Is the Ti-89 still the king of graphing calculators?

[tboo]

Looking for a good graphing calculator for Calculus, Diff equations, & engineeering courses. Is the Ti-89 still the king?

 

[jpeyton]

TI-92 if you're a TI guy. HP had some wicked ones too.

 

[Gibson486]

pretty much for anyone who is not mathematically anal....anyone who says anything about that HP calc is just a hardcore nerd.

 

[ItTheCow]

Originally posted by: Gibson486
pretty much for anyone who is not mathematically anal....anyone who says anything about that HP calc is just a hardcore nerd.

RPN for life (My HP 50G just got delivered today, too!).

 

[gsethi]

Originally posted by: jpeyton
TI-92 if you're a TI guy. HP had some wicked ones too.

I bought my TI-89 when it came out ~10 years ago (Senior year of High school - I used a normal calculator until then). TI-92 was not allowed on SAT or any other exams at the time (dont know about it now).

Its amazing on how long TI-89 has ruled in graphic calculator world.

 

[dainthomas]

Originally posted by: tboo
Looking for a good graphing calculator for Calculus, Diff equations, & engineeering courses. Is the Ti-89 still the king?

TI is for the kiddies. HP is where it's at, my 48G served me very well all the way up through diff eq and thermodynamics. If I was just starting in a math/physics based major I'd snap up a 50G in a heartbeat.

 

[JDub02]

I should probably look into selling my TI-89 while it's still valuable. It's been sitting in a drawer for the past 6 years. Haven't needed it since I graduated college.

 

[ivan2]

Originally posted by: JDub02
I should probably look into selling my TI-89 while it's still valuable. It's been sitting in a drawer for the past 6 years. Haven't needed it since I graduated college.

ditto.

and i thought TI89 and 92 have the same functionality but just different sizes.

 

[kevman]

ahhh the ti-89, many a formula has been programmed into mine from college days.

 

[Toastedlightly]

Lots of engineering courses won't let you use your graphing calcs because they aren't needed (too many people store notes in the programs).

 

[fishjie]

man back in my day i was using the ti -83

i wonder what fancy stuff graphing calculators do these days.

they might as well throw in a camera, mp3 player, and video just cause...

 

[yelo333]

Yes, assuming it's allowed.

Unless, of course, you're me. At which point you sell the 89 and buy a HP 49G+. (since been replaced by the 50G. They both run the same software.)

If you purchase the 89 and get an itch to use RPN, try using http://paxm.org/symbulator/download/rpn.html

 

[ImDonly1]

Check if you are allowed to use a 89. When I took Calc last year you could only use 83's. The 89 basically solves everything for you... derivatives/integration etc. Which is why they won't let you use it.

 

[FleshLight]

You don't need a graphing calc for any of those classes.

Math in the engineering courses is fairly easy once you visualize the problem and all the fbd's and stuff.

There is no way a graphing calc help you in diff eq.

As for calc, maybe for single variable calculus where you have to do complex derivatives/integrals, it might come in handy.

 

[yelo333]

Originally posted by: FleshLight
You don't need a graphing calc for any of those classes.

This is true. You don't need it. If you didn't mind the lack of accuracy, you'd be fine with a slide rule. But if the prof does let you use one, you can use the 89 to check your work on tests or find where you went wrong on your homework problem.

There is no way a graphing calc help you in diff eq.

desolve(). The 49/50G has a similar function called DESOLVE. The results can be a bit hard to read, so it's really only good for checking your work.

 

[Arcadio]

I never used a TI-89. I used a Casio calculator that was much better than the TI-89. It even included a color display.

Edit: found it: http://uk.geocities.com/priyasaravan/math/graphing.html

 

[Cheesetogo]

I think the TI-Nspire might have it beaten with the right module installed, but I'm not sure.

 

[MovingTarget]

Originally posted by: Arcadio
I never used a TI-89. I used a Casio calculator that was much better than the TI-89. It even included a color display.

Edit: found it: http://uk.geocities.com/priyasaravan/math/graphing.html

Wow. I had one of those since around 1998. It was much easier to use when it came to operations using matrices, graphing, and a whole bunch of other stuff. Even the programming language I was able to pick up without any outside help. (TI calcs are another story) Too bad they don't sell it as much as the TI though.However, the TI-89 still rules when it comes to algebraic solving/simplification and calculus.

 

[sao123]

Originally posted by: Arcadio
I never used a TI-89. I used a Casio calculator that was much better than the TI-89. It even included a color display.

Edit: found it: http://uk.geocities.com/priyasaravan/math/graphing.html

Casio Calculator?
Heh... you should have just bought a $1.95 solar calculator from Walmart.

 

[Bignate603]

I love my TI-89, it's a great calculator.

 

[Jeff7]

Originally posted by: Toastedlightly
Lots of engineering courses won't let you use your graphing calcs because they aren't needed (too many people store notes in the programs).

Really? Wow....one of my professors even said, "The smart student will write a program on his calculator."

This guy's tests were always open-book, open-notes, and were done during the lab session (2 or 3 hours long, don't remember which). But he wrote the tests such that if you didn't know very damn well what you were doing, you were still screwed. The book won't help you if you don't know what needs to be referenced, or in what sequence.

My TI-89 just received an "upgrade" - Eneloop AAA's. Those should last me the entire semester without going dead.

 

[l0cke]

All TI calcs are outdated overpriced junk IMHO. I managed to find a hot deal where I got a TI-84+ (the best my school will allow) for $20, which is still probably more then it costs TI to make them.

Don't get me wrong, they are good calcs, but a color screen and backlight could do so much more for the things.

 

[Dari]

I've had my HP-48G since elementary school. It has survived junior high, high school, college, and grad school. Says a lot about the calculator.

 

[tboo]

So I guess it comes down to whether I can master RPN or not? If I can, the 50g would be a better choice? Right now I can get both at the same price at Best Buy.

 

[bobsmith1492]

People get too addicted to "The Calculator..." My buddy at work (with whom I graduated) still pulls out his '89 whenever we're talking about something (engineers). I just pull up Excel... much more powerful. Heck Windows Calculator does anything you need, even binary/hex stuff.

Or you can use MathCad... that'll do algebra for you, too, including trig functions and everything.

And Matlab for more algorithmic-based functions.

Or Genesys or Systemvue... sigh, who needs a "calculator" ?