Calculator for engineering and stuff about my tablet

[archcommus]

So I'm going into EE...and do not yet have a calc. I was going to get a TI-89, but most of my professors mentioned that you'll never have an opportunity to use most of its features anyway, and you're better off getting the cheapest thing that graphs, like a used 86 or something. What do you think?

Also, I'll be using a tablet PC with OneNote 2003 for all of my notes. Seems like there should be a way to avoid a calculator completely and just have a program on my PC to do that. Again, what do you think?

 

[Vertimus]

89. I can't stand the interface on 86 and 83/84.

 

[IronWing]

Calculators != PC. You'll need both.

 

[EyeMNathan]

I got an 89. It can be a bit complex to use but it does everything you'll need.

Oh and as for your Tablet PC... Tablet PCs are not legal for exams and such, so if you just used it for a calculator, you wouldn't have one for exams.

 

[Vertimus]

Also, most of the graphing will (or should) be done on mathematica/matlab/maple/etc anyway if you're at home or on a laptop. The calculator is only used on tests etc where you can't use a laptop.

You'll defintatly want a 89 on tests.

 

[archcommus]

Originally posted by: EyeMNathan
I got an 89. It can be a bit complex to use but it does everything you'll need.

Oh and as for your Tablet PC... Tablet PCs are not legal for exams and such, so if you just used it for a calculator, you wouldn't have one for exams.

Oh yeah, good point - I'm an idiot.

So go with an 89? Is the Titanium worth the money?

 

[erub]

i woulda failed out along time ago if it wasnt for the 89
multi eqn solvation >>> *

(oh yeah and i love text files, hehe)

you wont be able to use a table pc on tests

 

[EyeMNathan]

Originally posted by: archcommus

Originally posted by: EyeMNathan
I got an 89. It can be a bit complex to use but it does everything you'll need.

Oh and as for your Tablet PC... Tablet PCs are not legal for exams and such, so if you just used it for a calculator, you wouldn't have one for exams.

Oh yeah, good point - I'm an idiot.

So go with an 89? Is the Titanium worth the money?

I bought mine at OfficeMax, they only had the Titanium. The only difference is memory capacity, they have identical functionality. Get whatever is cheaper/available.

 

[archcommus]

The Titanium has a USB port but I don't see myself ever needing that...would I?

 

[EyeMNathan]

Originally posted by: archcommus
The Titanium has a USB port but I don't see myself ever needing that...would I?

Most people just use it for putting games on their calculator, which is stupid. But there are other kinds of programs you can put on it as well, math related ones.

The other Ti-89 connects to your PC too, but I dont know if it comes with the cable.

 

[EyeMWing]

Originally posted by: EyeMNathan

Originally posted by: archcommus
The Titanium has a USB port but I don't see myself ever needing that...would I?

Most people just use it for putting games on their calculator, which is stupid. But there are other kinds of programs you can put on it as well, math related ones.

The other Ti-89 connects to your PC too, but I dont know if it comes with the cable.

No, it doesn't, but the cable used to be free after rebate - but it seems they no longer sell the non-USB-direct calculators anyway.

 

[archcommus]

I definitely want PC connectivity capability to put programs on it if desired, I wasn't sure how you did it with a normal 89, though.

 

[EyeMNathan]

Oh yeah, the Ti-89 comes with a bunch of Electrical Engineering style features in something called EE*Pro. It has a _ton_ of stuff in there. I'm not an EE major so I have no clue what they are...

 

[archcommus]

TI sure does pwn, don't they....heh.

 

[SaturnX]

I'd personally steer clear of graphing calcs learn to do it on your own, and I'm sure you'll say "i'll just use it check your answers" but trust me you'll get to a point where you'll just start using it for assignments and then realize in the end you don't really know the material all that well. Besides, at least in my calc courses we weren't even allowed ANY calcs for midterm and finals. And this is coming from someone currently in EE.

And a note about your tablet, unless you can write pretty damn good with your tablet, (especially in EE) you'll be working with A LOT of mathematical equations, and personally for that nothing beats using a good ol' pencil and paper.

--Mark

 

[Wonderful Pork]

most of the time you don't get to use a calculator, but if you do, a ti-89 saves you lots of algebra. they'd laugh at you if you tried to use a laptop during a test. then they'd fail you. haha.

 

[kranky]

Originally posted by: SaturnXAnd a note about your tablet, unless you can write pretty damn good with your tablet, (especially in EE) you'll be working with A LOT of mathematical equations, and personally for that nothing beats using a good ol' pencil and paper.

--Mark

Not sure what you mean as writing on a Tablet is just like doing it on paper. It's the biggest feature of a Tablet.

And though you might not be allowed to use it during tests, look into the program MathJournal by xthink. It's awesome for doing math/graphs on a Tablet. I show it to engineers all the time and they are blown away.

 

[Mday]

I used the ti89. I also had a simple 2 line scientific\statistics calculator.
it was mostly for a sense check to make sure i put in the right numbers.

I also used the TI89 for storing values in an equation, and universal constants.

I did not use my calculator that much at all for my EE classes actually.

 

[archcommus]

That's what I'm saying, if tests won't let me use it, should I be using it for homework? Will I really get a chance to use the features it has that make it cost more than a 86?

From what I've heard writing on tablets is very nice, much nicer than writing on other electronic pads like signature pads in stores. I haven't used it myself yet but from what I've been hearing they can easily replace pen and paper completely.