recommend the TI 84 or TI84 Plus if you can :)

star882 · 08-30-05, 11:19 PM

I have to say that a TI-83 Plus is plenty for math, CAD, and high school physics. However, I suggest something new to be future-proof. The TI-84s should be backwards compatible. They also have integrated USB right out of the box, unlike the TI-83s that require a mod for that.

08-30-05, 11:21 PM

TI-83Plus or silver edition should do, it is the calculator required by the GSU math department, as well as other Colleges i would presume.

08-30-05, 11:27 PM

I had a TI-83 for a semester. I hated it. Got a TI-86 instead and haven't turned back.

08-31-05, 12:22 AM

Originally Posted by star882

I have to say that a TI-83 Plus is plenty for math, CAD, and high school physics. However, I suggest something new to be future-proof. The TI-84s should be backwards compatible. They also have integrated USB right out of the box, unlike the TI-83s that require a mod for that.

The TI83 and 84 both have the same bottom connector...plus the TI83 does work with usb out of the box.....you just need a cable (Same with ti84 and the silver editions come with the usb cable)

StanleyR1 · 08-31-05, 01:54 PM

Originally Posted by mmiller2002

I have a 9th grader this year in advanced geometry. The school suggests a TI-83 ($75), but I see there's a TI-84 ($88) and TI-84 Silver ($117). Any experience with these expensive machines?

I figure this will be a 4-year calculator for her.

Thanks

Between the 83 and 84, i'd go with the 84. It includes the usb cable as well as some preloaded stuff--Periodic Table, Scheduling Software, and a couple games/puzzles.

Don't know what makes the 84-Silver worth $30 more, so I can't make a recomendation.

star882 · 08-31-05, 04:23 PM

Quote:

The TI83 and 84 both have the same bottom connector...plus the TI83 does work with usb out of the box.....you just need a cable (Same with ti84 and the silver editions come with the usb cable)

By "integrated USB", I mean that it could connect to a USB port with only a passive cable (e.g. a regular USB cable, not one with proprietary circuits inside). I modded my TI-83 Plus to have a normal USB B connector. It's a lot easier to find a standard USB A-B cable than a special TI cable. This also means that I only need one USB A-B cable for the calculator, Ashlee Simpson MCU development board, and some other USB gadgets, as long as I only need to use one at a time. I have some more USB A-B cables in a drawer just in case I need to use more than one at a time. At the same time, I have installed a charger circuit in the calculator so the USB port charges it.
BTW, the TI-84s have a mini USB port, which is pretty standard for a lot of portable equipment. The unmodified TI-83s only have a serial link connector and need a special cable to connect to a PC.

Now, does anyone know if a TI-83 or TI-84 can act as a 1-Wire bus master? I know a friend who has asked about the exact same thing. I suppose that it's possible, and it could provide a very easy and cheap way to collect and analyse real world data. (1-Wire is a simple bus standard that allows a single pair of wires to interface with a lot of devices.)

eve6grl02 · 08-31-05, 04:38 PM

make sure you check with the school before buying...i know some of the higher models are not allowed in calc classes (both highschool and college), because they do TOO MUCH of the work for you! i forget which ones aren't allowed...i think it's the 86, but i'm not 100% sure...

08-31-05, 07:07 PM

Originally Posted by eve6grl02

make sure you check with the school before buying...i know some of the higher models are not allowed in calc classes (both highschool and college), because they do TOO MUCH of the work for you! i forget which ones aren't allowed...i think it's the 86, but i'm not 100% sure...

the 84 and 83 should both work in classes as they are very similar...its when you go to the 86 and higher that they dont allow sometimes.... :approve:

08-31-05, 07:09 PM

yeah my cousin was telling me that the TI86 almost did the work for you if you knew what to tell it to do

eve6grl02 · 09-01-05, 09:35 AM

Originally Posted by Grentz

the 84 and 83 should both work in classes as they are very similar...its when you go to the 86 and higher that they dont allow sometimes.... :approve:

that's what i figured...thanks for clearing that up!

Dliquid1 · 09-01-05, 09:55 AM

I have a TI-89, I purchased it for 10th grade back in '97. Check with the local school, its very well possible they will not allow anything about a TI-83/84. My TI-89 worked all through High School and College. It was a worth while investment. I still use it today at my job along with a construction master calculator for figuring out feet/inch calculations. Hope that helps.

-David

CodeBubba · 09-01-05, 09:58 AM

Originally Posted by mmiller2002

I have a 9th grader this year in advanced geometry. The school suggests a TI-83 ($75), but I see there's a TI-84 ($88) and TI-84 Silver ($117). Any experience with these expensive machines?

I figure this will be a 4-year calculator for her.

Thanks

No one has mentioned the HP line of calculators yet. HP's 48G line are outstanding. Perhaps the schools haven't standardized on them but give 'em a look. I've used HP calculators since 1976 - they're excellent.

-CB :approve:

Pocketbrain · 09-01-05, 11:04 AM

Just download a HP48GX emulator for your PPC.
I have had a G and a GX in that line. Actually, I still have them both. Anybody know where I can replace a cracked screen? What's really interesting is that you can still sell the GX on Ebay for about what I paid for it ($200). Now that I have an emulator, I don't really need the original calculator.